Daily Inspiration: Meet Heather Christman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Christman.

Hi Heather, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I don’t know if I can be brief, but I’ll try. So, let’s start with where I am. I am the Business Development Training Manager for General Dynamics Mission Systems. How I got here is somewhat unconventional. I began my professional life as an airman in the US Air Force. I enlisted after graduating high school. My job in the USAF was as an Engineer’s Assistant. Throughout my enlistment, I was fortunate to learn how to use AutoCAD, ArcGIS, and other standard engineering tools and manage construction and maintenance contracts. After a five-year enlistment, I decided to separate from the USAF and utilize my skills in the private engineering sector while attending school and acquiring a degree in education. Well, part of my plan worked. I got lucky and landed a job as a CAD operator for a well-respected engineering firm in the valley, Wood Patel & Associates. The school thing was a bust at that point. I enjoyed my part-time jobs – hosting Name That Tune and waiting tables – too much to be a severe student at the time.

Five years, a marriage, two babies, a massive housing downturn, and a layoff later, I found myself floundering a bit. I loved being at home with my kids but knew I needed something since my kids wouldn’t be little forever. So, with a 3-year-old and 3-month-old at home, GI Bill in hand, and the support of my fantastic husband, Randy, I decided to return to school. Right before my kids turned 6 and 3, I graduated from Northern Arizona University Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Within a few weeks, I had a position teaching at a Title 1 school as the 4th-6th grade English Language Development teacher. It was awesome! I had twelve 4th -6th graders all day, so I was responsible for teaching Reading, Writing, Language Development, Math, Science, and Social Studies to all three grade levels. By the end of the year, my kids had grown so much, but mostly because I had the most excellent support from a couple of great teachers like my friend Jenn, and my district worked with a consulting firm that trained and coached the ELD teachers across the district. I loved it and was fortunate to be invited to work with that firm over the summer as one of their summer consultants. Now, this is when I found my calling.

That summer, I was responsible for training and coaching a summer program in Paradise Valley Unified School District, and it was a blast! I had a knack for teaching and supporting adults even when it was challenging or sometimes uncomfortable. After successfully managing the summer program, which resulted in a multi-year contract, I was eventually offered a position with the consulting firm Clark Consulting & Training, LLC (CCT). For the next five years, I traveled the city, state, and even country, working with hundreds of teachers and thousands of students from pre-k to adult education. Working for CCT was a wonderful and invaluable experience. I was coached and mentored by some of the most knowledgeable and skilled training professionals I’ve ever known. The work was rewarding, and I loved it, but the travel took a toll, and at the end of my fifth year, I made the tough decision to leave the firm.

After a failed attempt in Real Estate and some serious soul-searching, I returned to training, but this time outside of education. I went to work as a Trainer in the HR Department for Gila River Gaming Enterprises. The role there was short-lived, as the commute was crazy, and I didn’t feel there was much room for me to grow as a professional. The position was key, however, and I am grateful for the experience I gained, as it led me to where I am today. I began my tenure at GDMS in 2019 as an Advanced Organizational Development Specialist on the Learning and Organizational Development team within the HR Department. I had wonderful colleagues and leaders who truly pushed me to develop in areas of training that I still needed to do. One of these was the area of Instructional Design, which led to an internal role as a consultant for the Strategy and Business Development team. I supported their rather abrupt transition from an in-person to virtual delivery of a major leadership program due to a little thing known as the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortly after the conclusion of the leadership program, the training manager left the company. Not long after her departure, I threw my hat in the ring, and here I am, the Strategy and Business Development Training Manager.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am curious to know if my journey has been smooth or rough. It’s been a journey. Every position I’ve held from the day I enlisted in the USAF to the one I hold today has taught me something and prepared me for something ultimately; I believe that even the boss I didn’t like so much or who didn’t want me so much helped me become the person I am today. When I was consulting, the struggle was being away from my family regularly and dealing with the burdens of constant travel. Nowadays, the most extensive work in my professional life is coordinating meetings across several time zones and ensuring my background is manageable. At the same time, I facilitate classes or attend/host meetings via Zoom.

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In my current role, I am responsible for supporting the development of employees involved in business development efforts, including identifying and capturing new business opportunities for General Dynamics Mission Systems. I work with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop, design, and deliver courses for business development employees at all experience levels. With a background in education and managing large-scale learning programs, I can formalize, assess, and provide feedback on course design and delivery best practices. I am known for challenging the status quo and innovative ways to teach necessary concepts while gently and compassionately leading change and supporting SMEs to become the best facilitators they can be. One of my SMEs shared with me that I’m a trusted partner who they know will do whatever it takes to support them. What sets me apart from others is that I can balance the “push” of what I need or want people to do with respect and appreciation for what people have done.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
Within my company, it’s pretty easy to collaborate with me, but it could be a lot smoother outside of the company. My work is often proprietary. Therefore, I need to keep the course I created. I do like to collaborate in a general sense. For example, I use specific software to author computer-based training courses. I often call friends, visit online communities, or attend webinars about the tool and all the newest features. As for supporting me, the best way to do that is to share what you know. Share it if you’re a training professional or businesswoman who has had success or learned something from a difficult situation! Don’t keep those things to yourself. Cheryl Sandberg said best, “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and ensuring that impact lasts in your absence.” The best way to support me and all other women in any form is to share your stories.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/hxman