All of
Les’s current tutoring subjects are listed at the left. You
can read more about
Les’s qualifications in specific subjects below.
ASVAB
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Test (ASVAB) is a timed, multi-aptitude test, which is given at many schools and military installations nationwide. It was developed by the Department of Defense to test you for your aptitude in eight different areas. Your sores will determine how qualified you are for certain military occupational specialties. The eight sections to the ASVAB Test are:
- Arithmetic Reasoning
- Mathematics Knowledge
- Word Knowledge
- Paragraph Comprehension
- General Science
- Auto & Shop Information
- Mechanical Comprehension
- Electronics Information
My approach is to quickly define your current skill level and the areas you will need the most assistance. Then focus on the sections that you feel you need the most improvement. There are a number of ASVAB Practice Tests that we can use and I can patiently work with you to get the best results on those areas you need the most help in.
As a former U.S. Navy veteran, and as a program manager for many Department of Defense programs, I understand the requirements of the military and can counsel and tutor you successfully.
Please contact me and let's discuss how we can easily get you through this test.
Business
I have over 25+ years experience in business, as an entrepreneur and as a senior manager in a Fortune 100 company. My areas of expertise include finance, marketing, business development, business process improvement and project management.
My approach to business management and projects follows a Six Sigma approach where a framework is employed to define, measure, analyze, improve and control the process. My expertise in Key Performance Metrics, Corporate Finance and Excel enables me to establish critical performance measurements to monitor, control and measure project initiatives.
In my work as Vice President of Business Development for a manufacturer I developed and implemented the sales and marketing plans for the company and managed a sales force of independent representatives.
As a Program Manager for a Fortune 100 company, I managed national security programs for government agencies including the Department of Energy and Department of Defense.
My experience with government, business, and non-profit sectors brings a broad perspective to my tutoring.
I look forward to sharing my knowledge, skills and abilities from my business experience in helping you whether you are a student, job seeker, employee or business owner.
Career Development
I have more than 25 years of experience as a business leader, entrepreneur, manager, community leader and management consultant serving public, private, governmental, academic and nonprofit organizations.
I have worked in the area of Human Resources for most of my career. As President and CEO of Gard Corporation I recruited, hired, trained, managed, and often terminated employees. I worked with employees to develop their career.
With Honeywell I participated in career initiatives and training that helped employees develop their careers.
I have an MBA and course work included Human Resources, Organizational Development.
I have performed as a trainer and group leader in the Dale Carnegie Management Seminar that has components and training for career and professional development.
English
As a graduate student, business executive and presenter, I have had extensive experience in researching, proofreading, and writing. My expertise includes research papers, marketing reports, analytical and white papers and essays.
I've written hundreds of articles, reports, and papers and can help you in your school work or business.
I always evaluate your needs and objectives in our first lesson and make our sessions fun, entertaining and productive.
ESL/ESOL
I understand that it is crucial for ESL/ESOL tutors be aware of the characteristics of their learners and develop lessons that address their strengths and needs of individual students. I have worked with some learners that have little formal education but a great command of basic spoken English, while others have an excellent grasp of formal grammar but are unable to understand English speakers in real life situations.
I plan lessons that build on individual strengths and address each student’s individual needs. I do this through an assessment of the student’s backgrounds, competency, needs, goals, particular areas of language requirements, and learning styles.
My most recent experiences include working with a High School Junior from China who was taking a Public Speaking course and needed ESL assistance in preparing for the course. This experience included practice listening, speaking, reading and writing that considered the kinds of communication that happen both inside and outside the classroom. I used materials, videos, flash cards, and other methods to improve the student’s ability to communicate and understand authentic English. I also encouraged the student to take advantage of researching outside of our lessons.
Another example of my ESL/ESOL was an MBA student from Santo Domingo who needed help in preparing both a written report and oral presentation of a business finance course. I planned our lessons to include ways to maximize the student’s real world experience in the language of business. My MBA degree and over 20 years experience in business was invaluable.
