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2014 Nation's President Reviews Volunteer's Work. KnowledgeWell Student Volunteer Looks on as Nation's President Reviews Her Work. Later, the Student and Mentor were honored with a Certificate and Recommendation.
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I would like to thank all of those involved with the great success of the 2014 Student Volunteer Program Pilot. The concept and planning for this pilot began in 2013 following two previous projects. The catalyst for the Program was a project for the team of MBA students from the NCSU Jenkins School to create a sustainable business and cultural preservation Strategic Plan for the FSM. The other KnowledgeWell project of transforming the lives of 5 unemployed college graduates from Palau, trained at the NC Dept of Transportation in Raleigh, for new careers on the Guam US Federal Highway project (see more in this and past newsletters) served as a foundational project for the Program as well. This project not only changed lives, the newly created transportation professionals delivered over $11M* in cost savings to Guam. (This KnowledgeWell concept proved to be a very positive impact for Guam from the Compact of Free relationship. As workforce demands exceed supply on Guam, KnowledgeWell seeks to continue to deliver more of these positive "Impact Compact" initiatives. See the July article below regarding the continued success of the former students).
Following nine years of working with US and international government founded colleges & universities, for this pilot program KnowledgeWell considered partnering with two privately founded schools. Exercising executive privilege, I chose Duke and Liberty. As a lifelong Durham native and having received requests from Duke to partner with KnowledgeWell, Duke was a natural choice. I completed my undergrad work at Liberty, therefore, natural choice for me. It was my pleasure to not only oversee the pilot, but to serve as a mentor.
The results and value delivered by these students in 2014 exceeded expectations. Once the projects were completed, KnowledgeWell surveyed executives & HR professionals from Fortune 100 and other companies to answer the question- "How much value do these projects deliver (for students and future employers) when students enter the marketplace?" See results below.
In 2015, KnowledgeWell plans to increase the number of projects and have our own UNC PhD student heading to Palau this summer. KnowledgeWell is actively seeking long-term relationships with Universities and or Employers that can benefit from this proven program. If interested, please contact me directly- lisa.mcfarland@knowledgewell.org.
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2015 Celebrating TEN YEARS of Delivering Expertise & Results
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| KnowledgeWell's first Sustainable Solutions Series events were launched in 2005. Thanks to Board Advisor Dr. Felicia Beardsley's guidance, KnowledgeWell Delivered its first International Project in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). In 2015, KnowledgeWell celebrates 10 Years of delivering expertise to the Asia Pacific region. It this period of time, scores of volunteers from the US, Asia/Pacific, Europe and Brazil have been mobilized to deliver expertise. During this time KnowledgeWell's strategic business model (conceptualized at "our" UNC Business School Exec MBA Program) delivered an estimated $12.7 million at little to no cost to the professionals benefiting from KnowledgeWell Volunteers' work. KnowledgeWell's focus continues to support Business Development in the Private Sector, supporting wise infrastructure development in the Public Sector while preserving Communities' Environmental, Historic and Cultural heritage. |
| 2014
Sustainable Solutions Series "New Hope" Year End Event- Raleigh NC
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| Transportation Technologies Student Training Stakeholders from Left to Right NC DOT CIO David Ulmer- recipient of GSR (Government Social Responsibility) award on behalf of New Hope Center where Palauan Students trained in Transportation Technologies before moving to Guam. ADSK Infrastructure Technical Specialist Manager ENI David Fagerman PLS/RPLS- (8x Volunteer) Student Project adviser on technology & curriculum for Students. NC DOT Finance & Contracts Manager Greg Keel PE (4x Volunteer) Project Advisory Board charter member. NC DOT Operations Program Manager Delbert Roddenberry PE (5x Volunteer) Project Advisory Board charter member & Student Instructor. NCSU Transportation Professor Dr. Billy Williams PE (4x Volunteer- Keynote) Project Advisory Board charter member. |
This Sustainable Solutions Series event was held at the NC DOT New Hope Center where the five unemployed grads trained in the computer labs which delivered New Hope before embarking on their new careers on Guam.
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Often referred to as the GPS (Great Palauan Students) 14 hour days, 6 days a week for 100 Days with No Absences.
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The event began with a clip from this project's CSR Partner McKim & Creed Board Chairman Mike Creed.
