Steven P. Ortiz

Learning & Development Advisor

Principal Consultant | Learning Strategy & Workforce Development

Professional Summary

Accomplished and purposeful leader with repeated success exceeding expectations within the training industry. As a principal consultant in learning & development, focused on designing high-impact training solutions tailored to business objectives. Sees the future of talent development across all industries as agentic AI powered by enterprise data augmenting workforce development.

With a rich background in staff development and learning strategies and solutions, has crafted frameworks that significantly enhance learning effectiveness and alignment with organizational goals. Successfully implemented learning paths that not only elevate skills but demonstrate measurable impact, steering organizations towards their strategic objectives with precision and agility.

Areas of Expertise

Learning strategy and execution

Instructional design and project management

Learning measurement, evaluation, and reporting

Multi-modal learning programs

Content development techniques and tools

Curriculum and learning path design

Key Accomplishments

•Applied learning and development expertise to consult engineers, scientists, and subject experts during the design and development of personalized, sequenced training paths and competencies from needs assessment to delivery — integrating insights from behavioral analysis with practical adult-learning principles.

•Introduced AI GPT models, AI-based text-to-speech engines, machine learning algorithms, NLP, and statistical analysis models to measure and improve programs, reducing back-office process time by over 80%, boosting training impact by 15%, and curtailing content redundancies over 40%.

•Independently initiated and directed Saudi Aramco Upstream Professional Development Center's first and second five-year ACCET accreditation of the organization's training framework.

•Recognized for trusted expertise in strategic business planning, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and life cycle project planning in training organizations.

Career Experience

Principal Consultant | Learning & Development Strategies

Impact Driven Training

Houston, Texas | 8/2024 – Present

Principal consultant specializing in technical and operational workforce development within the energy sector. Partners with global clients to design competency-based learning frameworks that align workforce capability with business goals and safety performance.

•Led the design and development of ExxonMobil Enterprise Equipment Training initiative, developing Tier 1 eLearning for 32 equipment families and 64 curriculums supporting a zero-incident competency goal.
•Authored and designed foundational modules for artificial lift systems (plunger lift, ESP, gas lift) and gas treatment (acid gas removal, sulfur recovery, tail gas treating, mercury removal), applying the Pyramid Learning Model and 4-level interactivity standard.
•Standardized instructional design practices using approved style guides and checklists, ensuring alignment across design documents, storyboards, and SCORM deliverables in Articulate Storyline.
•Integrated technical accuracy and glossary governance referencing legacy, API, and SPE sources, improving terminology consistency for global field technicians and operators.
•Integrated cross-functional QA and SME reviews to verify competency alignment, enhance learning verification, and strengthen lesson interactivity.

Senior Manager, Field Training & Development US

Precision Drilling Corporation – Field Training & Development

Houston, Texas | 6/2022 – 8/2024

Drove strategy, design, development, and delivery of foundational, regulatory, and technical competency-based training to develop proficient domain leaders from rig hands to technicians. Evaluated training requests to determine required outcomes and allocate resources for effective learning. Articulated training performance insights through impact reports, presentations, and discussions with training governance.

•Oversaw performance-based training aligned to the business and evaluated using on-the-job assessment to ensure application of learning for crew members and the Operations, HSE, and HR organizations.
•Expanded training reach from 70% to over 90% and learning transfer rate (proficiency) to over 85%.
•Directed a $6M training budget on training interventions that improved performance linked to business results.
•Spearheaded the application of generative AI technologies to enhance gap assessment, content design, development, instructional methods, assessments, and evaluation — boosting productivity by over 80%.

Saudi Aramco – Upstream Professional Development Center

Dhahran, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

1/2010 – 6/2022

Strategic Planning & Special Projects Lead

1/2018 – 6/2022

Balanced concurrent priorities in drafting organizational policies and communications, formulating and implementing strategic business and program plans, and guiding learning effectiveness studies. Conducted qualitative and quantitative learning analysis for over 3,500 professionals, 150 instructors, 600 classes, 350 courses, and 70 development profiles each year.

•Held direct oversight of performance measures of a premier business-line academy valued at $30M annually, leading training data collection, analysis, and reporting functions.
•Applied learning data to improve the learning effectiveness of petroleum engineering and geoscience curricula.
•Drove internal instructor incentives, cutting annual vendor instructor costs by $3M.
•Generated a continuing five-year strategic plan, establishing learning ecosystem objectives through comprehensive analysis, integration, and consolidation.

Professional Development & Training Advisor

1/2017 – 1/2018

•Produced original content as Chief Writer and Editor; hosted upstream onboarding soft-skills training activities.
•Applied exceedingly effective agile development techniques, strengthening operational efficiencies by 75%.

Writer & Editor

1/2012 – 1/2017

•Served as subject area facilitator & mentor, providing training services promoting business soft skills.
•Built 3D and 2D learning technologies to support oil and gas well operations coursework.
•Constructed applications and record stores, synchronizing SuccessFactors and SABA learning management systems.

Military Service

Petty Officer First Class (E6)

United States Navy — Honorable Discharge

Cryptologic Equipment Maintenance Technician

Education

Master of Science in Global E-Learning (Organizational Learning and Technologies)

Texas A&M University Commerce, Commerce, Texas

2017 — GPA: 3.9

Master of Arts in Adult Education, Curriculum, and Instruction

University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona

2008 — GPA: 3.85

Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing

University of Houston Downtown, Houston, Texas

2000 — Magna Cum Laude – GPA: 3.78

Certifications

Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD)

Association for Talent Development · 2024 – 2027

Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM)

Training Industry · 2018 – 2027

Competency Modeling

Training Industries · 2025

AI Essentials for Training Managers

2024

Managing Learning Programs

Association for Talent Development (ATD) · 2020

Managing Learning Technologies

Training Industry · 2020

Kirkpatrick Four Levels® Evaluation – Bronze Level

Kirkpatrick Partners · 2014

Affiliations

Professional International Member, Association for Talent Development (ATD) — Present

Center for Talent Reporting — 2022 – Present