Josh Kostreva
Home/Career
Professional Experience

A Decade ofTransformational Leadership

Senior learning & development executive with a proven track record of building world-class training organizations, driving digital transformation, and delivering measurable business impact at enterprise scale.

15+
Years Experience
Federal & private sector
$10M+
Budgets Managed
Across all roles
60K+
Employees Trained
Enterprise-wide reach
3
Leadership Roles
Progressive advancement

Core Competencies

Learning & Development

Instructional DesignCurriculum DevelopmentLearning AnalyticsAdult Learning TheoryPerformance ConsultingNeeds Assessment

Leadership & Management

Team LeadershipStrategic PlanningBudget ManagementChange ManagementStakeholder ManagementExecutive Communication

Technology & Production

LMS AdministrationVideo ProductioneLearning DevelopmentWeb DevelopmentAI/ML IntegrationStudio Operations

Tools & Platforms

Articulate SuiteAdobe Creative CloudCamtasiaAdobe ConnectReact/TypeScriptData Analytics
Professional Affiliations
Association for Talent Development (ATD)eLearning GuildInternational Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI)Training Magazine Network
Experience
Social Security Administration
Current Position
Executive Leadership

Training & DevelopmentOfficer

Leading enterprise-wide learning strategy for one of the nation's largest federal agencies, driving workforce transformation through innovative training solutions that impact 60,000+ employees serving millions of Americans daily.

0K+
Employees Impacted
Agency-wide training reach
$0.0M
Annual Budget
L&D investment managed
0%
Training ROI
Measured business impact
0%
Success Rate
Initiative completion

Strategic Achievements

01
Modernized agency-wide training infrastructure

Enterprise Learning Transformation

Spearheaded a comprehensive transformation of the agency's learning ecosystem, transitioning from legacy classroom-based training to a modern, blended learning approach that increased training accessibility by 400% while reducing delivery costs by 35%.

Key Outcomes
  • Reduced time-to-competency by 45% for new hires
  • Achieved 94% learner satisfaction scores
  • Eliminated $1.2M in annual travel costs
  • Enabled 24/7 learning access for all 60,000+ employees
02
Built leadership pipeline for 1,300+ field offices

Strategic Workforce Development

Designed and implemented a multi-tiered leadership development program that identifies high-potential employees and prepares them for supervisory and management roles, directly addressing succession planning challenges across the agency.

Key Outcomes
  • 150+ leaders developed through executive coaching
  • 87% of program graduates promoted within 18 months
  • Reduced external hiring costs by $2.1M annually
  • Created standardized competency frameworks
03
Pioneered data-driven training decisions

Performance-Driven Learning Analytics

Established the agency's first comprehensive learning analytics program, connecting training investments directly to operational performance metrics and enabling evidence-based decisions on workforce development priorities.

Key Outcomes
  • Built real-time dashboards tracking 50+ KPIs
  • Identified training gaps reducing errors by 28%
  • Optimized curriculum based on performance data
  • Presented insights to executive leadership quarterly

Leadership Domains

01

Strategic Planning & Execution

Architect multi-year learning strategies aligned with agency mission and federal mandates, translating executive vision into actionable training initiatives with measurable outcomes.

OKR Framework ImplementationExecutive Stakeholder ManagementFederal Compliance AlignmentStrategic Roadmap Development
02

Organizational Change Leadership

Drive enterprise-wide adoption of new technologies, policies, and procedures through comprehensive change management strategies that minimize resistance and accelerate acceptance.

Change Management MethodologyCommunication StrategyStakeholder AnalysisAdoption Metrics & Optimization
03

Technology & Innovation

Evaluate and implement cutting-edge learning technologies that enhance training effectiveness, improve learner engagement, and deliver measurable return on investment.

LMS/LXP AdministrationAI-Powered Learning PathsVirtual Reality TrainingMobile Learning Solutions
04

Executive Communication

Present complex training initiatives and outcomes to senior leadership, translating technical details into business impact narratives that drive continued investment and support.

C-Suite PresentationsBoard ReportingCross-Agency CollaborationCongressional Briefings
“Transforming how America's largest public-facing agency develops its workforce— one strategic initiative at a time.”
Strategic Vision
Social Security Administration
Digital Transformation Leadership

Project Manager(Detail Assignment)

Flagship Product
SSONET
Social Security Online Employee Toolkit

Selected for a high-visibility detail assignment to lead the development of a mission-critical enterprise application that transformed how 40,000+ employees guide millions of Americans toward digital self-service options— dramatically improving operational efficiency and customer experience.