Follow this link to hear Mike Creed's comments on this life changing initiative The focus of this Series event was on Infrastructure Solutions and highlighting Transportation. Keynote, NC State University Transportation Professor Dr. Billy Williams PE, delivered a powerful and extremely thought provoking presentation regarding the impact of Transportation & Technology on our lives. David Fagerman PLS/RLS highlighted new technologies which deliver manageable Infrastructure solutions. These solutions were unimaginable in early 2014. Fagerman introduced the audience to new levels of 3D capture- Quantified New Technology Concepts- Level 0 to Level 4 (see New Technology Concepts Article below).
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Keynote: Dr. Billy Williams Challenges Audience Regarding Technology & It's Impact On Our Lives
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| David Fagerman PLS/PRLS New Quantifiable Technology Concepts Unveiled First at this KnowledgeWell Event. |
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NC Dept of Transportation CIO David Ulmer Discusses
New Hope Center's Support for Past & Potential Future KnowledgeWell Initiatives
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Transformed Lives & New Careers One Year Later- 2014
KW Career Assessment
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GUAM July 2014
GPS (Great Palauan Students) & Perry Paul Attend KnowledgeWell Career Assessment on Guam. L-R Standing: Worthy Basilius, Perry Paul, Vance Rideb. Front: Courtney Higa & Suzan Rideb. Paul, KnowledgeWell's first Micronesian Volunteer Event Presenter & Instructor in 2005, is referred to by the GPS as the "CAD Rubak".
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"The GPS"- Great Palauan Students on Guam One Year Later
First year results:
The new technology skills that the GPS acquired in North Carolina and use in their new careers created millions of dollars in cost savings for the Government of Guam Highway project The GPS initiative was the most challenging of KnowledgeWell projects in its 10 year history- to create immediate value for infrastructure (transportation) needs on Guam and long-term in Palau (Compact Road Expertise).
Volunteer experts donated thousands of hours to make this KnowledgeWell concept a reality. Nonprofit and private sector relationships aside, the public sector portion added the extreme complexity of involving four Governments- the US Federal Government, The Republic of Palau National Government, The Government of Guam, and The State of North Carolina. KnowledgeWell, as with past projects in the FSM, utilized its core competency of aligning specific workforce development supply with economic development demand.
This is a national pride story as Palauans are now the leaders of this technology in the Pacific. "We put Palau on the map related to this technology," stated Worthy Basiliius. It is a life changing story as 5 unemployed college grads gained new and valuable careers following their 100 days of training in North Carolina. By contributing millions of dollars to Guam in their first year on Guam, this is a positive Compact Impact story. Whereas the Compact Impact is a very serious and burdensome situation on Guam, as it has drained Guam's resources, the GPS (Courtney Higa, Vance Rideb, Suzan Rideb, Worthy Basilius, and the late Kenneth Ngirngemeusch) on the other hand, can be credited with contributing millions per person to Guam as a result of the Compact of Free Association relationship.
During the July meeting on Guam, the former Students were asked to review their journey from Palau to North Carolina to Guam. As no learning experience like this had ever been attempted before anywhere in the world, the former students admitted they experienced apprehensive before departure as no one could tell them what to expect. As pioneers, they were on their own in an uncharted learning experience with none of the students knowing anyone at KnowledgeWell. With a hunger to learn and better their lives, the GPS team eagerly risked studying 14 hours each day, 6 days a week in the KnowledgeWell designed "Training Bootcamp" in order to have a shot at new careers.
Comments from the GPS & Mike Creed & Lisa McFarland:
"My KnowledgeWell experience has been a 'rags to riches story' - a life changing adventure" Vance Rideb
"Yes, we were afraid, but if I did not take the risk, right now I would be climbing betel nut trees and selling betel nut in Koror" Worthy Basilius
"I trusted KnowledgeWell with My Life- literally- and I now have a career I could not have dreamed of before. You can trust KnowledgeWell" Suzan Rideb
"KnowledgeWell opened the doors to careers we did not know we could do and gave us the opportunity to prove ourselves to the world" Courtney Higa.
