Mike Avist

Experience

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  United States Air Force

  Sept 1986 - Apr 2006

  Supervisory Security Manager / Information Security Officer / Resource Protection Manager

  Revised and rewrote both the Installation Security Plan (ISP) and the Installation Security Instruction (ISI) annuallyEvaluated and analyzed data; developed performance improvement activities when data indicated a need for improvement Advised senior management and supervisors on the procedures and policy requirements for correcting complex conduct problems and administering disciplinary and adverse actionsConducted numerous surveys of Controlled areas and facilities valued at $100,000 once every 4 yearsMonitored and tracked controlled access programs to ensure implementation and viability of appropriate systems security policies, as well as the acquisition of IT security toolsPlanned, established and implemented local AIS systems security program(s), such as IT security, certification and accreditation processes, regular and recurring Council on Technology Services (COTS) analysis and the performance of test and assessments of security authentication technologiesLead ad hoc teams in the conduct of comprehensive program studies and evaluations to assure efficacy and viability of AIS operations, as well as compliance with and adherence to established Federal and VA/OI&T laws, regulations, policies and procedures established to protect AIS from unauthorized access; and sensitive data from fraudulent compromiseDeveloped and implemented program procedures to ensure that systems, network and data users are aware of, as well as understand and adhere to AIS policies and proceduresEnsured the rigorous application of AIS policies, principles and practices relative to all local IT systems and services Show less

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  NAS JRB New Orleans Fleet and Family Support Center

  Oct 2007 - Sept 2011

  Supervised the delivery of one-on-one consultations; information and referrals; classroom trainings; workshops and seminars for 3500 + service membersSupervised the performance and training of 15 designated contract staff membersExpert in communicating very precisely and very effectively with the entire spectrum of professionals, administrative and clerical staff, and wage grade employees found within a complex medical environmentDeveloped and implemented a wide range of programs and services within the organization, including community outreach activitiesWorked with 13 clinical staff to ensure delivery of quality workshops to service members and familiesExperienced in training other facilitators in presentation skills/techniques and Lean Six Sigma methodologies and training techniques Wrote a variety of articles, for the organization’s monthly newsletter, base newspaper, media sources, and speeches conveying information and clarifying the organization’s operations, programs and activities to various audiences, specialized audiences and the public Maintained knowledge of basic principles of visual design and basic skills in the use of common graphic media, incorporating modern techniques and methods of presenting information to target audiencesDeveloped management and program evaluation plans, procedures, and methodology Show less Performed as a subject matter expert while hosting the week of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) workshop for 35 to 40 separating and retiring service members each monthSupervised the Transition/Relocation Assistance Coordinating Committee to ensure the coordination and integration of dissimilar relocation services into a comprehensive installation programDeveloped and presented training on various employee relations related subjectsCommunicated with diverse audiences that included employees, management and labor officialsWrote news releases, feature stories, scripts, announcements, speeches, copy, and fact sheets for both internal and externalPresented family program briefings to management, families, and members of the organizationDelivered career counseling to military spouses representing a broad range of career interests, reviewing job documents (e.g., résumés, cover letters), and conducting mock interview sessionsSupported program strategic planning and management initiatives, maintained key liaison relationships (e.g. academic institutions), and assisted with numerous open houses and career fairsMarketed FFSC services to family members using multiple ways to include, the following methods: placing information in the Plan of the Day, Plan of the Week, in the ombudsman newsletter, the FFSC Facebook web site, newsletters, marquee messages, flyers in the commissary, exchange, clinic waiting room, housing office, Child Development Center, and articles/program listings in the base newspaper Show less Educated service members and their families how to save for emergencies, disasters, unanticipated contingencies, and both short and long-term goalsIdentified immediate and long-range measures to increase income, reduce household expenditures, and avoid additional financial burdens for numerous service members Produced personal budgets and financial planning to reduce, eliminate, and avoid debt and to achieve solvency and stability for 26 service members and their familiesTrained numerous service members’ money management techniques to encourage them to live within their means and understanding credit, finance charges, and interest ratesKnowledgeable of benchmarking, literature searches, brainstorming, multi-voting, idea boarding, flowcharting, graphs/charts, development of monitoring tools, data collection and analysis, tracking and trendingAnalyzed established processes and identified areas for improvement of productivity, efficiency, and effectivenessServed as a primary point of contact and referral for services available in the civilian and military communitiesAttended meetings of professional associations and Ombudsman Assemblies to give short presentations and set up a table to distribute program information.Expert in working effectively with individuals and families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds Show less Served as the chairperson of this program’s Service CommitteeSupervised quarterly meetings to allow the committee to focus on assessing needs for relocating and transitioning service members and their families, and integrating community resources to meet their needs Delivered one-on-one consultation; information and referral; classroom training; workshops and seminars in support of the education and training component of the Exceptional Family Member Program Established instructional materials for the “New Orleans Minute” including PowerPoint designEdited materials written by other facility staff that may be used for internal and/or external publicationsProvided the service member with a comprehensive set of tasks that need to be completed in preparation for a permanent change of station (PCS) move driven by current location, destination, and departure date Responsible for conducting a full review of the Military Installation’s website (http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil) information each quarter and submitting changes as needed. This information included: must-know information for each installation, installation overviews, photo galleries, maps and driving directions to key locations on the installation, current local weather conditions, and extensive community point-of-interest informationEnsured that the local information in the Plan My Move’s website (http://www.planmymove.org) is current and accurate by collecting data and submitting the information to Defense Manpower Data Center, this included working with and contacting community and base organizationsConnected affected service members and families with appropriate military and civilian support organizations, to include Military Treatment Facility/Exceptional Family Member Program Coordinators, and School Liaison Officers Show less

