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Randy Fisher

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About Randy Fisher ~ aka "WikiRandy"

Randy Fisher has 14+ years of experience related to stakeholder engagement, project design, coordination and implementation in business, marketing, education, public policy, HR in diverse sectors (i.e., education, forestry, energy, government and nonprofits (including social / immigrant services). He has also advised, trained and coached front-line staff, technical and IT specialists, middle managers and senior executives.

Currently, I am consulting to The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in Vancouver on several projects: (1) coordinating the Commonwealth Executive MBA / MPA Programmes and consortium; (2) WikiEducator - community development and facilitation; (3) WikiGovernance / COLLaGE - community development and facilitation; and (4) COLeIO (E-Learning Tutor, World Health Organization). (Also, see: Summary of Experience).

My Skills & Abilities

  • Strong analytical and investigative skills - experience with business process improvement
  • Excellent communications skills ~ especially with technical folks!
  • Able to bridge business and technical worlds - and facilitate easier understanding/response to change
  • Able to increase connections, collaboration and performance within teams, communities, partners, etc.
  • Skilled at designing and developing develop education / ODL / e-learning / training and development materials for face-to-face and online environments – in Canada and internationally


My Interests in Organizational Design & Development

Note: I am pursuing a graduate degree (MA) in Organization Management and Development, Fielding Graduate University (graduating 2009)

  • Assessing, evaluating and aligning organizational processes, dynamics, history and culture and opportunities for movement and sustainable change
  • Leveraging organizational and interpersonal resources, relationships and linkages;
  • Creating strategies for engaging, empowering and coaching stakeholders based on strengths, challenges, interests, resources and motivations;
  • Managing / supporting organizational change (including large-scale change such as Mergers & Acquisitions), human performance and business process improvement efforts;
  • Developing strategies for building rapport, facilitating sustainable groups, communities, clusters, networks and alliances using collaborative technologies (including blogs, wikis and proprietary software).
  • Developing coaching and mentoring programs
  • Creating marketing, advocacy and communications strategies and implementation (online and offline).

My Education

Degrees

(Diplomas, Certifications and Coaching & Mentoring below)


  • 2009 - MA, Organization Management & Development, Fielding Graduate University, (WASC Member) California
  • 1987 - BJ (Journalism), post-graduate degree, University of King's College, (AUCC Member), Halifax
  • 1985 - BA (Political Science), McGill University, (AUCC Member), Montreal

My Work & Consulting History

iCentro Networks, Practice Manager, Vancouver, 2006-present

  • An Organization Design & Development consulting practice with expertise in stakeholder engagement, facilitation and collaboration; managing change; and building sustainable communities, networks and
    • Developed Strategic Action Network methodology and organizational structure to assist client-stakeholders to achieve business objectives. Designed and facilitated BC PowerPeer Network — a supply-chain business development network of 10 alternative energy sector firms.
    • Assessed stakeholder positioning and developed engagement and communication strategies. Defined possible business impacts and cultural changes. Developed plans and strategies to respond to disruption/risk.
    • Facilitated stakeholders to gain consensus and buy-in; managed change through coaching, workshops, generative dialogue, interviews, feedback, summaries, reviews, etc.


The Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver, BC 2006

(Performing various roles including: Programme Coordination, Facilitation and Community Development)

Commonwealth Executive MBA / MPA Programmes & Consortium
  • Coordinating the open and distance learning CEMBA / MPA Programmes in Commonwealth developing countries including Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Ghana & Nigeria).
  • Evaluated external consultant focused on course reviews and revisions
  • Evaluated external consultant focused on preparing Action Plan for Converting Print-Content to Online Delivery System
WikiEducator
  • Developing cluster/collaboration strategy for networking ODL Learning communities for [[hLearning4Content|Learning4Content] initiative (funded by Hewlett Foundation), including HIV/AIDS, Teacher-Student learning and strategic international partnership development.
  • Designed community-building activities for FLOSS4EDU workshop in New Zealand (focusing on wiki-training and Open Educational Resources (OERs)
  • Developed WikiNeighbour concept & resource page - with Wayne Mackintosh).
  • Attended the Commonwealth of Learning's Tectonic Shift Think Tank meeting in Vancouver to discuss the future of Wikieducator and free educational content.
Governance (WikiGovernance & COLLaGE)
  • Stakeholder communications and workshop design, for ODL resources in governance
  • Developed and facilitated the Commonwealth of Learning's - Leadership, Governance and Empowerment community, and WikiGovernance project node (on WikiEducator)
  • Designed in-country governance workshops and ODL planning sessions (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands)
  • Accelerating Community/NGO Engagement for ODL Resource Development (Governance), an abstract accepted for presentation to Pan-Commonwealth Forum (PCF-5) in London, UK, for July 2008.
Community Media (Community Radio)
Writing Effectively Programme
  • Supported and tutored multicultural health professionals improving their writing skills (i.e., UN, World Health Organization & international agencies).