"Whether the landfill in Pohnpei or the Buildup on Guam, successfully aligning and designing workforce development learning with economic development opportunities is one of KnowlegeWell's core competencies- along with transforming lives." KnowledgeWell Exec. Director Lisa McFarland CPA
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At the Rainbow's End Tumon Bay- Guam's "Pot of Gold" Arrived on Guam in 2013
L-R Courtney Higa, Vance Rideb, Suzan Rideb, Worthy Basilius, the late Kenneth Ngirngemeusch
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New Technology Concepts 2015 (Unveiled at Recent KnowledgeWell Event)
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FSM 2012. KNOWLEDGEWELL 3D Model
Kosrae with Lelu Harbor Inset created with Infraworks
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FSM 2009. KNOWLEDGEWELL 3D Model
Pohnpei 3D Model with Landfill Inset
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Take a peek at the newest technologies to impact cities and islands in 2015. For the past decade, KnowledgeWell has delivered expertise related to new technologies that address limited resources unique to island communities. Most of the KnowledgeWell requests from Pacific Professionals are related to private sector & infrastructure development, as well as environmental, natural resources & community preservation.
KnowledgeWell's strategy to address all of these needs is to create 3D models of the islands (terrestrial) as well as under water (marine).
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FSM 2012 KNOWLEDGEWELL 3D Model
Lelu Harbor Kosrae created with Infraworks
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One can see the tremendous advances between our 2009 and 2012 terrestrial and marine models. Now there is a quantifiable technology category concept for 3D modeling which will benefit island and municipal stakeholders. The concept creates four levels of 3D modeling. These categories include existing and or "to be acquired" data for each island and city. Below is a snapshot:
Island & City Modeling Categories
Level 0 - Existing Data Used
GIS for Buildings, roads, utilities, cadastral, etc.
Aerial Imagery
DEMs for
ground
Combining engineering models with data (Revit, Civil 3D,
ARCHIBUS, GeoPAK, etc
)
Level 1 - Oblique Aerial Imagery
Use existing imagery or capture new imagery
Extraction can be single objects per feature or can recognize parcel lines and split buildings that are connected
Can use existing DEM models for bare earth or can use models from other sources to act as bare earth
Extracted objects can be very small (15kb to 100kb)
Option to also have all features as one object
Format can be .
fbx
, .
obj
, .3ds
Imagery will be attached to features -
note that imagery is from aerial data capture
Level 2 - Oblique Aerial Imagery combined with Ground Based Imagery
All of Level 1 ... plus
Imagery will need to be captured - via vehicle mounted image capture
Ground based Imagery will be attached to features below approximately 20-feet, above will continue to use aerial imagery
Updated features show much higher resolution at street level
Level 3 - Oblique Aerial Imagery combined with Ground Based Imagery and Ground Based
LiDAR
All of Level 1 and 2 ... plus
LiDAR
will need to be captured - via vehicle mounted system, and can be combined with image capture
Point cloud will be provided that is tied to existing model
Survey grade values for point cloud running from outside of sidewalk to outside of sidewalk, giving high resolution street data -
No data extraction provided in this level
Level 4 - Oblique Aerial Imagery combined with Ground based imagery and Ground based
LiDAR
, with Linear Feature Extraction
All of Level 1, 2, and 3 ... plus
Data extraction for point and linear features from point cloud data
Provide 3D features for use in surface creation, utility analysis, quantity take offs, etc.
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| 2015: Level 4 - World's First Truly Comprehensive 3D Model |
If you are a public sector professional who serves as a critical stakeholder related to your island or city's infrastructure or resources and would like to gain more expertise on the subject of these quantifiable technology concepts,
contact KnowledgeWell at info@KnowledgeWell.org Place "3D Modeling Categories" in the subject line to learn more. KnowledgeWell is happy to serve you.
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Success of the Student Volunteer Program
Catalyst for New Student Program: Strategic Sustainable Tourism Plan for FSM
KnowledgeWell's first Student Volunteers MBA Team Members, Edward Jones,
Jeffrey Behrens, Nicholas Clevenger and Donavon Boykin.
2014 Projects
Student Highlights
Volunteers from Two Universities,
Duke & LU, Selected.
See Executive Director Lisa McFarland's Introduction Letter (above) regarding the first Private University selection process for this 2014 Pilot.
The $100,000 Volunteer Experience
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2014
LU Student Volunteer Kelly Lynn, Hostess/Home Provider Ruth Wong & Lisa McFarland Enjoy Meal Between Meetings.
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Wong hosted both women over the Summer. Both served the President & Cabinet Ministers related to a host of business needs and received Presidential recognition for their efforts. Executive Director Lisa McFarland CPA served as mentor throughout their time overseas. Kelly, an International Business & Marketing major, served previously as a KnowledgeWell Intern. Following her KnowledgeWell Summer experience, Kelly stated she would not trade it for $100k. Lisa McFarland commented, "It was extremely rewarding to mentor a student from my Alma Mater."
