Robert Starks Jr. is a Career Coach and Educational Administrator with experience in Alumni Relations, Career Development, and Employer/Community Relations. He currently serves as Director of Career Services. His Career Center was recognized in 2008, 2009, and 2010 by the Arizona Private School Association (APSA) with the Best Placement Practice Award among 56+ member schools in the state.
Robert was recognized with the “Above and Beyond” award for having the outstanding alumni program in the CEC family of schools at the 2010 CEC Alumni Summit and was invited as a guest panelist at the 2011 APSCU conference discussing best practices in Alumni Program Development.
Robert is the creator of the blog resource site for job seekers and career professionals known as Careertipster.com and is also a curriculum developer and online Facilitator for Maxknowledge, Inc. His curriculum addresses training for career centers on how to develop a social media strategy.
Robert currently serves on the Arizona Program Committee for the national non-profit, Boys Hope Girls Hope. The committee is responsible for recruiting, evaluating, and selecting appropriate candidates for the residential and community-based programs designed to assist low-income, at-risk, academically capable youth with overcoming obstacles to attend and graduate from college.
Research and analyze market data for new software platform in the educational services sector to assess consumer perceptions, competition, business trends, and product value
Recommend product features and services to differentiate platform from market competition
Collaborate with Chief Executive Officer on overall brand strategy affecting product name, logo, pricing, potential partnerships, marketing channels, customer messaging, and user experience
Oversee content development for newly developed training curricula and collaborate with software development team to implement technical features
Develop and Implement company's overall social learning strategy enhancing Maxknowledge community learning opportunities through social media. Author professional development training course content in the area of Career Services and facilitate online professional development training sessions. Coordinate and manage all career services courseware projects to completion and manage the largest and only social learning community dedicated to career college professionals - http://thelounge.maxknowledge.com/.
Write articles focused on career development, social media strategy, and topics relevant to higher education. Provide training for career professionals with an emphasis in the private, for-profit sector and act as online Trainer/Facilitator for MaxKnowledge, Inc. Created curriculum for MaxKnowledge Inc. on Developing a Social Media Strategy for Career Centers.
Plan, organize, direct and evaluate career development education strategies and graduate employement reporting. Research and analyze labor market conditions and potential new program offerings to provide guidance on program development that aligns with industry and market trends. Develop, implement and evaluate programs that address student and graduate needs for market readiness. Plan and coordinate events involving community partners, industry, and alumni.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Career Services team was recognized in 2008, 2009, and 2010 with the Arizona Private School Association Best Placement Practice Award.
Part of Management team in 2008 when Collins College was recognized as School of the Year by the Arizona Private School Association.
Recognized with the "Above and Beyond" award by Career Education Corporation for exceptional Alumni programming in a division of 14 schools in 2009 and asked to be a presenter for 2010 annual conference.
Partnered with Digital Dream Forge and planned, coordinated, and executed first Phoenix-wide Game Developer's Conference with over 200 guests in attendance in 2010 (visit www.phoenixdc.org).
Analyzed performance metrics with Director to identify staff training opportunities to maximize team performance. Trained all new employees and assisted in identifying best practices to implement and standardize for department. Maintained largest caseload of graduates, providing career coaching and job searching assistance. Assisted Director in strategic planning of department goal-setting and performance evaluation.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Promoted within one year to Director of Career Services.
Assisted THQ, Inc. with recruiting, screening, and staffing of 150 employees for new QA operation in less than one year (See written recommendation from Mike Motoda, THQ QA Director, under "Director of Career Services" Title).