PPB June 2018

PPAI Welcomes Julie Kwan As Manager Of Diversity And Learning Engagement Julie Kwan has joined PPAI as the Association’s manager of diversity and learning engagement, part of its professional development team. Kwan comes to PPAI from Hitachi Consulting, where she worked in learning and development for the past 10 years. PPB recently sat down with Kwan to learn more about the newest member of the Association’s staff. Reach her at JulieK@ppai.org and 972-258-3018. PPB: What was your professional background prior to joining the Association? Julie Kwan: Prior to joining PPAI, I was the global learning and development program manager for Hitachi Consulting. In that role, I was responsible for the strategy, development and delivery of global learning programs. I worked closely with business leaders to identify, develop and deploy learning programs aligned with their transforming business strategy. I have more than 10 years of experience as an instructional designer, training facilitator and webinar producer. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Texas A&M University and my master’s degree in Instructional & Performance Technology from Boise State University. I’m also a certified facilitator for Fierce Conversations. Through my academic work, I published a case study in the textbook Cases on Human Performance Improvement Technologies , as well as two articles for the International Society for Performance Improvement’s online publication PerformanceXpress . PPB: What attracted you to your new position at PPAI? Kwan: PPAI values professional development for its members and employees, and I’m excited to be a part of the team that delivers these development opportunities! PPB: What are your initial objectives in the position? Kwan: Initially, I am focused on developing our diversity and inclusion education program. My goal will be to provide learning programs and materials to help association members attract, recruit, train and sustain diverse employees across the promotional products industry. For this, I look forward to engaging with members across the country to learn what’s on their minds when it comes to diversity. I will also manage our online learning program, in which I will be responsible for the development and delivery of online learning and webinars. PPB: Outside of PPAI, what are your interests? Kwan: I am an active member of my local church, serving with our ministry for single adults. We have a ton of fun hosting events and serving the local and international community. Recently, a group of us traveled to Haiti to help with projects and to serve and encourage the men, women and children in the village of Arcahaie. It was a wonderful and challenging opportunity to focus on others and their needs, rather than my own! I also have a passion for travel. Through it, I get to learn about other cultures, try new foods and experience this beautiful world. The program will have 7.5 credits of course content with a short quiz of three to five questions following each course. • The CAS will be comprised of 25 credits of identified course offerings that are to be completed with the passing of a quiz for each course. In addition, those working on their CAS will need to complete 25 credits of elective CAS or MAS courses. Professionals seeking to earn their CAS will have new requirements to start in the program, which include completing the TAS and being employed in the promotional products industry. • The MAS will be similar to the CAS, with 25 credits of identified course offerings to be completed by passing a quiz at the end of each course. MAS candidates will also need to complete 25 credits of elective MAS education and one industry service credit. Professionals seeking to earn their MAS will need to hold a current CAS and have three years of experience in the promotional products industry. Additionally, individuals with a current MAS can now apply CAS or MAS credits toward their recertification. This change, says Crowfoot, was made to recognize that numerous new ideas, processes and content are brought to the industry each year, and these new elements may initially be presented at the CAS level. PPAI wants to ensure that lifelong learners who want to maintain their MAS have the option to pursue learning opportunities that are important to them, regardless of credit level. “All credits currently on industry professionals’ transcripts will apply toward their progress in the program as well,” Crowfoot adds. “They will not lose credits for any course they have already taken. For those who have taken a course that now requires a quiz, they will need to complete the quiz but will not be required to watch the session over again. Otherwise, all other completed courses will go toward fulfilling the elective course requirement.” 92 | JUNE 2018 | CONNECT Julie Kwan