DENISE SAWYER-JOHNSON, DM

845-538-5534 dsawyerjohnson@gmail.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/denisesawyerjohnson

DIRECTOR | CAREER PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP TALENT DEVELOPMENT
A credentialed, consultative and high-performing professional development practitioner, coach and resume writer with
multi-industry expertise in leadership training and career development in four world-class organizations and an AACSB
Accredited business school. Adept at implementing strategic talent development and career management frameworks.
Demonstrated ability in delivering career coaching, succession planning, and high potential development programs. A
track record of articulating and supporting competency models and conducting targeted needs assessments. Deep
experience in collaborating with business partners, stakeholders and end-users across business disciplines and
academic divisions to ensure strategic outcomes.
DEMONSTRATED COMPETENCIES
Development

Management

- Coaching managers, business students and alumni

- Implementing leadership training and assessments
- Launching on-boarding and accelerated readiness programs
- Translating performance gaps into targeted solutions
- Designing/facilitating professional development workshops
- Leading cross-functional project teams
- Accelerating the readiness of high potentials

- Administering leadership and development functions

- Enabling and championing change initiatives
- Developing and executing strategy
- Fostering competency based learning solutions
- Implementing career management and leadership models
- Enhancing performance management skills in leaders
- Facilitating individualized development plans

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
RAMAPO COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY (RCNJ) - Mahwah, NJ
Managing Assistant Director, Career Advisement and Employer Relations
Anisfield School of Business/The Cahill Career Development Center

2010 - 2015

RCNJ, a public liberal arts college of 6000 students, has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as sixth in the Best
Regional Universities North Category. The Anisfield School of Business is AACSB Accredited.

Challenge Hired to launch a dedicated career planning and advisement resource center for business students
(undergraduates, MBA students and alumni) to enhance career readiness, internship and job placement.
Oversaw the operations, planning, programming, and outputs for a career satellite office. Conducted
vocational/individual assessments, career advisement, and mock interviewing for undergrad and MBA students. Guided
job search activities, deliver career skill workshops, and review and refine targeted resumes and cover letters. Assisted
in career portfolio development activities for alumni, junior, and seniors. Hired and developed professional staff,
graduate assistants and work study students. Utilized online resources and LinkedIn for enhancing occupational
networking, literacy and exploration (e.g., Focus 2, CSO, Insider, Interview Stream, Onetonline.org, Beyond BSchool.com., etc.). Collaborated with faculty, Deans and Provosts to support the integration of experiential career
activities into curriculum.
Accomplishments
Invited more than 100 employers/college recruiting professionals to campus to generate internships/job placements.
Established the first satellite career development office and procedures for the Anisfield School of Business.
Coached business students and alumni in all aspects of career planning and development (30-35 sessions/month).
Created and facilitated career skills training workshops/career events (36 per academic year).
Spearheaded an initiative to integrate career planning activity requirements into business courses (500 students).
Implemented a Professional Development Series for MBA students that included presentation skills coaching.
Organized roundtables (7), employer-in-residence programs (10), and business careers job fairs (6).
Designed and facilitated the second annual Leadership Symposium for area >30 business managers.

DENISE SAWYER-JOHNSON, DM

dsawyerjohnson@gmail.com
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (continued)

Accomplishments
Invited more than 100 employers/college recruiting professionals to campus to generate internships/job placements.
Established the first satellite career development office and procedures for the Anisfield School of Business.
Coached business students and alumni in all aspects of career planning and development (30-35 sessions/month).
Created and facilitated career skills training workshops/career events (36 per academic year).
Spearheaded an initiative to integrate career planning activity requirements into business courses (500 students).
Implemented a Professional Development Series for MBA students that included presentation skills coaching.
Organized roundtables (7), employer-in-residence programs (10), and business careers job fairs (6).
Designed and facilitated the second annual Leadership Symposium for area >30 business managers.
BMW of NORTH AMERICA, LLC - Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Section Manager - Leadership and Talent Development (20062009)
Section Manager - Employee Training and Development Solutions (19992006)

1999 - 2009

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA), a subsidiary of BMW AG, was established in 1975 as the
United States importer of luxury/performance vehicles.

