About Learning Paths International

New Book Just Released!

Up to Speed

Secrets of Reducing Time to Proficiency

Learning Paths International is a training and development consulting firm that focuses on improving results while cutting the time and cost of training. Our work is based on the Learning Paths methodology which reduces time to proficiency by applying the best of quality improvement and accelerated learning techniques.

Since 1993, the Learning Paths Methodology has been extensively tested and proven with hundreds of functions and thousands of employees in call centers, sales, healthcare, finance, leadership, and manufacturing settings. In every case, time to proficiency has been reduced by more than 30%. Reducing time to proficiency is critical because everyday employees aren’t fully productive has a direct financial impact on the business. The impact can be quantified in terms of productivity, errors, safety, turnover, and morale.

After more than 10 years of research and development, the results were published in the book “Learning Paths: Increase profits by reducing the time it takes to get employees up-to-speed” (Wiley and ATD Press 2004). The book has achieved critical acclaim by major human resources, organizational development, and training associations. Since 2004, thousands of people have read the Learning Paths book and hundreds of companies have applied Learning Paths concepts and principles within their organizations

Leadership

Steven Rosenbaum, C.E.O. & Founder
Learning Paths International

For more than 30 years, he has led successful Learning Paths initiatives for major corporations in manufacturing, sales, healthcare, customer service, finance, and leadership. He has developed and trained a network of Learning Path consultants and partners in the U.S. And internationally. As an author, Steve has written 6 books including Learning Paths: Increase profits by reducing the time it takes to get employees up-to-speed, Up to Speed Secrets of Reducing Time to Proficiency, Managing and Measuring Productivity, and Fair Employment Interviewing. He is also a contributor to the Trainer’s Portable Mentor and has written more than 100 articles and 400 blog postings on training and development topics.

Raymond Zhu, President Learning Paths China & Sr. Vice President Learning Paths International

Raymond Zhu has 15 years of experience in the learning function, management and instructional deign. He has provided learning solutions for more than 20 corporations in a diverse range of businesses and industries in China. With a strong background of Six Sigma and Cognitive Psychology, he has assisted enterprises and universities in understanding the Learning Path methodology and designing effective learning solutions which closely relate to business strategies. Raymond’s series of articles on Learning Paths in Training Magazine China has helped numerous organizations speed up time-to-proficiency.

Cees W.M. Nieboer, President Learning Paths Europe & Vice President Learning Paths International

Cees brings over 25 years of experience as a manager, trainer, coach, consultant, QA lead assessor and author of HR solutions. He worked and lived in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. His passion is to deliver results by matching and developing, human potential with measurable organizational results. Cees has developed and leads a network of European partners from the UK to Eastern Europe.

Arupa Tesolin, C.E.O. at VELCOFIED – Learning Paths Canada

Arupa is a recognized industry expert in management and learning and development with numerous articles in leading publications. She has led pivotal learning and development projects in complex technical, engineering and scientific environments. Arupa works with organizations to implement VELCOFIED Learning Paths that transform course-centred environments into rapid skills development processes for specific jobs and talent roles with improved performance and team synergy. She is also the sole licensor for the Learning Paths Methodology and Certification process in Canada. Reach out to Arupa at https://velcofied.com

Clients

The Learning Path methodology has been used with major corporations in the US and internationally. In addition, thousands of other companies and individuals have attended Learning Paths workshops, webinars and conference presentations. Even more, have read the Learning Paths book and have incorporated key principles into they way they build and deliver training. Clients have included:

GE Capital Consumer Finance
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Siemens
United Health Care
Ceridian
GE Capital Fleet Services
Argent Mortgage
American Airlines
Caremark/CVS
GE Capital TIP
AXIS Minnesota
GE Financial Assurance
GE International Services
Majestic American Cruise Lines
Autozone
The State of Minnesota
Travel Leaders
East Penn Manufacturing
JEM Technology

- RJF Agencies
- Van Gilder Insurance
- RHSB Agency
- Barney and Barney Agency
- Cobbs, Allen and Hall
- Valspar

- Certainteed Fiber Cement

- CertainTeed Insulation

- Metersbonwe

- China Mobile

- Union Pacific Railroad

- Rock Tenn

- Dakotah Technical College

- Metris/HSBC

- Health East Hospital System

- Disney Corporation

- South African Airlines

- Uponor

- Cruise Holidays

- Century College

- Canadian National Railroad

- China Mobile

- CertainTeed Roofing

- Pacific Insurance Group

- University of Minnesota

- St. Paul Pioneer Press

- Penske

- International Paper

- GE Travel Center

- Dow Corning

- AgeWell

- American Airlines

- Green Bay Packaging

- Cooperative Banks

- Travel Leaders

- Carpenter Technology

Testimonials

Learning Paths is the first real critical look at training that I’ve seen in 20 years.

Allan H. Kennel, senior vice president of human resources, retired, GE

As part of a major state of Minnesota/University of Minnesota training grant for a local daily newspaper, the Learning Paths (LP) process was indispensable. Using LP, we developed proficiency definitions for newsroom and advertising sales staff, created an assessment of staff proficiency levels before and after the training, and demonstrated how the training program helped to bring people up to proficiency in the areas they themselves had identified as crucial. The LP process is perfectly tailored for adult learners in a workplace setting. In addition, the LP process allowed much-needed cross-department communication to blossom in this large, complex organization. It is a terrific tool for ongoing training and development in any type of company.

Kathleen A. Hansen, Professor, Director, Minnesota Journalism Center, School of Journalism and Mass Communication University of Minnesota

We used a Learning Paths approach to help consolidate operations from the field into a centralized customer service center. We were able to accomplish the training portion of this initiative in less than six weeks.

Edward J. Robbins, Director of Human Resources, GE Capital Resources

This initial Learning Path and similar ones for other key positions in our company are critical to our growth plans for the future. They will differentiate our firm from other agencies in our industry, giving us a real advantage in competing for both talent and clients.

Karen K. Farris, CPCU, ARM, RHSB, President and CEO, Roach, Howard, Smith and Barton

We worked with loan processors to reduce time to proficiency from 6 weeks to 2 weeks. We applied Learning Paths in 3 main production centers that were hiring several hundred new employees.

Pat Alvarado, Training Manager and Learning Paths Team Leader

As an educator for the last 30 years, I was really impressed. Very innovative! I can’t wait to share it with the CEOs on our foundation board.

Nick Maras, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Century College

At CertainTeed, we wanted a Human Resources initiative that could positively impact productivity and knowledge transfer. We found both in the Learning Path (LP) process. For those business units who implemented LP, it helped get the sales reps and manufacturing operators more proficient in their roles and for those new to their roles it got them productive quicker. It also helped capture unique knowledge from experts in their roles so that we were more effective and efficient in transferring learning from one functional employee (e.g. machine operator) to a similar employee (e.g. new hire machine operator).

David Bomzer, Senior Vice President Human Resources, CertainTeed Corporation

We validated the result of our initial Learning Paths using Six Sigma and then rolled it out to more than 400 functions to achieve a reduction in time to proficiency by more than 30%. Learning Paths applied to almost every job including research assistance, accounts payable, insurance underwriters and call center workers.

Jim Williams, Chief Learning Officer, GE Capital International Services