Social Growth Branding Agency

Co-Founder

EMPEQ

Program Manager

United States Air Force

As a Senior Program Manager, I led a team of front line managers who oversee programs focused on aircraft inspections, equipment maintenance, and compliance issues. Facilitating human resource responsibilities, I handled all performance reviews, coaching feedback, culture setting strategy, and any disciplinary actions necessary. My entire responsibility encompasses managing 153 total employees, two aircraft maintenance hangars worth $36M, 11 programs, and $28M worth of equipment.

An achievement in this position includes:
●	Led a high-profile program focused on improving our qualification upgrade rates.

Senior Program Manager

In this role, I served as program manager at two separate locations, Dover Air Force Base and Ramstein Air Force Base. Leading a seven-member team, I focused the team’s efforts on flawless execution of the aircraft maintenance programs. Specifically, identifying and implementing process improvements that increased productivity and operational efficiencies within the aircraft wheel and tire work center saved the Air Force millions of dollars in cost savings. In addition, I liaised with senior leadership ensuring they were up to date on all aircraft and equipment statuses and concerns.

Some notable accomplishments in this role include:
●	Increased order efficiency by 150% via creation of database.
●	Secured alternative sourcing options for aircraft wheel bearings preventing nine-month supply bottleneck.
●	Delivered 6% cost savings through streamlined inventory and production processes.

While in Honduras, I oversaw all aircraft and helicopter related operations for Central American missions and ensured safe and secure operations of the region’s lone capable C-5 airfield. 

I did this while training and developing a two person crew as they executed the vision of the section. I was awarded a Commendation Medal for my efforts during that year.

Key achievements in this role included:
●	Collaborated with the U.S Marines to conduct three anti-trafficking operations throughout Central America.
●        Overhauled base’s tool accountability system, creating central checkout point and reducing waste by 27%

Operations Manager

I interacted with Wing deployment agency while ensuring that all personnel and equipment met 12 hour Operations capability timelines. I also ensured full-spectrum readiness of personnel and equipment, maintained mobility folders, and ensures mobility training requirements are met. I also deployed within 12 hours as C-5 and C-17 maintenance team member, while supporting TRANSCOM's global Joint Task Force-Port Opening (JTF-PO) mission with the Army.

I sustained worldwide Contingency Response Wing maintenance operations while being deployable within 12 hours. During this time, I executed bare base buildup, established personnel and equipment placement, and supported USTRANSCOM directed missions. As a mechanic, I maintained and serviced 18 C-5 and 13 C-17 aircraft and alleviated maintenance personnel shortfalls.

Contingency Aircraft Mechanic

During the beginning of my Air Force career, I performed scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on 18 C-5 aircraft valued at over $3.7 billion. I also performed aircraft inspections and servicing for daily training sorties, worldwide missions, and special taskings. I managed numerous programs and tracked accountability of test equipment, tools, and technical manuals valued at $1 million.

Aircraft Mechanic

Crowdbotics

Visiting Fellow

National Association of African Americans in Human Resources - Northern California

• Strategy development and oversight of its implementation, leading its strategic communications
effort to demonstrate NAAAHR value and impact

• Developing new components of the Chapter's strategy

• Lead the Chapters strategy development and oversight of its implementation including leading
the development of annual and longer-term goals, monitoring achievement of the goals, and
establishing metrics to determine successful implementation of the goals.

• Lead the Chapters innovation efforts including supporting the operation and the development of
new ideas for the Chapter

• Support the coordination of the organization’s knowledge management strategy setting up
systems to facilitate knowledge management between partners, networks, and other external
thought leaders

• Working closely with the Chapter President, Leaders and Board Members to develop criteria to
define key strategic partnerships in alignment with the Chapters strategic plan and work
towards implementing a plan to secure partnerships that support mission achievement

• Work with Chapter Leaders and Board Members to execute against ambitious goals, including
identifying, cultivating and soliciting funding from sponsors, partners, external foundations,
corporations, government sources and other community partners

• Steward existing and build new strategic partnerships that advance NAAAHR’s mission
achievement including identifying new partners to development for new programs and services
provided locally

• Use opportunities to deepen relationships with current partners and sponsors, and to advance
strategies to secure potential partners

Vice President of Strategy

Business Strategy | Data Analytics | Innovation | Defense Ventures Alum

As a visionary entrepreneur and LinkedIn branding strategist, I channel over a decade of experience into helping corporate professionals and startup founders carve influential digital identities. 

At the helm of Social Growth Branding Agency, I’m dedicated to transforming LinkedIn brands into powerful narratives that captivate, inspire, and drive engagement. Our mission extends beyond mere visibility; we strive to craft legacies that resonate across the entrepreneurial and corporate landscapes.

My journey is defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation. The combination of 14 years of military experience and an Executive MBA from Brown University and IE Business School on the horizon gives me a unique vantage point at the intersection of cutting-edge marketing strategies and transformative leadership principles. 

My expertise lies in identifying the unique value each professional and founder possesses, turning their experience into strategic assets that elevate their career and business trajectories.