What makes my ESL/ESOL tutoring different and special is the relationship with the students, the knowledge about their culture and understanding of their attitudes and values. Then leveraging these relationships into learning experiences.
Finance
In my role as a CEO of two corporations, I played a strong role in finance. I learned that a corporation's most important element is to increase the value of the firm to its shareholders.
I have helped many Finance students using most of the popular text books including:
Corporate Finance by Ross & Westerfield
Corporate Finance by Ehrhardt & Brigham
I am proficient in the following finance topics:
- Balance sheets
- Income statements
- Cash cycles and Cash Flow Analysis
- Time Value of Money Problems (TMV)
- Annuities
- Present Values, Future Values
- Financial & Ratio analysis
- Business valuation
- Revenues, expenses and inventory
- Assets, current and long term
- Financing and bank lending, cost of capital
- Discounted cash flow analysis
- HP10BII Financial Calculator
I am a knowledgeable and patient tutor with lots of "real world" experience that will add to your tutoring experience.
General Computer
I have an expert level of general computer competency. I have knowledge of the following:
* basic computing concepts
* Understand storage types,
* Understand kb, mega, giga, tera storage metrics
* ability to perform fundamental operating system functions
* ability to use computers in a secure manner
* install and maintain antivirus and anti spam programs
* Ability to use a wide assortment of common software applications such as: Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Project and Visio.
* Ability to use computer for Internet access, search engines, send and receive email, configure email accounts, and URL addresses
* Can manipulate files, backups, folders, install and uninstall software
* Can install printers and devices
* Can update drivers of printers and other peripheral devices
* Research electronic databases
* Understand basics of computer security and need for antivirus and spyware protection and firewalls.
Hebrew
I have immersed myself in the Hebrew language for most of my life. I have an expert knowledge of Hebrew reading and writing and a familiar knowledge of Modern conversational Hebrew language. I have taught Hebrew at elementary grades.
Marketing
I am proficient in the areas of Marketing having developed marketing plans, performed market segmentation, written proposals, defined the marketing mix, 4-Ps, and commercialized products and technology.
I understand how to craft a value proposition and am currently hired as a strategic marketing consultant and trainer by Nonprofits First, an organization that provides management support services for nonprofits.
I am familiar with both inbound and outbound marketing and social media marketing (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, etc.)
I have performed market research and managed Voice of the Customer (questionnaire design and satisfaction surveys) for a Fortune 100 company.
Microsoft Excel
I am an Excel expert. In addition, I can assist from a business perspective how to design the best charts and tables and add them to your reports to achieve a professional and persuasive presentation.
All of my Excel students receive a FREE help file giving examples of how to use some of the more difficult Excel functions. These include: VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, PMT, IRR, Scenario Analysis, Goal Seeking, basic IF statements, IF(AND, IF(OR, and nested IF statements and more.
I also am also proficient at Microsoft Visio. So I can show you how to do beautiful flowcharts, organization charts, graphics, and process maps that will help you in your studies or job.
I can also show you how to import Excel charts into Microsoft PowerPoint and Word.
For a patient, competent and proficient tutor, give me a call.
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is a business and personal e-mail management tool that I have used for many years in several different versions.
I have over 10 years experience using Outlook. And I'm currently am using Outlook 2010. My knowledge includes:
- composing 1,000s of emails
- using the calendar not only to schedule my events, but also to schedule appointments, meetings, events and share them with others.
- using Outlook as a "To Do" list with the experience of setting up followup reminders to keep tasks current.
- Setting up Outlook to automatically send emails when away from the office or computer
It is a great productivity-enhancing application. And when used with Microsoft's other Office Suite of products can be a true time saver.
Microsoft PowerPoint
I have been using PowerPoint for over 15 years and am proficient at PowerPoint as well as how to integrate other Microsoft Office applications into PowerPoint.