Creating Sustainable Futures for Nations
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2014 Danielle Rosen, Lisa McFarland & Annie Magee Meet Regarding KnowledgeWell Deliverable.
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DUKE student volunteers Danielle and Annie have extensive experience in marketing and were chosen to assist with a confidential request from the Asia/Pacific region related sustainable Policy creation. Danielle & Annie have made significant contributions to this work. Thanks to their work, KnowledgeWell can help deliver public sector policies which enable sustainable futures for communities.
UNC PhD Student & Former Palau Resident "Returns Home" to Volunteer in Palau in 2015!
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UNC PhD Candidate (5th Year) Kristen Downs to Serve as KnowledgeWell's First PhD Student Volunteer- Environmental Sciences.
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Program Feedback Highlights From the Market:
"This program is very impressive in that it provides the student with significant real world experience and challenges that they can apply to their future career. Applicable experience always sets a candidate apart, and to have applicable experience in an international setting with a mentor is outstanding."
Michael F. Brown, HR Director and College Recruiter
"KnowledgeWell's university student volunteer initiative delivers great value to those seeking to differentiate and create a competitive advantage for themselves when entering the marketplace. This unique global learning and internship experience sets the volunteer apart from other candidates increasing their opportunities to obtain a job interview."
IBM Vice President, Ecosystem Development Laura Voglino
Support this New Student Program!
Contact me, Lisa McFarland lisa.mcfarland@knowledgewell.org, today to learn how you might
Sponsor or Donate towards this successful program or possibly serve as a volunteer mentor
on upcoming projects!
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I am excited to have you join us and to be a beneficiary of these amazing new opportunities! Please consider making a donation at www.KnowledgeWell.org at the "Donate Now" tab.
Sincerely,
Lisa McFarland CPA
Executive Director
 lisa.mcfarland@knowledgewell.org
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| Below: 2015- Ten Years of Delivering Expertise & Value Guam's Victor Torres Named As KnowledgeWell Director Chamorro Firm Named: 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Partner of the Year Thank you to Accent Imaging of Raleigh Organizations Mentioned in this Newsletter: HDR, IBM, McKim & Creed, NC DOT, Parsons, PB, ADSK, Accent Imaging, Duenas Camacho & Associates, CME, Guam DPW, US DOT Federal Highways (FHWA) Guam HPO, BSP, CMO, DPW
2015:KnowledgeWell Celebrates 10 Years of Volunteer Projects in Asia Pacific In 2015, KnowledgeWell celebrates 10 years of delivering expertise throughout the region. Following its initial events on Guam in 2005 which included professionals from 16 island nationalities, KnowledgeWell's first project delivered GPS/GIS expertise to the historic preservation professionals of the FSM.
Vic Torres Named New KnowledgeWell Director for Guam CMI & FAS Region Vic Torres has been named as the KnowledgeWell Regional Director for Coastal & Environmental Initiatives.
"We welcome Vic to the team! He has had a long relationship with KnowledgeWell and is recognized as a premier expert throughout the Region.
His work experience in the areas of cultural (Historic Preservation Officer) and natural resources management & planing (former Planner at the Bureau of Statistics and Plans Guam Coastal Management Office) with the utilization of Geographic Information Systems and Global Positioning Systems (GIS/GPS) technology & LiDAR in those fields are critical needs that KnowledgeWell has addressed over the past decade.
" Executive Director Lisa McFarland CPA
KnowledgeWell 2014 CSR Partner of the Year
KnowledgeWell Named Duenas Camacho & Associates 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Partner of the Year. When creating the concept (executed by the CME) to train multiple groups of students from Palau to meet workforce demand on Guam, Duenas, Camacho & Associates hired the majority of the newly minted professionals that trained in Raleigh North Carolina. In the past, Duenas Camacho & Associates have contributed to numerous volunteer projects in the FSM. KnowlegeWell recognizes DCA's role, not only in partnering with KnowledgeWell, but delivering value to Guam and the Region.
Thank you to ACCENT Imaging of Raleigh NC Many thanks to Mike Stodder and his team for providing Banners for the Year End Event and numerous events previously.Banner Designed by David Johnson of Raleigh.
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