Will S.

About Will S.

I am a Learning and Development leader focused on building practical, scalable learning systems that support people, strengthen performance, and enable long-term organizational success.In my current role, I design and improve onboarding, standard work, and development frameworks that balance compliance with real-world usability. My approach centers on clarity, simplicity, and trust, making sure training works for the people on the floor, not just on paper.Since returning to Knouse Foods, I’ve been focused on strengthening learning as infrastructure, not just programming. That includes modernizing onboarding, improving standard work, supporting frontline leadership development, and partnering closely with HR, operations, continuous improvement, and plant leadership to create alignment across the organization.I believe effective learning and development should- Reduce friction, not add it- Be accessible across roles, literacy levels, and languages- Support accountability while preserving dignity and respect- Build confidence, capability, and ownership at every levelI’m especially passionate about creating environments where employees feel supported, connected, and empowered to grow, and where continuous improvement is part of how work gets done every day.I’m proud of the progress made so far and excited about what’s ahead. I’m committed to continuing to grow as a leader, expand my impact, and contribute at higher levels over time within organizations that value people, integrity, and thoughtful development.

Experience

1. Learning and Development Manager

   Knouse Foods

   Oct 2025 — Present

   Develop and maintain Standard Work Instructions and role-based training materials• Improve onboarding programs to increase readiness, engagement, and retention• Observe work on the floor to identify skill gaps, drift, and safety concerns• Coach supervisors and working forepersons on feedback, expectations, and accountability• Partner with Operations, HR, Safety, Quality, and Continuous Improvement on training needs• Support audit readiness with accurate training records and documentation control• Facilitate short microlearning topics on safety and quality behaviors• Track training performance trends and report risk areas to leadership• Align training processes across shifts and plant locations• Assist with leadership development and culture reinforcement activities

Education

• Carroll Community College

  Associate of Arts (A.A.), Education

  2001 — 2015

• North Carroll High School

  Diploma, General Education

  1996 — 2000

• Fort Hays State University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Sociology

  2018 — 2021

Skills

• Business Ethics
• Business Networking
• Promoting
• Online Advertising
• Music Management
• Education
• Property & Casualty Insurance
• Public Speaking
• Customer Satisfaction
• New Business Development
• Social Media Marketing
• Networking
• Promotions
• Customer Retention
• Customer Service
• Sales
• Management
• Team Building
• Email Marketing
• Building Relationships
• Consultation
• Sales Management
• Marketing
• Insurance
• Talent Booking
• Team Management
• Mobile Marketing
• Team Oriented
• Nonprofits
• Online Marketing
• Word of Mouth
• Social Media
• Restaurant Marketing
• Event Management
• Telecommunications
• Cold Calling
• Sales Presentations
• Social Networking
• Account Management
• Music