Challenge Recruited to implement and manage an aligned learning and development function to enhance
professional, talent, and management development and employee performance.
Spear-headed interventions focused on building competence in people leadership, interpersonal, and communication
skills and led new leader orientation and high-potential development initiatives. Assisted in the chartering of new work
teams. Support change initiatives related to team building, communication and leadership development. Managed an
annual budget of $1.2 million and >30 vendors.
Accomplishments
Constructed with input from key stakeholders and gained executive approval for a 12-month talent development
program for high potential employees.
Re-purposed the content and format, and implemented a three-day facilitator certification program for technical
trainers from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Program saved $300K.
Launched and established a professional business coaching program for new leaders, resulting in faster job
transition for newly promoted/assigned managers.
Spearheaded change initiatives related to corporate brand and communication; values and competencies.
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY- Rochester, NY
Director of Management Development and Leadership Training

1995 - 1997

Eastman Kodak Company is an imaging company that led the way in developing products
and processes to make photography simpler, more useful, and fun. 1000 managers from 1995-97.

Challenge Selected to provide targeted learning and development to address skills gaps in all managers.
Realigned an existing training function by leading the design, delivery,
and evaluation of strategic and competency-based training and development initiatives for 1000
leaders across various businesses worldwide. Managed a gross budget of approximately $.5 million.
Accomplishments
Introduced the first worldwide, supervisory training program that was delivered in four languages and three regions
for 1900 participants during the first year.
Organized and delivered the first worldwide executive level training and talent development program emphasizing
strategic focus and digital trend implications sponsored by the CEO, involving executives from other companies
(e.g., HP, Intel, BET, Maxwell House, AT&T, and Disney, etc.).

DENISE SAWYER-JOHNSON, DM

dsawyerjohnson@gmail.com
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (continued)

RYDER SYSTEM, INC. - Miami, FL

Group Manager, Management Training and Development

1992 - 1995

Ryder System, Inc. is a Fortune provider of leading-edge transportation logistics and supply
chain management solutions worldwide.

Challenge Chosen to align learning solutions with corporate and professional and high potential development goals.
Accomplishments
Collaborated with a consultant to construct an executive assessment workshop for the company president and
direct reports to enhance talent identification and people leadership competencies.
Upgraded and implemented the design for a train-the-trainer program for field trainers, resulting in 25% decrease
in program costs.
Spearheaded the design and launch of a management and technical skills assessment center for high potential
district managers to increase readiness, leading to a 50% increase in talent pool.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
- Ramapo College of New Jersey, Mahwah, NJ Undergraduate Adjunct, 2009-2015 - Management
- Centenary College, Parsippany, NJ Graduate Adjunct, 2010 - Management
- University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ Adjunct, 2008-2010 - Critical Thinking
- Roxbury Community College, Roxbury MA Assistant Professor, 8 years - Psychology
FORMAL EDUCATON
Doctorate of Management (DM) - Organizational Leadership
University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
Master of Science - Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling
Boston University, Boston, MA
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Howard University, Washington, DC
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS/PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
A Sample Listing
Crucial Conversations
Vital Smarts

Certified Professional Coach (CPC)

International Coach Academy

DISC Profile
Inscape Publishing

Emotional Intelligence Assessment

Genos Pty.

Influence: Collaborating for Results

The Forum Corporation, Inc.

Situational Leadership II, Situational Self Leadership

The Ken Blanchard Companies

Leadership Architect
Lominger, International

Developing Organizational Talent

Development Dimensions International

Academy Certified
Resume Writer (ACRW)
Resume Writing Academy

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Certified Facilitator

CPP
Clifton Strengths Finder Strengths Coaching
Part 1 of a 3-part certification - Gallup