0K+
Daily Active Users
SSA employees nationwide
0M+
Citizens Impacted
Directed to online services
0%
Digital Adoption
Increase in self-service
$0.0M
Cost Savings
Annual operational efficiency

Leadership Impact

35+
Team Members

Cross-Functional Team Leadership

Directed a diverse team spanning software development, UX design, policy compliance, field operations, and executive stakeholders—aligning competing priorities toward a unified product vision.

  • Led daily standups and sprint planning
  • Resolved cross-team dependencies
  • Maintained 95% team satisfaction
  • Zero attrition during project
12
Executive Sponsors

Executive Stakeholder Management

Presented progress updates and strategic recommendations to agency executives, securing continued investment and organizational support for the initiative.

  • Monthly executive briefings
  • Secured $2.8M additional funding
  • Quarterly board presentations
  • Built coalition across departments
94%
Adoption Rate

Change Management Excellence

Developed and executed a comprehensive change management strategy that achieved near-universal adoption within 6 months of launch—far exceeding industry benchmarks.

  • Training for 40,000+ users
  • Peer champion network of 200+
  • Help desk deflection: 85%
  • User satisfaction: 4.6/5.0
100%
On-Time Delivery

Risk & Issue Management

Proactively identified and mitigated project risks, maintaining schedule adherence despite complex technical challenges and evolving requirements.

  • Managed 150+ risk items
  • Zero critical issues at launch
  • Contingency plans for all milestones
  • Weekly risk review meetings
$1.5M
Contract Value

Vendor & Contract Oversight

Managed relationships with external development vendors and contractors, ensuring quality deliverables and cost-effective resource utilization.

  • Negotiated favorable terms saving 20%
  • Managed 5 vendor relationships
  • Quality gates for all deliverables
  • 100% contract compliance
300%
Velocity Increase

Agile Transformation

Transitioned team from waterfall to agile methodology, dramatically improving delivery speed, quality, and team morale.

  • Implemented Scrum framework
  • Reduced cycle time by 60%
  • Improved defect detection by 80%
  • Team certified in Agile practices

Technical Innovation

01

Intelligent Service Routing

Reduced customer wait times by 35%

Built an AI-powered decision engine that analyzes customer needs in real-time and recommends the optimal service channel—reducing wait times and improving first-contact resolution rates.

  • Natural language processing for query understanding
  • Predictive modeling for service demand
  • Continuous learning from user feedback
Machine LearningDecision TreesReal-time Analytics
02

Interactive Service Guide

Employees find answers 60% faster

Designed an intuitive interface enabling employees to quickly navigate complex Social Security programs and confidently guide customers through available online services.

  • Smart search with fuzzy matching
  • Context-aware recommendations
  • Integrated help documentation
ReactTypeScriptREST APIs
03

Performance Analytics Dashboard

Real-time visibility into 50+ KPIs

Implemented comprehensive tracking of digital adoption metrics, enabling leadership to measure ROI and identify opportunities for service improvement.

  • Executive-level reporting automation
  • Regional performance comparisons
  • Trend analysis and forecasting
Data VisualizationSQLBusiness Intelligence
04

Mobile-First Design

Works on 100% of agency devices

Engineered a responsive application accessible from any device, ensuring field office employees could assist customers whether at their desk or on the floor.

  • Touch-optimized interface
  • Offline data caching
  • Instant load times under 2 seconds
Progressive Web AppResponsive DesignOffline Capability
05

Accessibility & Compliance

100% accessibility compliance

Ensured full Section 508 compliance and WCAG 2.1 AA standards, making the application accessible to all employees regardless of ability.

  • High contrast mode
  • Voice navigation support
  • Adjustable text sizing
ARIA LabelsScreen Reader SupportKeyboard Navigation
06

Integration Architecture

Connected 15+ legacy systems

Designed a robust API layer connecting SSONET with 15+ existing agency systems, enabling seamless data flow and eliminating manual data entry.

  • Real-time data synchronization
  • Secure authentication protocols
  • Error handling and retry logic
RESTful APIsOAuth 2.0Microservices

Project Lifecycle

Discovery & Strategy

3 months

Conducted extensive stakeholder interviews across 50+ field offices, analyzed customer service data, and developed a comprehensive product roadmap aligned with agency digital transformation goals.

Stakeholder AnalysisRequirements DocumentationTechnical ArchitectureExecutive Buy-in

Development & Iteration

8 months

Led agile development sprints with cross-functional teams including IT, policy experts, and field office representatives. Implemented continuous feedback loops to refine features based on real-world usage.