Beyond this venture, I am an advocate and supporter for equity in entrepreneurship. My aspiration to launch a venture capital fund for underrepresented founders is a testament to my commitment to leveling the playing field in the startup ecosystem. 

Through mentorship, strategic advisory, and leveraging my extensive network, I aim to foster an environment where every aspiring entrepreneur can thrive.

In everything I do, my approach is characterized by a blend of creativity, strategic foresight, and a genuine passion for seeing others succeed.

Shawn Gregoire

Georgia Tech Research Institute

Knowledge Manager inside Project Management Office supporting $1 billion in DOD & other Federal technical projects. Revised Project Director / lead project director training pipeline to accelerate delivery frequency for new Project Managers and reinforce alignment to federal, state, and institutional requirements for awarding, execution, and completion of projects. Implementing comprehensive, course feedback / evaluation cycle to enhance course catalog and improve course attendance rates.

Knowledge Management Specialist

U.S. Coast Guard

WHAT I DO: I am the Senior Commander for 300+ Officer and Enlisted military members, responsible for leading the delivery of 40+ courses to the primary logistics, support, & administrative occupational specialties in the US Coast Guard's national workforce (2000+ students annually trained to become leaders). These three functions make up a third of the US Coast Guard's Enlisted Ratings, or subspecialties.

WHAT I LEARNED: This assignment is the pinnacle of my career as a military, Learning & Development Professional. There were several major efforts I helmed in my tenure, including:

--Repositioned USCG’s aviation rescue swimmer apprenticeship program from North Carolina to California. Not only that, we've graduated the largest Aviation Survival Technician classes per year & in history;

--Led entire Coast Guard in reorientation of apprentice and journeyman training for better alignment to industry certifications for direct hiring opportunities. Organized 4 different subgroups of culinary, IT, medical, and electronics specialists to review industry-leading standards, Coast Guard recruiting practices, and Coast Guard courses to determine overlap to accelerate completion of apprenticeship training. This will be how the US Coast Guard's enlisted rating structure reforms to an apprenticeship approach by 2030.

--Implemented major instructional modifications to USCG’s enlisted Medical apprenticeship & Emergency Medical Technician occupational training; determined better organization of emergency medical skills to deliver 33% more technicians to the field to enhance USCG’s and DHS’s emergency roles in Southwest Border and migrant response. Unfortunately, this one is getting rolled back--but it was absolutely the right performance intervention to pursue.

I learned a lot, and inspired to leave behind my leadership and perspective on continuity, adaptability, and brand towards improving the USCG workforce.

Training And Development Officer

WHAT I DID: I consult internally for the Coast Guard to improve organizational effectiveness, rollout new training programs & courses, & design instructional interventions ahead of CG members operating in new duties or unit types.

WHAT I LEARNED: How DC works. I spent 18 years away from what we call "The Building", & I've learned just how much at a military career disadvantage I've been--not coming to DC sooner. I've learned a completely different battle rhythm--& I'm happy learning that now.

I've also learned the ability for innovation to truly work its way through the service. I was part of the team to develop & deliver the Coast Guard's first "Facilitated Online Training" course. I was part of the team in 2011 which created the Coast Guard's elearning ADDIE process. But this is bigger, faster, & will have even more impact.

I've also learned more of what I bring to an organization as a consultant & program analyst. My strengths are in connecting ideas, corporate strategy, & envisioning systemic change. What better place to practice that, than DC.

Management & Strategy Consultant; eLearning Developer

WHAT I DID: Lead a 10 member Investigations Division conducting the largest number of marine casualty investigations, personnel actions, & enforcement for any single Coast Guard unit.

WHAT I LEARNED: Every job in an organization has more than one aspect. To be a great Coast Guard Prevention Officer (or even better for my potential shift into industry) this aspect of managing the marine transportation system is a critical one to appreciate & master.

Senior Casualty & Maritime Enforcement Investigator

WHAT I DID:  Lead a 40+ member team in screening and conducting foreign vessel exams in the busiest port in the United States.  Wrote the book that hit home for me (Command Your Transition).  And looking ahead to life after the uniform (01 June 2021).

WHAT I LEARNED:  The best leaders, make other leaders.  And--they make sure their new leaders are better than they were when they were in the same space.

Journeyman Marine Inspector; Assistant Chief, Port State Control

WHAT I DID:  Hands down, the best team I've ever served with.  And the best assignment I ever completed.  I helped training and develop the first 1000 soldiers of a new, 5000 soldier maritime security force established by Saudi's Ministry of the Interior, to protect maritime critical infrastructure throughout the Kingdom.  It was the ultimate challenge--taking everything I learned about military training & development, and applying it on a foundation of Islamic culture and custom.

Our key focus was finalizing and shipping a 20 week new soldier orientation program, involving basic and advanced boat maneuvering, weapons & law enforcement, engineering & maintenance, and unit training & assessment.

WHAT I LEARNED:  There is never a right answer from outside--the right answers only come from within.  I also learned how amazing things can happen, when you're surrounded by an amazing team.  And yeah, I've got wanderlust to go back and see how things turned out.

