Blake Shafer

Experience

• 

  Camp Susquehannock

  Jun 2007 - Aug 2013

  The Leadership-in-Training Program at Camp Susquehannock is the first step in a camper's progression to becoming a counselor. The program is designed to give 14 and 15 year old campers, that volunteer, the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their skills of organization and collaboration to develop a sense of responsibility. The campers are given certain responsibilities that contribute to the efficient operation of the camp, their work is to be personally documented and appropriately overseen to both satisfy their requirements as members of the program and maximize personal development thorough feedback. As the director I not only create the sets of responsibilities for the "LITs" and oversee their completion, but am also responsible for providing the tools and guidance they need to appropriately document their work and assess their development. The LITs invitation back to camp to be a 16 year old Counselor-in-Training is dependent on the successful completion of a summer in the LIT program. Show less

  • Leadership-in-Training Program Director

    Jun 2011 - Aug 2013

  • Residential Cabin Counselor

    Jun 2007 - Jul 2013
• 

  Veritable, LP

  Sept 2008 - Jan 2009

  Intern

  Earned the opportunity to be a full time intern from a successful business development research project in the spring of 2008. Primary responsibilities were in support of a specific portfolio management team. This role included the preparation and organization of client correspondence as well as assistance with researching investment vehicles for that particular portfolio. Was also given the opportunity to work on independent projects in all departments including accounting, trade desk, compliance, and business development, which offered me a broad all encompassing perspective on the company and the industry. Show less

• 

  Argosy International

  May 2011 - Jun 2011

  Summer Business Development Intern

  Traveled independently to Shanghai to do a project based internship in business development. Pitted against a hired agency, I was tasked with investigating the market potential for the high tech manufacturing input field of carbon fiber fabrics. After a week or two to familiarize myself with the particular products and the industry standards, I was asked to logically organize, prioritize, and document my potential clients in the US and European markets. The final report resulted in an extended trip to meet with the highest potential clients. I am proud to say, that my employer expressed that my research and report had out-performed the competing agency for a fraction of the cost. Show less

• 

  RPG

  Sept 2013 - Aug 2014

  Project Manager - Asia

  Primarily responsible for the management of production logistics on site in China. Tasks included growing and maintaining relationships with a vendor network. Managing challenges of an industry with diverse material and processing procedure requirements and rapid speed to market coupled with high quality standards of global luxury brands. In addition to initial pricing, due diligence, and initial sampling; quality control support was also an important responsibility.

• 

  Smart Agriculture Analytics

  Mar 2014 - Sept 2014

  Translation Intern

  As a daily news translator, I help to create a agricultural technology investment focused daily news product by translating, analyzing, and summarizing original Chinese language news articles. With a sector focus on environmentally sustainable agriculture, I submit 100-300 word english language summaries that highlight the development, innovation, and growth in Chinese agriculture.

• 

  Eldora Mountain Resort

  Nov 2014 - Apr 2015

  Ski Instructor and Snowmaker

  Full time professional certified ski instructor for children and adults. Taught in both single day and weekly lessons mostly with children ages 4-7.Worked around heavy equipment including high pressure air and water systems to produce the base snow pack for ski season. I also worked as a controller of the snowmaking system, managing system diagnostics of high pressure water pumps and air compressors while coordinating with snowmakers on the hill to meet daily production goals and reach full capacity. Show less

• 

  Porters Ski Area Ltd.

  May 2015 - Sept 2015

  Snowmaker

  Ran a 24 hour/day snowmaking operation as part of a four person team that oversaw a semi automated system of SMI Polecat and Super Puma fan snowmakers. In addition to day to day maintenance of snowmaking guns the responsibilities included independent operation of a diesel generator pad, 400 HP water pump and corresponding water manifold as well as individual air compressors, diesel powered chair lifts, snowmobiles, and quad-bikes. Needed to make use of familiarity with mountain weather, snow quality index, snow base requirements, and cost efficiency of the system to determine when to operate the system. Show less

• 

  Camp Susquehannock

  Jun 2016 - Aug 2016

  Counselor-in-Training Program Director

  The Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program at Camp Susquehannock helps to develop and nurture the skills required to transition from camper to counselor. The eldest campers (age 16) are guided through personal reflection and task specific training to better understand the integral role and responsibilities that counselors fulfill. Through guided practice, CITs gain greater awareness of their impact on a closed community and the ways in which they can effectively facilitate all of the beneficial experiences that summer camp involves. The director serves as the CITs cabin counselor, spokesperson, and facilitator as they begin to identify their strengths, values, and potential. I document and communicate their experiences and provide appropriate feedback to better prepare them for all types of work and community living in their future. Show less