2006 - Employment & JobMatch Counsellor at Jewish Family Service Agency, Vancouver, BC

  • Provided vocational counselling, resume writing, interview coaching and employer relations.

Also engaged in freelance marketing / communications services.

  • Provided employment counseling, support, referral, advocacy, lead-generation and job search techniques for new and recent immigrants. Mentored / coached multicultural client base with resumes, cover letters and interviewing strategies.
  • Developed leads and contacts with employers in high tech, business and nonprofits.
  • Designed and facilitated Canada Workplace Culture workshops and breakfast networking event for business professionals. “Nosh n’ Network”.
  • Designed / launched career-related blogs to assist job-seekers and case managers.

1999-2005 — Managing Director, iCentro Corporation, Vancouver, BC

  • Launched an IT recruitment / placement firm (1999). After the dot-com bust (2001), iCentro retooled focusing on organization management and development, human performance and interpersonal networks. Formed strategic alliances with Futureworks (Seattle); Epsilon Learning & Trottier & Associates (Vancouver).

2002-2005

  • Developed slate of consulting services (including learning workshops, leadership coaching, needs analysis, surveys, data collections and facilitation) to increase innovation and build collaborative relationships and networks. Based on The iCentro Method POWER Network System™.
  • Expert knowledge of strategies and adult learning principles for building rapport and project implementation.
  • Designed team-building workshop for mental health case workers (ATCMHMR, Austin, TX)


1999-2001

  • Marketed and provided IT and related recruiting services in Canada and the US.
  • Focused on “reverse-marketing” candidates (i.e., advocating best-fit candidates to employers)
  • Developed and maintained strategic relationship with Microsoft Alumni recruiter.
  • Provided support and coaching to 100+ career transition professionals. Used MBTI and Strong Interest Inventory assessment tools. Conducted pre-screening, candidate assessment, background and reference checks, interview coaching and candidate-employer bridging.

2005 - Account Executive, MarketFit, Vancouver, BC (part-time)

  • Provided PR / media relations for clients in finance, foodservices and real estate.
  • Positioned and marketed a $15M private Island in Fiji as the “The Ultimate Christmas Gift”.
  • Also secured feature profile in BC Business and media coverage in US.

2003 - Program Manager, Executives on Auction, Vancouver, BC (volunteer)

  • Launched online auction — raising funds for charity by auctioning off time with executives.
  • Recruited 50+ business execs to raise money their favourite charities. 20+ business associations and media agreed to promote the auction to members.
  • Planned and coordinated ‘Benefit Lunch’ for 40+ execs, sponsors, charities, media personalities and VIPs.
  • Negotiated numerous sponsorships. Managed relationship with PR agency. Wrote and test-marketed all supporting marketing / communications collateral (online, print, electronic)

1997-1999 - Randy Fisher Communications, Ottawa, ON & Vancouver, BC

  • 1997 - Team building / communications for Multiactive Technologies e-commerce division.
    • Coached a young and diverse team of 25 technical professionals (software engineers, IT / IS and web pros) to gel into a team. Provided onsite coaching and facilitated teambuilding workshop. The team stayed together for 3 years, and eventually went on to win a Codie Award.

1994-1996 - Project Co-Leader, Branham Group, Ottawa, ON & Miramichi, NB

  • Conducted market research studies and strategic planning process to support business growth, economic development and cluster formation ~ Branham become a leader in distance learning consulting.
    • Won a $150K contract for a regional economic development strategy in Atlantic Canada. Analyzed business case for distance learning consortium based in Ontario.
    • Conducted public consultations for community input and buy-in for regional economic development initiatives.
    • Developed a Strategic Action Plan for an e-learning institute in Miramichi, NB.
      • Conducted market research, interviews and data-gathering for feasibility studies Applied statistical and other research methods into business issues and data analysis (SPSS).