Training Officer; Instructional Designer; Organizational Design Consultant

WHAT I DID:  Training over 330 Coast Guard members amidst the backdrop of Sonoma County.  Probably the most scenic location the Coast Guard has.  Operated the Coast Guard's largest galley, with 200,000 annual patrons (but can still burn a steak like anyone else).  Helped revise 8-17 week apprentice training programs across the Mission Support community; helped revise initial maritime law enforcement training to qualify more CG LE boarding teams (and save about a million dollars over two years); and helped install a unit orientation program to assist 75 members to indoctrinate into a unique training environment.

WHAT I LEARNED:  I became a Franklin Covey Seven Habits facilitator, a 360 Feedback Leadership Practices Inventory Coach, and was in the first iteration of the Coast Guard's first intermediate level education for any Officer (called MOCTC--Midgrade Officer Career Transition Course). I learned how to lead, I learned how even in the perfect environment, you can be frustrated. And I learned much of what I teach others about for military transition:  Network Early, Expect the Dip, Be Honest.

Branch Chief, Food Service, Yeoman, Storekeeper Training Programs; eLearning Team Lead

Transition Tactics Podcast

After publishing Command Your Transition, I found so many veterans & perspectives I hadn't considered when writing. Moreover, there's parts of the book I have to update now based on the research.

TTP is my way to provide updated guidance & insightful interviews to assist members in commanding their transition.

Radio Talk Show Host

VETTED

VETTED is the ideal business immersion training program I looked for to prepare for my own transition from the military. Not only is it heralded by the leadership of University of Texas & Texas A&M, VETTED provides the ideal blend of resident & non-resident training to prepare veterans to immediately enter a business career path after the uniform.

As member of the Career Services Task Force--I work with an amazing team to help veterans embrace an entrepreneurial, unconventional, commanding approach to master their transition.

And that's only the beginning.

Career Services Task Force

WHAT I DID: Led the foreign vessel arrival and examination processes in the Port of Corpus Christi, the nation's fifth largest petrochemical port.  This tour is where I fell in love with Texas, and where I learned about the Coast Guard's long-standing mission in commercial vessel safety. With a small team of 10-12 members, we were able to accomplish some amazing things.

Apprentice Marine Inspector; Port State Control (PSC) Section Chief

WHAT I DID:  24 Mobile Training Team missions to 19 countries, trained over 650 foreign nationals on small boat operations, maritime law enforcement, outboard motor maintenance, search & rescue, leadership, maritime crisis management.  I helped developed a new course on Seaport Security & Anti-Terrorism--and realized my strength and heart was in training & developing others.

One of my best successes was a 75-day training mission to the Republic of Georgia, nestled on the Black Sea & between Russia & Turkey, helping the Georgian Coast Guard establish a small boat/patrol boat training program. It was an amazing experience--just as were all the other countries.

Mobile Training Team Leader; Port Safety/Security Chief; Instructor, Instructional Designer

My first--and only--afloat experience. I was able to see the Coast Guard operate before and after 9/11, and it was humbling.  Completed six north Atlantic Ocean patrols (including two Thanksgivings in Boston), & two Caribbean patrols.  Thoroughly enjoyed being an underway Officer of the Deck, hated collateral duties.  Loved ship driving, hated the extra work.  Knew I could never go back afloat.  Almost ended my career--but that's another story.

Deck Watch Officer; Support Department Head

WHAT I DO: I am searching for mid to senior Program Management and Operations Management roles for technical or human performance improvement programs. As a Coast Guard Director of Learning, I excelled in instructional design, strategic program management, executing end-to-end scalable programs for managers and employees at all levels, and managing day-to-day operations, budget, and vendor and stakeholder engagement derived from leading comprehensive training initiatives and modernizing educational programs.

WHO I WORK WITH:  I thrive in atypical, unique training environments. I'm most successful in the most unique and difficult places you can imagine, whether teaching maritime crisis management in Beirut, strategic workforce planning in Saudi Arabia, or ISO 9001 compliance & oversight in the Gulf of Mexico. As a military, learning and development professional, I can adapt my performance models from the military to critical civilian environments.

I believe the future of work is as much about apprenticeship, as it is reskilling your current workforce for new duties. This was my pinnacle, ultimate challenge of my military career. As I’m learning in industry, retraining your current workforce is as important for retention, as assignment. 

I also believe, Program Management provides a systemic and systematic framework to improve and inspire performance. Taking my skillset into industry, is now my current challenge.

MY BACKGROUND: I was a Director of Learning and Development and Coast Guard Veteran with 23 years of collective experience developing and managing client relationships within the Department of Homeland Security. I have an extensive background in leadership development, process improvement, and analyzing learning needs, objectives, and expected outcomes of programs in alignment with business strategies.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
Curriculum & Training Design / Operations Management / Educational Technology / Policy Review & Revision / Crisis Management / Staff Mentorship and Development / Public Relations / Management Consulting / Strategic Planning

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The Battle

Shawn Gregoire

Travis S. Collier

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