• 

  Fox Glacier Guiding

  Mar 2017 - Jun 2019

  Responsible for currency, consistency, and quality of FGG’s well established guide training program. With the help of all FGG Team Leaders, responsible for ensuring all guides have the appropriate training and development to operate safely and effectively in their given role.This involves oversight of all guide training, delivery of all new guide training, drafting and updating training program, revision and maintenance of records, setting and enforcing training targets internally and externally, and the editing and drafting of operations manual. Show less Oversee the daily operation of a 30 person guiding team that delivers a variety of helicopter access mountain tours. On a daily basis as a Dispatch or Lead Guide, responsible for overseeing and maintaining the safe operating site for all of our glacier based tours in a dynamic environment and making weather calls for all trips. Responsibility also includes the assigning of all roles for the given day of operation and any adjustments to those roles as necessary.Furthermore, Became the elected representative of the HSIG team, responsible for processing all of the incident and hazard identification reports in the guiding department. This process includes online record keeping, data analysis, and facilitating review in our regular guide meetings. Show less Certified Hard Ice Glacier Guide by the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association. I lead trips five days a week based on the Fox Glacier a beautiful and remote place on the west coast of South Island. I lead informative and exploratory adventure hikes on and off the glacier as well instructive ice climbing and hard ice mountaineering tours in both English and Mandarin. The glacier is accessed solely by helicopter and consequently guides are required to have a significant level of independence in their delivery of the products. The in house and internationally recognized NZMGA training and expertise required for the job includes broad and detailed knowledge of hard ice glacier navigation, aircraft safety, outdoor emergency medicine, rope rescue, mountain weather, client management, scientific and historical interpretive knowledge base, and ice climbing.Additionally, after completing my in house training as a guide in 2015, I took on the role of Mandarin Language Trainer for the entire team, developing a two stage program designed to give them a base level of language skills that help to maintain safety and improve client satisfaction for the majority of FGG clients. Show less

  • Guiding Training Manager

    Mar 2018 - Jun 2019

  • Guiding Team Leader

    Jul 2017 - Jun 2019

  • Glacier Guide & Mandarin Language Trainer

    Oct 2015 - Jun 2019

  • Technical Equipment Coordinator

    Mar 2017 - Apr 2018
• 

  Denise Louie Education Center

  Nov 2019 - May 2021

  ERSEA/Enrollment Coordinator

  Primary responsibility is the tasks of recruitment and enrollment of children (ages 0-5) from low income or high need families into preschool or home visit programs. Conducting in-person and phone/video interviews to assess eligibility and managing a large HIPAA/FERPA compliant software database of personal information. Full understanding of the performance standards for federal, state, and city funding programs required to assess eligibility in real time and connect families to required services. Working proficiency required in G-Suite, ChildPlus, Adobe, Docusign, Virtru Protect, City of Seattle’s “CHIPS”, and WA state’s ECEAP ELMS web based software. Conducted all work in both English and Mandarin Chinese.Responsibilities also include: Reviewing and updating all forms and supportive documents related to enrollment and application, developing and delivering enrollment and eligibility training for all staff and consulting with home visitors and family services staff as they conduct work related to enrollment. Show less

• 

  Wild Society

  Sept 2020 - Aug 2023

  Backcountry Guide

  Group leader for teens or adults on 3-10 day trips in National Park or Forest. Responsible for all trip logistics, risk management, instruction, and community creation in conjunction with a co-leader and the team of participants. At Wild Society we use the natural world to cultivate wonder, belonging, gratitude, and respect for ourselves, our communities, and the world at large.

• 

  PAE

  Sept 2021 - Feb 2022

  Field Coordinator

  Working for US Antarctic Program as part of the of the Antarctic Support Contract:Part of a small field team that oversaw operation, maintenance and management of deep field camp facilities on the west Antarctic Ice Sheet. In support of field science, coordinate air support, localized search and rescue, cooking, communications, weather observation, Skiway grooming, equipment operation, fueling operations, cargo movement and direction, and/or camp construction.

• 

  City of Seattle

  Dec 2023 - now

  Part of an intake unit that enrolls all preschool and childcare eligible children into the city funded income based subsidized preschool and childcare voucher programs. Tasked with caseload management of both providers and parents and the verification of enrollment documentation. Work consists of interpretation and application of city, state, and federal policy, strong direct customer service, online data base management and general iin a multilingual environment of heritage language speakers and families from marginalized and disinvested communities. Show less

  • Program Intake Representative

    Sept 2022 - now

  • Human Services Coordinator

    Dec 2023 - Aug 2024