Melissa Van Balen

melvanbalen@gmail.com

Pragmatic, creative professional with comprehensive adult learning, instructional design,

facilitation and documentation development experience in diverse industries and
environments. Successful management and timely completion of projects with competing
priorities involving site and organization-wide initiatives. Demonstrated ability to lead, train,
coach and motivate team members to achieve personal and professional objectives.
Areas of Expertise:

Curriculum building/management
E-learning and instructor-led
instructional design
Microsoft Office Suites (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, Visio, Outlook) and
SharePoint
Adobe Photoshop CC and Elements
Articulate (Presenter, Quizmaker
and Storyline)
Learning Management Systems
(LMS)
Facilitating instructor-led courses
Needs/Gap analysis
Adult Learning Principals
(ADDIE/SAM)

Pre- and Post- Assessment Design

and Interpretation
Soft Skills Coaching and Succession
Planning
Digital Photography
SOP and Job Aid documentation
creation/maintenance
Creative Writing and Narration
Audit support/preparation
Department metrics
tracking/trending
Problem Solving (5Why & Fishbone)
Systems administration experience

P ROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ARIEL CORPORATION Mount Vernon, Ohio
Instructional Designer (March 2016 - Present)
Primarily designs and develops technical and non-technical curriculum that align with overall
business strategies. Works with subject matter experts, instructors and educational partners to
create and deploy coursework that adheres to the overall training and development strategy.

MPW SERVICES Hebron, Ohio

Instructional Designer (June 2015-March 2016)
Evaluate existing training materials (presentations and workbooks) and revise according to
current business needs and industry changes. Ensure training materials are compliant with
regulation authorities and company procedures/guidelines. Work closely with SMEs and
Operations Trainers to ensure that the learners needs are met and that the instructional
materials are effective and relevant. Create ad-hoc presentations for MPW support
departments. Develop blended learning solutions for a diverse workforce spread over 50
locations nationwide.

Key Accomplishments:
Developed 10 instructor-led, seven e-learning modules, and two workbooks in the
first 6 months of the position

Learned how to use a proprietary software application in order to develop a users

manual and accompanying job aids for use in multiple locations nationwide
Coached Training Coordinator on lessons learned and best practices and served as a
consultant to assist in strategizing the companys first ever LMS implementation
ABBOTT NUTRITION Columbus, Ohio
Technical Training Specialist (2012-June 2015)

Responsible for implementing and maintaining the effectiveness of the quality system by
managing the training needs of production departments as well as the microbiology, incoming
materials inspection and analytical laboratories. This includes working closely with Subject
Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop blended learning solutions (procedures, job aids, instructorled content, on-the-job (OJT) modules, e-learning materials, etc.), and partnering with
management to ensure the utilization of the most efficient resources, both internal and external,
to accomplish objectives. Also responsible for facilitation of instructor-led courses, performing
onboarding orientations and calculation of weekly/monthly department metrics.

Key Accomplishments:

Inherited the responsibility of leading the Plants Training Program upon resignation of
Training Supervisor for last 8 months in the role. This included managing the LMS for over
300 employees and calculating/reporting plant weekly/monthly Training metrics to top Plant
executives.
Developed the sites first On-the-Job Training (OJT) program for the Analytical Laboratory from
scratch. Currently developing the sites first OJT program for the Microbiology Laboratory.
Significantly improved quality of sites training materials by becoming a certified developer of
the CRIACE learning methodology and gaining buy-in from production operators and leaders
so that those tools are put to use on the manufacturing floor.
Developed the sites first online metrics tracking website on SharePoint to give an at-a-glance
breakdown of training metrics by department each week.

Batch Record Auditor (2011-2012)

Responsible for auditing production batch work orders for completeness and compliance
with all Abbott Nutrition policies, procedures, deviation requirements and regulations as well
as reviewing non-batch related items on a monthly schedule, initiating Non-Conformance
Reports (NCRs) and Exception Reports (ERs) in the companys Global Quality Management
System (GQMS).
Key Accomplishments:
Led site-wide training and awareness initiatives in support of key company-wide
quality goals.
Personally had zero batches release outside of required release
specification/timeframe during 19 months in the position.

Warehouse Control Room Technician (2008-2011)

Primarily responsible for monitoring all automated operations to include 17 Automated
Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and 8 Automated Storage Retrieval System Stackers and
troubleshooting operational issues to resolution for the sites finished goods warehouse.

Desktop Support Administrator (2007-2008)

Responsible for first line support of all site networked PCs and peripherals to include
support of Lotus Notes, Microsoft Windows and Office. Personally upgraded over 70 PCs to
Windows XP and installed across the manufacturing site.
AMERICAN S YSTEMS CONSULTING, INC (ASCI) Dublin, Ohio
Database Support Analyst I (2006-2007)
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Active Duty Enlistment
NETWORK TRAINING TECHNICIAN (2004-2006)
S YSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR/NETWORK S ECURITY SPECIALIST (2002-2004)
EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS
Master of Science in Education in Learning Design & Technology
PURDUE UNIVERSITY, program began January 2016; projected completion August 2017

Bachelor of Science in Communications

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX, graduated with honors
Associates of Applied Science in Information Systems Technology
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF THE AIR FORCE

Professional Certification
Dimensions Development International (DDI) certified facilitator
Better Process Control School certification

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY , Department of Food Science and Technology

OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Safety and Health Training Certificate

SIDE PROJECTS
Independent Consultant, Jamberry Nails (March 2015 Present)
Independent Family Photographer, self-employed (September 2010 Present)