Portfolio
Presentations
The Power of Games to Unleash Collaboration and Creativity at Work
presentation to ASQ Orlando Section (2023)
presentation to Project Management Institute Tulsa Professional Development Day conference (2023)
presentation to ASQ Healthcare Division (2023)
presentation to Midwest Manufacturing Accounting Conference (2023)
presentation to ASQ Education Division and Quality Management Division (2023)
presentation to ASQ Lean & Six Sigma conference (2023)
presentation to ASQ Government Division (2022)
presentation to ASQ Manitoba Section (2022)
presentation to ASQ BOSCON conference (2022)
presentation to ASQ Rochester Section conference (2022)
presentation to ASQ Measurement Quality Division and Akron/Canton Section joint conference (2022)
presentation to ASQ Palomar Section (2022)
presentation to ASQ East Tennessee Section (2022)
presentation to ASQ Salt Lake City Section (2022)
presentation to ASQ Vermont Section (2022)
presentation to ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement (2022)
presentation to ASQ Education Division (2022)
presentation to Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City (2021)
presentation to ASQ Software Quality and Quality Management Division joint conference (2021)
presentation to Kansas City Institute of Managerial Accountants Chapter (2021)
presentation to Project Management Institute Kansas City Mid-America Chapter Professional Development Days (2020)
Description: This presentation provided an overview of gamification, gave examples of using games in organizations, and shared best practices from my experience using games in the workplace.
Building Trust, Communication, and Respect at Work: How to Thrive in a Multi-Generational Team Environment
presentation to Software Excellence Academy with Douglas C. Wood (2023)
presentation to ASQ Measurement Quality Division and Akron/Canton Section joint conference (2023)
presentation to ASQ Palomar Section with Douglas C. Wood (2023)
presentation to ASQ Acadiana/Southwest Louisiana Section with Douglas C. Wood (2023)
presentation to Kansas City Professional Development Conference (2023)
presentation to ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement with Douglas C. Wood (2023)
presentation to Global Entrepreneurship Week Kansas City with Douglas C. Wood (2022)
presentation to ASQ Baltimore Section with Douglas C. Wood (2022)
presentation to ASQ Houston Section and Inspection Division Joint Conference with Douglas C. Wood (2022)
presentation to SHRM Wayne State College Student Chapter (2022)
presentation to ASQ Kansas City Section and Quality Management Division with Douglas C. Wood (2022)
presentation to Greater Kansas City Writing Center Project conference (2020)
Description: This presentation provided an overview of each living generation in the United States, shared quality tools to improve working across different generations, and examined future trends that will affect the global marketplace.
The Future of Work: A Deep Dive into Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT
presentation to ASQ Measurement Quality Division and Akron/Canton Section joint conference (2023)
presentation to Project Management Institute Kansas City Mid-America Chapter Professional Development Days (2023)
presentation to ASQ Kansas City Section (2023)
presentation to Greater Kansas City Writing Center Project conference (2023)
Description:
This presentation provided an overview of the history of technological advancement, examined how ChatGPT can help quality professionals, and shared thoughts on how people can thrive in a world driven by artificial intelligence.
The Future of Work: A Deep Dive into Quality 4.0
presentation to ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement Community Spotlight Stage (2023)
presentation to ASQ Kansas City Section and Akron/Canton Section joint meeting (2023)
Description:
This presentation provided an overview of the factors that created Industry 4.0, examined Quality 4.0 in terms of people, process, and technology, and shared thoughts on how organizations and people can thrive in Industry 4.0 and beyond.
The Quality Manager as Risk Manager: A Deep Dive into Risk Management
presentation to ASQ Baltimore Section (2023)
Description:
This presentation provided an overview of risk, examined key aspects of risk management, and technology, and shared best practices regarding risk management in organizations.
The Agile Toolbox: Preparing Your Team for Success
presentation to ASQ Dallas Section (2023)
presentation to PMI Kansas City Mid-America Chapter Monthly Meeting (2023)
Description:
This presentation provided an overview of agile, examined key tools to create estimates, organize work, and gather lessons learned, and shared best practices from my experience using agile in the workplace.