  • Education Services Coordinator/Life Skills Educator

    Jul 2010 - Sept 2011

  • Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Lead/Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP) Assistant

    Nov 2009 - Jul 2010

  • Personal Financial Management (PFM) Specialist

    Jun 2009 - Nov 2009

  • Relocation Assistance Program (RELO) Lead/Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Liaison

    Oct 2007 - Jun 2009
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  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

  Mar 2012 - Jun 2019

  Conducts analytical studies; coaching and providing advice to Services on prioritizing needs and allocating necessary resources, and measuring and evaluating methods and modelsCollaborates with Leaders on training plans for different work types as well as identifying staffing impacts on operational areasSupports leadership and management in the development of short- and long-range workforce and staffing plans and generates staffing projections and needs for the workforceDevelops and prepares methods and plans that assist medical centers implementing and carrying out practices and strategies that integrate learning activities in the workplaceServes as primary educational liaison with the New Orleans VA Medical Center, VA learning Organization, VA National Center for Organizational Development, and any other group or committee concerning issues related to educational planning and processes resources, and measuring and evaluating methods and modelsProvides daily oversight and direct supervision of assigned Employee Education programs designed to maximize the service's ability to deliver high quality and timely career development and employee education services SLVHCS-wideServes as the Training Administrator for adult learning and career development; implements innovative learning strategies that help to develop and sustain a viable workforcePromotes, coordinates, and improves education policies, programs, standards, activities, and opportunities in accordance with national policies and objectivesOversees the development and publication of course schedules and announcements; reviews course syllabus for correctness and accuracy; and oversees the development of student rosters and student records. Show less Coordinates education programs and project activities through various channels throughout the facilityProvides guidance and advice on the implementation of educational programs, projects, activities, and on the problems and issues encountered within those activitiesProvides technical assistance to other SLVHCS employees who are developing computer and software training materials for their targeted audiencesEnsures that all my presentations are compliant with the standards set forth in section 508 of the Rehabilitation ActDevelops and adapts new or revised training materials for formal course use; developed recommendations for course revisionsResponsible for planning, organizing, and coordinating training for approximately 877 new staff during FY 2017 Responsible for providing instructional support for the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System’s (SLVHCS) Education and Training Programs, and Leadership Effectiveness Accountability Development (LEAD) programs Lead education specialist for employee leadership and other skill development programs including but not limited to New Employee Orientation (NEO), NEO Phase III, Emerging Veteran Affairs Leaders (EVAL), Leadership Development Institute (LDI), Advanced Leadership Development Institute (ALDI), Coach / Mentor Training, The Buddy Training Program, Veterans Affairs 101 Training (VA 101), The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Training, both currently offered and any to be developed at a local, VISN or national level Designs programs for the area of assignment by analyzing the need for personnel, facilities, supplies, and materials, prepares Canteen budget requests, stimulates the appropriation of fiscal support, prepares a program plan, and provides ongoing advice and assistance in the program's implementationPlans and develops educational programs and/ or projects where the program is of moderate size and complexity, with occasional complex problems and/ or issues Show less Reviews action responses, informs the Deputy Director, and clarifying answers to the VISN or central officeAdvises and conducts training for other secretaries, program support, and clerical positions throughout the medical centerProvides training to users in the use of all common options in the Talent Management System (TMS), Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA), and Microsoft windowsProvides equipment, training and Information Technology (IT) assessment needs support, serves as liaison with CIM for additional services Processes incoming and outgoing materials such as correspondence, reports, memoranda, and other forms of written communicationNotifies the appropriate subordinate management officials of the need for information or recommendation, and either prepares the response or follows up to ensure a timely response by othersEdits letters, composing letters and reports, reviewing correspondence for accuracy and completeness, and developing standard or form letters and replying to inquiriesScreens all calls and visitors, answers most questions and completes most business involving established policy or routine matters without referring people to the Deputy DirectorExercises exclusive control over the supervisor's appointments, with complete authority for commitment of time Show less Collaborates and communicates with 10 Program Managers in support of the development and implementation strategy of initiatives throughout SLVHCSMaintains 85 time and attendance records for multi-disciplinary employees including staff schedulesIntegrates several types of software to create and/or maintain specific working documents and forms such as spreadsheets, database, word processing, desktop publishing graphics, and similar products Prepares in final form all types of documentation and forms incident to personnel administration and office management, including confidential documents, such as disciplinary and adverse actions Analyzes numerous reports, prepares briefings, and assists in coordinating projects and programs that require the integration of various individuals and teams throughout the organizationResponsible for supporting the coordination of initiatives, performance goals and design, development, and implementation of strategies and actions within a team-based and group settingSelected as Ambulatory and Primary Care’s (A&PC) Fire Warden, responsible for ensuring that all staff are out of the building during an emergency by checking the office and bathrooms to ensure that everyone has evacuated Functional operating knowledge of the healthcare industry including national/state regulatory environment and healthcare policy, public health policy, third party quality organizations and standards, guidelines or policies Show less

  • Supervisory Training Instructor

    Apr 2018 - Jun 2019

  • Training Instructor

    Nov 2014 - Apr 2018

  • Executive Secretary

    Nov 2013 - Nov 2014

  • Program Support Assistant

    Mar 2012 - Nov 2013
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  VISN 16: South Central VA Health Care Network, Veterans Health Administration

  Jun 2019 - now

  Program Analyst (V16 Designated Learning Officer)

  MissionTo best care for Veterans as a high-performing organization that delivers exceptional learning, education and development to every VHA employee throughout their career life cycle.FunctionThe DLO is responsible for the identification, development, and implementation of scientific methods, instructional strategies, and learning technologies in the design, implementation, and evaluation of professional development activities for employee education.Participates in Monthly VISN DLO calls, Facility DLO calls, Leadership Development Institute (LDI) calls, Emerging VA Leaders (EVAL) calls, Talent Management System (TMS) calls, SimLearn/Simulation Champs calls, Field Accreditation Service/Agent in Place Training (FAS/AIP) calls, and Workforce Planning calls. Leads VISN Education strategic planning to identify leaning priorities, identifies mission critical and at-risk positions and target these positions for LEAD program.Leads the implementation of curricula for Facility and VISN LEAD programs across the facilities (same curricula are used VISN-wide for consistency).Develops facilitators at each facility to ensure consistency and continuity with VISN-developed curricula.Collaborates with EES Learning Consultant to discuss VISN education needs.Leads curriculum review and revision annually, based on feedback.Coordinates VISN review and administers/processes requests for VISN-wide education initiatives and funding.Plans and implements key education initiatives; evaluates and reports results of key educational initiatives.Serves on the following team (HR Team Meeting) within the network and fully participates in modernization meetings and participates in HR group discussions to enhance the program such as HR Supervisor Meeting and HR Managers Meeting. Show less