Taylor Blake

Degreed

Helping lead an initiative called Degreed Experiments where we evaluate emerging technologies through prototyping and research.

SVP New Initiatives

Degreed acquired Learn In and I became SVP of Product for Degreed Academies and Content Marketplace.

SVP Product

Learn In

Attract, develop, and retain your talent with a Talent Academy that: 
1) gives employees access to best external skill-building courses and programs through stipends, education benefits, or scholarships 
2) allows you to build your own programs that are cohort-based, hands-on, and collaborative

Easily meet every key learning moment and drive business performance.

Co-founder and Chief Product Officer

University Impact

University Impact sprung out of a desire to embrace a more sustainable way of creating large-scale, positive, social impact (while generating a financial return at the same time). Our mission is to find and fund ventures and businesses that are solving complex, vexing social problems with strong management teams, passion for change, and innovative business models.

Product Advisor

•  Researched, validated, and launched a suite of skill measurement products (Skill Rating, Skill Review, and Skill Certification) to measure any skill at any level. Skill measurement allows individuals and companies to identify gaps, measure progress, and get matched to career opportunities.

Product, Skills

•  Started when team was < 5 people chasing a crazy dream
•  Researched, prototyped, and built product offerings for consumers and enterprise clients
•  Oversaw client success, email marketing, content marketing, user acquisition, customer support

Founding Team / Product Manager

Kaplan EdTech Accelerator powered by TechStars

The Kaplan/TechStars Accelerator is a three month intensive, mentor-driven, deep immersion program for startups.  TechStars was ranked by Forbes as the #2 tech incubator in the world.

TechStars

The RBL Group

The RBL Group is a leadership and strategic HR consulting firm co-founded by Dave Ulrich.

Product Manager

Various

Microsoft - User experience design and research
LinkedIn - Product management for learning products
Innosight - Innovation and strategy consulting
Bloomreach - Market research

Student Intern

I help lead Degreed Experiments to explore how emerging technology (AI) can be leveraged in workplace learning. Feel free to connect or message me.

We’re here to make sure education and skills stay the key to economic opportunity in an AI-driven world—because the future shouldn’t just work for those who own all the capital or compute.

We aim to do this by:
- Helping people handle the changes AI brings to work and life.
- Teaching people how to use and get the most out of AI tools.
- Finding ways to use AI for more than just cutting costs—so we can invest back into people.

Our AI-related experiments help position L&D be at the forefront of navigating this change. Follow along, and let’s ensure human expertise continues to drive progress and opportunity.

Why Degreed? We started Degreed with a passion for lifelong learning and have since seen what works (and what doesn’t) across hundreds of the most innovative learning organizations. After we established the category of Learning Experience Platforms (LXP) at Degreed, I left to tackle a new set of ambitious challenges and cofounded Learn In.  In 2022, through acquisition, we combined the latest innovations from Learn In with Degreed’s market-leading platform to build the next chapter of products to support lifelong learning.

HII Technical Solutions, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries

Engineering Technician 3

Currently Seeking New Opportunity

Currently Seeking Systems Engineer New Opportunity

TFC Recycling

I assisted the Production Supervisor in the operation of the plant sorting facility. I led a crew of production employees.

Production Lead

I sorted material on one of the production lines and performed cleaning and other duties as required.

Sorter

The Lee Group

I was assigned as a Sorter to TFC Recycling.

Temp

Uber

I drove customers to their desired destination in a safe and prompt manner.

Driver

Newport News Shipbuilding, A Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries

•	Procedure Writer for USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Propulsion Plant Lead Design Yard—January 2010 to September 2015
o	Wrote nuclear mechanical Reactor Plant and Steam Plant Baseline Test Procedures and Shipboard Use Test Procedures.
o	Reviewed Reactor Plant and Steam Plant Baseline Test Procedures and Shipboard Use Test Procedures from fellow procedure writers.
o	Updated procedure cross-reference database.

