FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TMG Begins Development of Leader Performance Improvement System for North Florida Shipyards
HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA, 23 April 2010

Training Modernization Group, Inc. (TMG) announces its partnership with North Florida Shipyards (NFSY), to design, develop, and implement a Leader Performance Improvement Systemat NFSY’s Mayport Facility in Jacksonville, Florida. The program is designed to provide key leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to continue NFSY’s progress towards becoming the premiere choice in ship repair for US Navy, Coast Guard and Commercial customers.

NFSY seeks to continue its growth through creating a superior leader team capable of exhibiting high performing behaviors, making the facility more productive by creating an engaged workforce, providing the right developmental opportunities to grow talent, as well as improving goal alignment through all levels of leadership positions.   According to NFSY CFO, Mr. Bob Wilson, this program will create a “Lean, Mean Fighting Team that is winning on every job."

The primary elements of the Leader Performance Improvement System are:

• Development of an Essential Task Training System to ensure each leader achieves a high level of proficiency on critical skills that support the organization’s mission. Not only does this improve the quality of work completed on every job, but it also guides individual employee advancement on his/her career path through additional training, develops and applies new knowledge, and provides the skills and abilities that will be needed to reach established goals.
• Creation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to formalize key specific operational activities. Publishing SOPs will standardize the approach of individuals with the company to specific procedures and improve the quality and speed of decision making. Initial development of SOPs will include “Contractor Required Reports” and “Pricing Growth Items.”
• Facilitation of Leader Development Team Building Workshops to address vessel-focused issues which leadership determines have an adverse impact on meeting cost, quality, schedule, and safety objectives. These facilitated discussions will provide a forum for leaders solve critical issues that continually cause goals not to be met. The events involve high performing teammates as mentors, are focused on individual responsibilities, and cover how the role of each teammate fits into, and impact, the daily operations of NFSY.
• Implement an Individual Coaching Program to provide developing leaders with focused assistance from the most valuable resource a company has – another high performing leader. Coaching matches a very skilled leader one particular task with another leader who needs focused help. The goal is an immediate behavioral change and improved performance. Parts of the program include goal alignment sessions, a coaching matching session, a Gemba walk, individual coaching sessions, and feedback sessions.

The need for this Leader Performance Improvement System was determined through a comprehensive analysis in the form of a Team Stability Snapshot conducted by TMG from December 2009 through February 2010. The goal of the Leader Stability Snapshot was to assess NFSYs organizational effectiveness. The Team Stability Snapshot is TMGs systems process methodology to identify Team Risk in the areas of Organizational Scheme, Team Engagement, On Boarding, Incumbent Workforce Development, Line Supervisor Performance and Future Leader Bench Strength.  By performing an in-depth current state analysis of these systems and processes, TMG made performance improvement recommendations with resources required to design the NFSY Leader Performance Improvement Program.

The partnership between TMG and NFSY was made possible, in part, by a grant through the Workforce Florida Incumbent Worker Training program. Workforce Florida manages several Florida programs that help businesses ensure their employees maintain cutting-edge skills and keep pace with new technologies.

North Florida Shipyards, Inc. (NFSY) operates ship repair and conversion facilities in Jacksonville, Florida. The resources and expertise of North Florida Shipyards provide both commercial and government customers with cost-effective vessel conversion, dry-docking and repair services. NFSY’s commercial experience includes tanker and cargo ships, passenger vessels, tugs, barges, offshore supply vessel and offshore yachts. NFSY’s government experience includes Military Sealift, MARAD, US Coast Guard and US Navy vessels.

Training Modernization Group, Inc. (TMG) is a service disabled veteran owned small business that has been nationally recognized for their work in performance improvement by the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD).  TMG specializes in the arena of Human Capital Management with current and former clients throughout the United States such as Northrop Grumman, Ball Corporation, BAE Systems, STIHL, Aera Energy, MEDRAD, Virginia Department of Transportation, Liebherr America, Army Fleet Support, and others.

Contact:
Joseph C. Barto, III
President and Founder
TMG, Inc.
757-218-8444
jbarto@tmgva.com
www.tmgva.com