The Learning CONSORTIUM's New CLO - Jonathan Kayes

March 8, 2010 – Saratoga Springs, NY:   Jonathan Kayes today joined The MASIE Center’s Learning CONSORTIUM as the Chief Learning Officer.  He recently completed a 27 year career with the CIA, most recently as their Chief Learning Officer.

“I am so excited to have Jonathan Kayes as our partner in researching and developing new models for the future of organizational and personal learning.  Since 2001, Jonathan’s work at the CIA has been focused primarily on training and education – including building new organizational learning strategies and incorporating multiple instructional approaches and new technologies to reach a largely globally deployed workforce”, said Elliott Masie, CEO of The MASIE Center.  “Our 240 Learning CONSORTIUM members have worked with Jonathan at Learning 2009 and other events and are excited to have a CLO function added to our collaborative.  Jonathan will be leading key projects including: Learning Radar Screens, Changing Learning Function Roles, Learning Cost, Mobile Learning, ePub and a wide range of LAB Projects involving CONSORTIUM companies around the world.
 
Here is a statement from Jonathan about his new role with The MASIE Center and his interest/passions:

"I am truly a lifelong learner and my favorite days are days when I learn something I didn't know at the beginning of the day. 

Connecting people is something I love to help happen.  When I know that two people share similar interests or one has expertise in an area which another person really needs I try to provide a virtual or actual handshake.



One my greatest joys has been in serving as a Chief Learning Officer.  The CLO gets to work with various constituencies from the C-Suite to the newest employee coming in for orientation.  I very much look forward to connecting with and sharing learning with the CLOs, aspiring CLOs, learning leaders, and learning professionals who make up the CONSORTIUM.



Trying something new really excites me.  Sometimes I have to try it several times, or from several angles, but chewing on that new thing while you get to think about how to apply it is fun and surprisingly productive.



I'm really passionate about avoiding staying the same.  I don't believe in change for its own sake, but when you look at almost anything you see the problem with never leaving your comfortable rut.  The world changes even if you don't.

In solving most problems there are two or three possible ways to skin the cat which will all work.  I think we should try method A for a couple of years and then be willing to go back and see if maybe method B or C would work well for us too.



I love helping someone find their own passion and give that person the support so that they can thrive and grow.  That provided the joy in management for me and I hope that will come about in some of my activities with the CONSORTIUM too.



My brain circuits start firing in all directions when I can link knowledge from one sector with an application in a totally different sector.  I love listening to people talk about their ideas, discoveries, projects and programs because it adds new possibilities for connections."  

Jonathan will be working closely with the 240 member companies of The Learning CONSORTIUM.  This full-time role will have him engaged in all aspects of the CONSORTIUM as well as teaching and leading events with Elliott Masie at The MASIE Center.