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Who I am

Hi! I’m Heather Marie Cotanch, a curious, adaptable, and empathic learning designer. My journey began as a classroom teacher, where I learned to navigate the complexities of serving a diverse classroom of learners and create curricula to drive success for all. This early experience honed my ability to translate complex information into accessible, multimodal learning experiences across various industries, from K-12 education to technology-focused start-up environments. With over a decade of experience in learning design, I understand that the role goes beyond developing programs; it's about building relationships, fostering a culture of continuous growth, and truly aligning with the goals of the business. I embed myself within organizations to act as a partner, advocate, and detective, uncovering challenges and delivering impactful experiences that help individuals and companies thrive. A lifelong learner at heart, I am unafraid to innovate, experiment, and iterate to find the best solutions.

What I do

  • Help you reach your business goals through engaging learning experiences

  • Design customized learning opportunities for your team

  • Meet your learners where they are and help them grow at a steady pace

  • Bring a personalized approach that keeps your people and culture at the center of learning solutions

  • Consult on the best ways to deliver learning that speaks to your target audience

  • Conduct needs assessments to identify patterns, gaps, and opportunities

  • Translate subject-matter expertise into effective learning materials

  • Incorporate a human element to training

  • Deliver on-time and on-budget learning solutions

  • Build a culture of learning to improve the efficacy of your employees and organization

How we’ll work together

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    Needs Assessment

    I start by conducting a thorough needs assessment culminating in identifiable gaps, goals, and high-level content alignment. This process can range from a meeting with key stakeholders to a full-scale assessment with team members from across your organization.

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    Architecture & Development

    After aligning on goals and scope, I can design and develop content for you or we can partner to outline content so you can lead content creation.

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    Ongoing Support

    Upon delivery of learning materials, I remain available for implementation and iteration based on feedback and data.

Learn More

My guiding principles

  • We will collaborate throughout the process to design the solutions that work best for you and your team.

  • Delivered materials will speak to and build upon your company’s values and ways of working.

  • Learning solutions are designed so that learners are engaged and feel confident implementing content immediately.