Hello, I'm

Joseph Paul
Clifton

Learning & Development Leader

Designing onboarding programs, building training curricula, and facilitating sessions that translate complex subject matter into clear, engaging learning experiences.

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Joseph Paul Clifton
About

Building programs from
the ground up.

Learning and development leader with experience designing onboarding programs, building training curricula, and facilitating sessions for both internal teams and external stakeholders.

My background combines classroom teaching — grades 3 through 8 — corporate people operations, and technical product management. This brings a unique ability to translate complex, evolving subject matter into clear, engaging learning experiences for adult learners.

I've built programs from scratch, created documentation frameworks, and delivered training across live demonstration, written guides, and hands-on sessions. My MS in Human Development and Family Science provides a foundation in how people learn, grow, and engage.

12+ Years in Training
& Development
MS Human Development
& Family Science
4 Industries
Spanned
Experience

Professional Journey

2024 — Present Fayetteville, AR

Akra Collective LLC

Founder, Product & Technology Consulting
  • Lead client-facing facilitation for strategy sessions, onboarding, and product handoff, translating complex technical platforms into clear guidance for non-technical stakeholders.
  • Produce training documentation using a flexible framework that includes written documentation in various formats, live demonstration, and guided session submissions.
  • Design and deliver onboarding experiences for external clients adopting new software platforms, ensuring users are prepared to operate independently post-handoff.
  • Adapt communication style and training approach based on audience, from executive leadership to front-line operators.
2020 — 2024 Fayetteville, AR

Lofty

Director of People Operations & Product Management
  • Designed and built the organization's onboarding program from scratch, creating all training materials, curricula, and documentation from minimum pre-existing.
  • Managed onboarding for the entire organization, ensuring every new hire received a consistent, high-quality experience that prepared them to contribute effectively.
  • Facilitated strategy sessions and onboarding for external client projects, bridging the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders through clear, engaging communication.
  • Built and maintained a training documentation library using custom LMS software, continuously improving content as products, platforms, and processes evolved.
  • Owned product strategy and roadmaps for multiple customer-facing platforms, partnering with executive leadership to align priorities across engineering, design, and business stakeholders.
  • Mentored team members on delivery methods, helping them develop skills and improve against role expectations.
2017 — 2020 Lowell, AR

Wachter

Project Manager, Low Voltage Cabling
  • Managed multiple concurrent project teams delivering large-scale, operationally critical work in environments requiring strict controls, documentation, and predictable execution.
  • Established standardized communication, reporting, and documentation practices to increase transparency and stakeholder confidence as well as first in-office team-lead training program.
  • Mentored team members on disciplined delivery methods, emphasizing consistency, quality, and adherence to defined processes.
  • Coordinated requirements, schedules, and delivery across field teams, business leadership, and customers, ensuring clear ownership and accountability at every stage.
2012 — 2013, 2015 — 2016 Fayetteville, AR

Prism Education Center

Teacher
  • Designed and delivered curriculum for grades 3 through 8 across all core subject areas, adapting instructional approach to meet diverse learning needs and ability levels.
  • Facilitated engaging classroom sessions, translating complex subject matter into approachable, age-appropriate learning experiences.
  • Assessed student progress and continuously refined instructional materials and methods based on feedback and outcomes.
Core Competencies

What I Bring

Instructional Design & Curriculum Development

Building structured learning paths that take complex subject matter and make it accessible, engaging, and actionable.

New Hire Onboarding Program Design

Creating end-to-end onboarding experiences from scratch — materials, processes, and delivery that prepare people to contribute from day one.

Live Facilitation & Training Delivery

Leading sessions that hold attention and drive understanding — from executive strategy meetings to hands-on technical walkthroughs.

Adult Learning Principles

Grounded in human development science — understanding how adults learn, retain, and apply new skills in professional environments.

Training Documentation & Content Libraries

Building and maintaining living documentation systems that evolve with the organization's products, processes, and people.

Cross-Functional Stakeholder Communication

Bridging technical teams and business leadership with clear, tailored communication that builds alignment and confidence.

Project Management & Multi-Workstream Coordination

Managing concurrent initiatives with disciplined execution — clear ownership, transparent reporting, and predictable delivery.

Continuous Improvement

Assessing outcomes, refining methods, and iterating on programs so they stay effective as organizations grow and evolve.

Education

Academic Foundation

University of Arkansas

MS Human Development & Family Science
BS Human Development & Family Science

Prior experience includes customer-facing roles at Starbucks, Showboat Branson Belle, and Kirkland's Home — foundational work in service delivery, guest experience, and team environments.