Jim McKinley Brown

“Adults are selfish learners! That’s why you have to invite them into the learning space.”

I am a Senior instructional designer at LiveRamp, specializing in training for customer support personnel and clients in the digital advertising and marketing ecosystem. I work with engineers and customer experience experts to develop training that helps clients meet their business goals and ensures client satisfaction.

As a lifelong learner, I network with other professionals and attend national training sessions focused on training design, eLearning, and user experience. My recent project involved creating an upskilling program for Technical Account Managers (TAMs) and Solution Owners (SOs) using Cognitive Task Analysis. I conducted interviews with successful TAMs and SOs to inform a three-part training program, which I delivered with a colleague to positive feedback. You can view this project in my portfolio.

Additionally, I developed a curriculum for customer support managers (CSMs) that integrated executive soft skills into a redesigned quarterly business review (QBR) methodology. This allowed team leads and CSMs to select specific skills, participate in hands-on practice, and demonstrate proficiency for certification, with continued learning through accessible microlearning courses.

Outside of work, I enjoy hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, biking across the U.S. and Canada, and camping with my husband. During the warmer months, we often travel the countryside and camp in the wilderness.

145
+
Projects

Completed

Client Education | Software Training | Onboard Training Professional Skills Development

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Tim SladeFreelance eLearning Designer and Founder of the eLearning Designers Academy

“Jim is a fantastic instructional designer, who understands how to turn knowledge into performance.”

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Chelcie HillGlobal Sales Productivity Program Manager at Xactly

“Jim Brown is - in a word - amazing. If you are looking for a hard working, creative thinker, go no further than Jim. He truly is the best co-worker to have on your team. His focus on customer experience, quality, and adult learning makes him not just a great instructional designer, but a top notch team player.”

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Dylan RuncoContent Developer, Technical Trainer, and Enablement Partner at LiveRamp

“Jim helped our team design a process to construct an extensive curriculum within an incredibly tight deadline. Jim’s process included a structured, phased approach to course construction with an acute attention to learner engagement. Thanks to Jim, our team not only finished our 30+ course curriculum within our four month deadline - we finished weeks ahead of schedule. To say that Jim would be an asset to any team is a wild under statement.”

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Michael KruszczynskiTraining Specialist and Enablement Partner at LiveRamp

“Jim’s decades of experience, combined with his fresh approach to his work, blend seamlessly to create truly amazing content. His wealth of knowledge, honed over the years, enriches every project he undertakes, while his innovative mindset ensures that his work remains fresh and relevant.”

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Cindy ThreldkeldExecutive Director, Literacy Together

“Jim stepped forward to guide us through the process of converting our tutor training to a distance-learning format. He worked with our team to develop the skills to implement the new curriculum, with lesson plans that would work even with students who may not have access to a computer or the internet. He is not only competent, but he is also patient, has high energy, and has a wonderful sense of humor that puts everyone at ease.
Our training is not only up and running, it receives rave reviews from our new volunteer tutors. We just signed a contract with Jim to put our Youth Literacy training online as well.”

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LiveRamp Team MemberEnablement Partners

“Jim's design ideas are second-to-none. Whenever I hear his perspective from something, I feel like I am talking to an expert who knows what needs to be done. For example, I will spotlight the documentation and insight he created regarding how adult learners should absorb questions during assessments. That was super helpful.”