Putting the Puzzle Together: Creating an Effective Project Charter
presentation to Project Management Institute Kansas City Mid-America Chapter Knowledge Exchange (2023)
Description:
This presentation provided an overview of project charters, examined key aspects of creating a strong project charter, and shared lessons learned from my experience developing project charters.
The Quality Manager as Facilitator: A Deep Dive into Facilitation and Steering Committees
presentation to ASQ Manitoba Section (2022)
presentation to Project Management Institute Kansas City Mid-America Chapter Professional Development Days (2022)
Description: This presentation provided an overview of facilitation and steering committees, gave examples of facilitating in-person or virtual meetings, and shared best practices from my experience facilitating meetings or steering committees.
The Future of Work: Automation and Employee Engagement for Modern Organizations
presentation to ASQ Seattle Section with Douglas C. Wood (2022)
Description: This presentation provided an overview of automation, shared best practices for engaging employees using games, and examined best practices for leveraging automation and employee engagement at work.
Navigating Projects through Political Science
presentation to Project Management Institute KC Mid-America Chapter Lunch and Learn (2022)
Description: This presentation provided an overview of political science in the United States, examined tools for working effectively with stakeholders or teams, and shared best practices from my experience using political science in the workplace.
Publications
Wood, Douglas C., and Jarrard, Zac. (2022). Building Trust, Communication, and Respect at Work: How to Thrive in a Multi-Generational Environment. American Society for Quality Management Forum (QMF) Fall 2022.
Description: I co-authored an article with Douglas C. Wood on working effectively across different generations. This article provides an overview of each living generation in the United States, shares tools for working effectively with different generations, and provides some thoughts on where the global marketplace will be in the next 5-10 years. This article was published in the American Society for Quality Management Forum (QMF) for Fall 2022.
Keim, Susan, Jarrard, Zac, and Mahyaddinli, Rashad. (2021). Building Cities, Pirate Ships, and Fighting Zombies: Using Minecraft to Enhance Online Teaching. American Society for Quality Education Division (QED) Newsletter Winter 2020.
Description: I co-authored an article with Dr. Susan Keim and Rashad Mahyaddinli on our work with Minecraft in public administration and K-12 kids camps. This article provides an overview of our graduate Minecraft course, K-12 kids camps, and explores possibilities regarding using Minecraft as a teaching tool in online education. This article was published in the American Society for Quality Education Division (QED) Newsletter for Winter 2020.
Keim, Susan and Zac Jarrard. (2020). Building Communities, Pirate Ships, and Raining Chickens: Park University’s Minecraft Camp Experience.
Description: I co-authored a blog post with Dr. Susan Keim on our work with Minecraft K-12 kids camps. This article provides an overview of the two kids camps we did for Park University faculty and staff during the 2019-2020 academic year and shows the possibilities regarding using Minecraft as a teaching tool. This article was published on the Minecraft: Education Edition website.
Keim, Susan and Zac Jarrard. (2020). Building Cities and Fighting Monsters: Park University’s Minecraft Journey.
Description: I co-authored a blog post with Dr. Susan Keim on our work with Minecraft in public administration. This article provides an overview of the graduate public administration course we created and highlights several student outcomes. This article was published on the Minecraft: Education Edition website.
Keim, Susan and Zac Jarrard. (2020). Board Games, Zombies, and Minecraft, Gamification in Higher Education.
Description: I co-authored a book chapter with Dr. Susan Keim on gamification in higher education. The main topics we covered included an overview of gamification academic literature, using Minecraft as a gamification and civic engagement tool, and lessons learned for how to get started with gamification. This book chapter was published in the second edition of Current and Prospective Applications of Virtual Reality in Higher Education.
Jarrard, Zac. (2013). An Important Investment: Graduating College with Little to No Debt. Park University Financial Literacy Center Newsletter.
Description: I submitted this essay for a financial literacy scholarship contest in 2013. The main topics it covered included college students and debt management. A group of judges reviewed my essay and decided it was the runner up for the scholarship contest. My essay was published in the Park University Financial Literacy Center Newsletter in Spring 2013 and it was sent out to all university students.