MVP LaunchBeta Testing ProgramIterative ReleasesPerformance Optimization

Enterprise Deployment

4 months

Orchestrated nationwide rollout to 1,300+ field offices, including comprehensive training programs, change management initiatives, and 24/7 support infrastructure.

National Training ProgramSupport DocumentationAdoption CampaignsSuccess Metrics

Optimization & Scale

Ongoing

Continuously analyze usage patterns and customer feedback to enhance functionality, expand features, and maximize digital adoption across all service channels.

Feature EnhancementsA/B TestingPerformance MonitoringRoadmap Planning
SSONET
“Empowering every frontline employee to become a digital ambassador— connecting millions of Americans with the online services that simplify their lives.”
Digital Transformation
Social Security Administration
Creative & Production Leadership

Senior ManagerLearning Operations & Production

Built and led a world-class media production operation within a federal agency—managing a $3 million studio, directing a team of 7 senior creatives, and producing 1,200+ training assets annually that reached every employee across the agency.

0
Direct Reports
Senior instructional designers
$0M
Studio Investment
Production infrastructure
0+
Assets Annually
Training content produced
0K
Learners Reached
Agency-wide impact

Production Studio

$3 Million Broadcast-Quality Production Studio

Designed, built, and managed a state-of-the-art media production facility that rivals commercial broadcast operations—enabling the creation of Hollywood-quality training content at a fraction of external production costs.

Camera Systems
  • 4K Broadcast Cameras
  • PTZ Remote Cameras
  • Wireless Camera Rigs
  • Drone Cinematography
Lighting & Audio
  • Professional LED Lighting
  • Teleprompter Systems
  • Broadcast Audio Consoles
  • Sound Isolation Booth
Production Infrastructure
  • Green Screen Cyclorama
  • Virtual Set Technology
  • Live Switching Console
  • Multi-channel Recording
Post-Production
  • Color Grading Suite
  • Motion Graphics Station
  • 5.1 Audio Mixing
  • Asset Management System

Annual Production Output

200+broadcasts/year

Live Training Broadcasts

Enterprise-wide live training sessions reaching thousands of employees simultaneously with real-time Q&A, interactive polling, and on-demand replay access.

Reached 40,000+ employees per broadcast
Multi-camera studio productionsClosed captioning & ASL interpretationSimulcast to 1,300+ field officesAverage 4.7/5 satisfaction rating
150+courses/year

eLearning Modules

Interactive, SCORM-compliant training modules featuring branching scenarios, knowledge checks, and performance-based assessments aligned with adult learning principles.

98% completion rates achieved
Gamified learning experiencesMobile-responsive designMulti-language supportxAPI analytics integration
500+videos/year

Video Productions

Professional video content ranging from executive messages to complex procedural training, including 3D animation, motion graphics, and documentary-style productions.

Saved $4M+ in external production
4K broadcast quality3D animation & VFXOn-location field shootsExecutive communications
2,000+assets/year

Multimedia Assets

Infographics, job aids, interactive PDFs, and visual learning materials that support just-in-time performance support across all agency operations.

Downloaded 1M+ times annually
Interactive job aidsBranded templatesAccessibility compliantPrint & digital formats

Team Leadership

Building & Leading High-Performance Creative Teams

Recruited, developed, and managed a team of elite instructional designers—transforming a traditional training unit into an innovative production powerhouse capable of competing with commercial media agencies.

7
Senior Designers

Managed a team of senior instructional designers, each specializing in different modalities—from video production to interactive eLearning to live virtual training.

100%
Retention Rate

Achieved exceptional team retention through career development opportunities, creative freedom, and a culture that celebrated innovation and excellence.

35%
Productivity Increase

Implemented agile workflows and modern production tools that increased team output by 35% while maintaining the highest quality standards.

12
Awards Won

Team productions recognized with federal training excellence awards, multimedia competition wins, and industry recognition for innovation.

Team Development Programs

Technical Skills Development

Invested in continuous learning with certifications, conferences, and hands-on training in emerging technologies

  • Adobe Certified Experts: 5 team members
  • Articulate Certified: 100% of team
  • Annual conference attendance for all
Leadership Pipeline

Created growth paths enabling team members to advance into supervisory and management roles

  • 3 team members promoted to management
  • Mentorship pairing program established
  • Individual development plans for all
Cross-Training Initiative

Built redundancy and versatility by cross-training team members in multiple production disciplines

  • All members proficient in 3+ tools
  • No single point of failure on projects
  • Improved collaboration and knowledge sharing
Innovation Time

Dedicated 10% of work time to experimental projects, new technology exploration, and process improvements