My level of skills including producing large and complex presentations that include unique and attractive layouts, slide transitions, special effects, videos and hyperlinks.
My skills include:
- Creating master slides
- Creating templates
- Using clip art and WordArt
- Running manual and automatic slide shows
- Working with notes
- Creating interactive presentations
In addition, I can assist in uploading presentations onto:
- SlideShare
- Linkedin and other social networking sites
I can also compare and advise the use of alternative presentation applications like:
SlideRocket and Prezi that offer different presentation effects
Microsoft Project
I am proficient in all the Microsoft Office Suite of products AND Microsoft Project. I spent six (6) years as a Senior Program Manager / Project Manager for Honeywell Aerospace, a Fortune 100 company using MS Project.
I received my Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certification in 2006. (Certificate #427875). PMP Certification requires familiarity with Project Management software programs such as MS Project.
Understand how to:
- build schedules
- print project layouts
- design Gantt charts
- enter and control costs
- set up project schedule
- create a project
- define scope, schedule
- sequence tasks
- set calendars
I would be an excellent tutor because I not only know the software, but I am a Project Management expert.
Microsoft Word
I have been a power Microsoft Word user for over 15 years. My knowledge of MS Word includes
* Setting up various document styles
* Using templates
* Formatting paragraphs and texts
* Bullets, numbers and lists
* Create professional-looking letters, reports and presentations
* Mail Merge and labels
* Adding graphics and photos
* Adding decorative features, borders, etc.
* Spellchecker and thesaurus
* Tracking Changes
* Create outlines and tables of contents
* How to use Word with Excel and PowerPoint
Very patient and understanding. Able to bring practical, real world business knowledge, experience and skills toward the use of Microsoft Word. Can provide general computer instruction in addition to tutoring MS Word.
Photography
As a former commercial photographer specializing in weddings and portraiture I have a strong background and knowledge of photography.
Unlike many younger photographers, I grew up prior to the digital days, so I understand film, lighting, exposure, and maximizing photographic quality through the development and printing process.
I also understand digital photography, having "shot" digital since 1985.
Among my photographic competencies include:
* Knowledge of black & white and color films
* Studio Lighting
* On camera and bounce lighting
* Focus options and selective focus methods
* White balance
* Shutter speeds
* Special effects
* Metering and light balance
* ISO Speeds
* Exposure and compensation
Proofreading
I have over 25 years experience in writing, editing and proofreading. As an author of business articles for a Fortune 100 company, I composed business reports, articles, news releases, business cases, and white papers on many different topics to dozens of audiences.
My writing always has employed careful editing including punctuation, grammar, subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, typographical errors, spelling errors, and word flow.
I am experienced in both APA and MLA Styles and formats. I can not only proofread but also assist in creating tables, charts and figures according to APA guidelines.
I look forward to helping you solve your proofreading challenges.
Public Speaking
My first formal training in Public Speaking was with the Dale Carnegie Public Speaking Course. This course is a classic and internationally-recognized course in public speaking. I graduated and was a group leader for this course.
During my business management experience, I gave public speaking presentations at the company, conferences and trade shows. These experiences helped me practice important aspects of Public Speaking including: pronunciations, articulation, projection, inflection, and rapport with the audience.
I also conducted training sessions and presentations at professional association conferences, and was a facilitator further using my public speaking skills.
While working for a government contractor, I conducted training in Project Management to over 700 engineers. This required me to utilize informative and persuasive types of public speaking to accomplish my training objectives.
Writing
I have both an academic and real-world mix of writing experience. As an MBA graduate, I authored term papers, marketing plans, essays and research reports. As a business manager I have written thousands of letters and memos, and authored articles published in international journals. I can provide real world experience to your writing. As a Microsoft Word and Excel tutor, I can teach you how to use these applications to properly format your documents to APA, MLA and other accepted guidelines.