An engineer by trade, but an organizational troubleshooter by calling, I bring my energy and enthusiasm to every challenge I encounter.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2001 with an Engineering Mechanics degree and a Technical Communications Certificate. That means I enjoy troubleshooting broken designs and I love writing and speaking.
While in college I worked for four summers at Cummins Engine Company in Columbus, Indiana. I started my engine for change early, having taken apart and rebuilt a 14-liter diesel engine.
Since August 2001 I’ve proudly worked for the U.S. Navy at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) in Bremerton, Washington. At PSNS & IMF, I’ve held the titles of Nuclear Engineer, Management Engineer, Controls Engineering First Level Supervisor, Command Strategic Planning Manager, and Theory of Constraints Implementation Manager. In every role, I’ve partnered my engineering troubleshooting skills with my energy to drive positive change.
Today, I love leading the PSNS & IMF Guiding Coalition, based on Dr. John Kotter’s Leading Change 8-step model.
Along the way I’ve had the privilege to serve as International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 12 Vice President, Puget Sound Naval Bases Association Vice President and Naval Civilian Managers Association – PSNS & IMF Chapter President plus participating on several community committees and boards.
At this blog, Engine for Change, I hope to share my passion for creating positive change, highlighting how anyone can drive change for themselves and for their organizations and communities.
I’ve been married since August 2000 to Matt, a biochemist turned lawyer. He recently opened a law office in Bremerton, Washington. We have three children and in our spare time we geocache, camp and hike. The car trips to the various camping locations provide me excellent time to read books on organizational change or American history and write my next blog posts.
hi april,
i worked with hilbert robinson on a number of projects at Pearl Harbor Shipyard using TOC/Concerto/project management ideas. i retired in 2006 and I contacted hilbert recently. he suggested I contact you and maybe start a dialogue. my email is snowrett415@gmail.com.
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April,
Hilbert said you may be familiar with the submission of the provisional patent process. I think he is referring to you using it for some of your stuff on this website posisbly. I have an invention idea for a highway paver that I need to get provisionaly patented so I can move ASAP to try to see if I can get a suitable developer of the product interested in being a partner with me. My wife who is a lawyer, understands that it is unlikley that I have something that will really be valuable and worth protecting, but she recognizezs there is a chance and thus won’t allow me to talk to anyone until it is done. I guess I agree, but I am also a procrastinator at times. The problem is that is not her specialty, doesn’t know anyone that isn’t hugely expensive, and we don’t have that kind of money.
I want to move on with this and I am not making any headway with getting the patent-mostly because I don’t know enough myself to feel comfortable.
I think I can do it myself, but feel without lessons learned I will undoubtedly not make best use of the provisional aspects of the patent or possibly reduce the long term benefit of the patent itself. That is where you may come in. I know you’re busy too, even more so than myself I am sure, but if you’re interested in coaching me through the process in a maybe a few different meetings, and helping me through it that would be wonderful. I have $400 budgeted for this idea through, and if it amounts to nothing that is okay. So would you be willing for $400 to help me through this? I have a new arbitrary schedule goal of going to prospects with the idea by December 1st if possible.
Let me know what you think. If you’re
April,
I’m glad to see your extensive postings on this site. Keep up the good work.
I have been working for the past year with Henrietta Yabeny there at Puget on a better understanding of Human Performance (Puget refers to it as Human Factors) there. If you haven’t worked with her in this area, you probably should. I have been amazed at her tenacity in driving change in a large, traditional shipyard organization, filled with intellectual inertia. Her group is leading an effort to drive change by learning from failure to highlight roadblocks that get in their way.
Take care,
Bill
We met briefly thru Steve Holt at the Cognitive Edge Network Gathering(following the Foundations class) back in early September. Steve has sung your praises a few times and suggests you would be a great presenter on Chainge for our group(Seattle & Eastside Software Process Improvement Network)… He mentioned the “get to” vs. “have to” great concept, but I know there is much more. I would love to have you as a speaker sometime… do feel free to contact me. I will enjoy your blog until then.