Engineer Systems Test

•	Electrical Test Engineer for USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) New Construction, Steam Generator Chemical Cleaning Facility, and Radiation Services Facility—November 2007 to December 2009
o	Performed test procedures for electrical, electronic, and mechanical systems.
o	Coordinated with Trades, Quality Inspection, and Planning personnel to complete testing, troubleshooting, maintenance (preventative and corrective), and normal operations.
o	Wrote and routed work permits, work authorization forms, and tagouts.
o	Performed weekly tagout audits.
o	Volunteered to take on the task of installing the Damage Control Wirefree Communication (DC WIFCOM) System on CVN 77. This was the first DC WIFCOM installation for a New Construction aircraft carrier. Coordinated work with Trades, Reactor Plant Planning Yard, and installation subcontractor personnel.

Senior Nuclear Test Technician/Technician 3/Engineer Nuclear Plant Ops 1

US Navy

USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
•	Ships Portable Electrical/Electronic Test Equipment Requirements List (SPETERL) Command Test Equipment Manager and Radar/Navigation Technician
o	Managed test equipment for over 50 work centers in 9 departments throughout the ship.
o	Created and maintained Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and Microsoft Access databases to track test equipment inventory and disposition.
o	Supervised the removal of over 140 pieces of rejected, unauthorized, excess, and obsolete test equipment worth over $400,000 from the ship and returned the items to the Navy supply system for disposition or disposal.
o	Developed and conducted on-the-job and in-service training for over 20 technicians in the division.
o	Maintained, operated, troubleshot, and repaired numerous radar and navigation systems.
o	Served as Electronic Systems Supervisor (ESS) and Combat Systems Officer of the Watch (CSOOW)-Under Instruction.

Electronics Technician

Center for Surface Combat Systems
•	Instructor for the AN/URN-25 and AN/SPS-67 (V) 1/3 courses
o	Contributor to the team that introduced the Lockheed Martin Canada AN/URN-25 VISTA (Visual Interactive Simulation Training Application) simulator into the Navy. Duties on this project included writing point papers and taking signals and data from equipment test points for insertion into the simulation.
o	Trained U. S. Navy, U. S. Coast Guard, and Spanish Navy students in the classroom and simulated shipboard and shore-based environments.
o	Maintained, troubleshot, and repaired classroom navigation and radar systems.
•	Course Supervisor of the AN/SPS-67 (V) 1/3 course
o	Oversaw 4 instructors and trained and evaluated new instructors.
o	Updated and maintained course curriculum and Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.
o	Developed the apprentice, journeyman, and master skills listing for the AN/SPS-67(V)3 radar technician for use by NKO (Navy Knowledge Online).

USS Carney (DDG 64)
•	Radar and Navigation Technician
o	Maintained, operated, troubleshot, and repaired numerous radar and navigation systems.
o	Qualified as Electronic Systems Supervisor (ESS) and Combat Systems Officer of the Watch (CSOOW).
o	Served as Assistant Work Center Supervisor.
o	Material Maintenance Management (3M) qualified up to Division Officer.
o	Used Gold Disk to troubleshoot subsystems, circuit cards and components from equipment throughout the ship.

Systems Engineer | Systems Thinker | Strategic Thinker | Maintenance | Training | Leadership | Supervision | Management | Problem Solving | Continuous Improvement | Lifelong Learning | U.S. Navy Veteran

I possess a unique combination of U. S. Navy Electronics Technician experience (including Maintenance, Training, Supervision, Leadership, and  Management), Physics/Mathematics and Systems Engineering education, and Test Engineering (including prodedure writing, reviewing, and performing) experience. 

I demonstrate a systems thinking approach to troubleshooting with attention to detail when analyzing and resolving complex problems to successful conclusion.

I have proven technical writing and documentation capabilities. I am capable of visualizing and implementing solutions. I have previously possessed Secret (U.S. Navy) and Confidential (Newport News Shipbuilding) security clearances.

Gallup/Clifton Strengthsfinder (TM) Signature Themes
   *Learner
   *Achiever
   *Focus
   *Deliberative
   *Intellection

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The Battle

Taylor Blake

Chad Peyton

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