  • 5 new production techniques adopted
  • Internal tool automations created
  • Pilot programs for VR/AR training

Technology & Tools Managed

eLearning Authoring

$180K annually
150+ courses produced yearly

Industry-leading rapid development tools for creating engaging, interactive learning experiences

Articulate Storyline 360
Complex branching scenarios & gamification
Articulate Rise 360
Responsive micro-learning modules
Adobe Captivate
Software simulations & VR content
Camtasia
Screen recordings & video tutorials
Lectora
Accessible compliance training
iSpring Suite
Rapid PowerPoint conversion

Adobe Creative Cloud

$250K annually
500+ video productions yearly

Enterprise Creative Cloud subscription powering all aspects of professional multimedia content creation

Premiere Pro
Professional video editing & color grading
After Effects
Motion graphics, VFX & animation
Photoshop
Image editing & visual compositing
Illustrator
Vector graphics, icons & branding
Audition
Audio production, podcasts & sound design
InDesign
Print & digital publication design
XD
UI/UX prototyping & design systems
Animate
2D animation & interactive content

Virtual Delivery Platforms

$320K annually
200+ live broadcasts yearly

Enterprise-scale platforms for live training, webinars, and virtual classroom experiences reaching 40,000+ employees

Adobe Connect
Virtual classrooms & breakout rooms
Webex Training
Large-scale webinars & events
LMS Administration
SCORM/xAPI/cmi5 deployment
Live Streaming Suite
Enterprise broadcasting infrastructure
Kaltura
Video management & analytics
Panopto
Lecture capture & video CMS

Production & Asset Management

$150K annually
2,000+ assets managed yearly

Professional systems for managing high-volume content production workflows and digital asset libraries

Frame.io
Video review & collaboration
Wrike
Production project management
MediaValet
Digital asset management (DAM)
Rev.com
Captioning & transcription services
Brandwatch
Brand asset governance
Git/GitHub
Version control & code management

Operational Excellence

300%
Capacity Increase

Production Operations

Established scalable production workflows that enabled the team to handle 300% more requests without additional headcount through process automation and workflow optimization.

  • Intake-to-delivery reduced from 8 weeks to 3 weeks
  • Quality assurance pass rate increased to 99.2%
  • Stakeholder satisfaction scores of 4.8/5.0
  • Implemented agile sprints for content development
  • Created self-service request portal reducing admin overhead 60%
💰
$3.2M
Annual Budget

Budget Management

Managed multi-million dollar operational budgets including equipment, software licensing, contractor support, and facility costs with rigorous financial oversight.

  • Delivered projects 15% under budget consistently
  • Negotiated enterprise licenses saving $400K annually
  • Built business case for $3M studio investment
  • Secured additional $500K for emerging technology pilots
  • Achieved 100% budget transparency with executive reporting
🤝
25+
Partnerships

Vendor & Contract Management

Oversaw relationships with external production vendors, freelancers, and technology partners to extend team capabilities and handle peak demand periods.

  • Managed 25+ vendor relationships
  • Established preferred vendor agreements saving $200K
  • Maintained 100% contract compliance
  • Negotiated volume discounts on all major platforms
  • Created vendor scorecard system improving quality 40%
100%
Compliance

Quality & Standards

Developed and enforced production standards ensuring consistent, accessible, and compliant training content across all modalities and platforms.

  • Created agency style guide adopted nationally
  • 508 accessibility compliance: 100%
  • Zero audit findings in 3 consecutive years
  • Established quality gates for all content types
  • Built automated accessibility testing pipeline
🔄
50%
Faster Delivery

Process Innovation

Pioneered innovative production methodologies that dramatically accelerated content development while improving quality and reducing costs.

  • Implemented modular content architecture
  • Created reusable template libraries (200+ templates)
  • Automated repetitive production tasks
  • Reduced revision cycles by 65%
  • Established rapid prototyping framework
🛡️
99.9%
Uptime

Risk Management

Implemented robust disaster recovery, backup systems, and business continuity planning to ensure uninterrupted production operations.

  • Zero data loss incidents in tenure
  • Created redundant storage infrastructure
  • Established 4-hour recovery time objective
  • Developed pandemic response plan (critical for COVID)
  • Maintained operations through building relocations
“Building a creative powerhouse within government—proving that world-class production quality and federal efficiency can coexist beautifully.”
Creative Excellence

Ready to Transform Your Organization?

With a proven track record of building high-performing teams and delivering enterprise-scale learning solutions, I'm ready to bring this expertise to your organization.

Available for opportunities