Public Relations, Writing & Communications

1990-1996 - Writing / research projects for Ottawa-based associations, NGO's, associations and the government of Canada

  • Association of Provincial Organizations ~ part of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association (APRO - Graham Taylor); Canada Post; Canadian Advanced Technology Association (CATA Alliance); Environment Canada; House of Commons Public Information Office; Industry Canada; Knowledge Connection Corporation (a spinoff of the Telecommunications Research Institute of Ontario, now part of OCRI); National Capital Commission; National Research CouncilNatural Resources Canada; Pre-competitive Applied Research Network (PRECARN) /Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS)

1993 - Communications Officer, Pubic Service Commission / Training & Development Canada 1992 - Director, Communications, Public Policy Forum, Ottawa 1992 - Communications Officer, Bell-Northern Research (Northern Telecom), Ottawa 1991-1992 - Advertising / Copywriter, Minto Developments, Ottawa 1989-1991 - Business Journalist

  • The Globe and Mail (Report on Business), Ottawa
  • The Financial Post, Montreal
  • CBC Radio (CBO) Morning, Ottawa
  • The Ottawa Citizen, Copy Editor


Education (continued)

Diplomas

  • 2008 - Diploma, Counselling Skills (in progress), Vancouver Community College

Courses taken: Basic Counselling & Group Counselling

  • 2007 - BC Provincial Instructor Diploma / Train-the-Trainer (practicum remaining), Vancouver Community College

Recognized by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education

  • 1996 - Advanced Technology Manager, Learnsoft / Canadian Advanced Technology Association/Learnsoft (a spinoff of Newbridge Networks), Ottawa

An intensive 9-month graduate-level program in business and management skills (i.e., a mini-MBA)

  • 1978 - French as a Second Language, University of Quebec in Three Rivers

Certifications

  • 2001 - The Birkman Method
  • 2000 - Strong Interest Inventory
  • 1999 - Myers-Briggs Type Inventory


Coaching & Mentoring

  • 2004 - Mentoring - Group Dynamics and Facilitation, Trottier & Associates, Vancouver

Publications (articles)

2006-2007

  • "Mergers & Acquisitions: Are You Ready", cover story in PeopleTalk Winter 2007 issue, BC Human Resources Management Association, )pp. 12-20), 2007
  • "Climate Change: Opportunities for Exporters" (working title), for Export Development Canada
  • Profile: Student Services Evaluation Coordinator, in Outlook, for CGA-BC Outlook, 2007
  • Profile: Teldon Media / Printing, in Outlook, for CGA-BC, 2007
  • "From 50 lb laptops to PDA's: Computer User Group Still Going Strong After 20 Years", BC Certified General Accountants association, Vancouver, 2006
  • "Enterprise Rent-A-Car is a Company on the Move", BC-Certified General Accountants association, in Outlook, Vancouver, 2006
  • Profile: Canada Export Centre, in ExportWise, for Export Development Canada, 2006

1999

  • "Cracking the New E-conomy", Washington Software Alliance: articles on information-gathering, research and team-building. Also interviewed Seattle-area high tech entrepreneurs, 1999

Presentations

2007 Randy Fisher submits Proposal to PCF5, Accelerating Community/NGO Engagement for ODL Resource Development (Governance).

2004

  • Increasing Collaboration: Network Organizations and Horizontality, by Randy Fisher and Patrick Trottier, iCentro Corporation. Presented at Riding the Winds of Change, Pacific Management Community Council, Burnaby, BC November 23-24, 2004.

Professional Organizations

2007

  • BC Human Resources Management Association (BCHRMA)
  • BC Organizational Development Network (BCODN)
  • Organizational Development Network (OD Network)


My Websites


Community Service

  • St. Paul Hospital - Healthy Heart Resource Centre, Vancouver, 2006
  • Simcha Live! Steering Committee Member, 2005-2006
    • Launched and produced monthly music and cultural showcase. Managed team of 2 direct reports and 5 indirect reports. Recruited 25+ performers in 8 months. Developed blogs and executed email marketing campaigns.
  • Vancouver Downtown Jewish Community & Simcha Live! Member, Steering Committee, 2005-2006
  • Washington Software Alliance, Seattle, 2000

Lead interviewer: “Cracking the New E-conomy: Business Tools for Entrepreneurs, 2000.

  • Softworld Marketing Committee, Vancouver, 1998;
  • Ottawa Distance Learning Group, Ottawa, Acting Director, 1997

Contact Me!

wikirandy AT yahoo.com Vancouver, BC +1 604.684.2275

  • Gmail: wikirandy
  • Skype: wikirandy
  • Yahoo**: wikirandy
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