About

I'm a program manager, trainer, and learning strategist based on the Eastside, and I've built a career around one core idea: technology and data should work for people, not the other way around.

At Liberty Mutual, I designed learning ecosystems, built data infrastructure, delivered training, and led programs that connected training activity to real business outcomes — including a 10%+ increase in employee retention and a 92% reduction in database costs through cloud migration. Whether I'm architecting a SharePoint environment, building a Power BI dashboard for executives, or walking someone through a new tool for the first time, my job is making the complex feel obvious.

My foundation is in education, and that shapes everything I do. I think in terms of how people actually learn, not just what needs to be covered. I've layered that with a Project Management Certificate, a Microsoft Office Specialist certification, and a graduate certificate in internet marketing — and I keep adding to it. Most recently, AI fluency and Microsoft Copilot adoption.

Right now I'm drawn to teams that want to go AI-first but haven't quite figured out the roadmap yet. That gap between ambition and execution is exactly where I do my best work.

Expertise

Learning & Development

Program design, Cornerstone LMS, SCORM/xAPI, ADDIE, Camtasia, Articulate Storyline, and talent development at scale.

Microsoft 365

SharePoint Online administration, Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, Copilot, and the broader M365 ecosystem.

Data & Analytics

SQL Server, Azure SQL, data modeling, and translating raw learning and business data into decisions people can act on.

Project Management

PM-certified (Bellevue College), PMI member, with a track record of delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives.

Digital Marketing

SEO strategy, online marketing, and digital program development — with a USF graduate certificate to back it up.

AI Enablement

Helping organizations bridge the gap between AI ambition and practical execution, including Microsoft Copilot adoption.

Career

  1. 2025 – 2026

    Microsoft 365 Consultant

    Mick Thornton Technology Consulting, Bellevue, WA

    Individual consulting for small and medium-sized businesses upgrading or moving to SharePoint Online and Microsoft 365. Designed and built internal SharePoint portals and reorganized document management with metadata for Copilot use. Delivered train-the-trainer programs to develop internal employee champions.

  2. 2016 – 2024

    Program Manager

    Liberty Mutual Insurance, Seattle, WA

    Led talent development programs globally, built data infrastructure connecting learning and HR data, managed 25 SharePoint Online sites, and reduced annual database costs by 92% over 5 years through cloud migration. Drove a 10%+ employee retention increase through data-driven initiatives.

  3. 2013 – 2015

    Senior Training Specialist

    Liberty Mutual Insurance, Seattle, WA

    Developed and delivered complex technical training programs. Architected 5 SharePoint site collections managing 25,000 training files. Tripled learning data collection by implementing the Josh Bersin Talent Model (Levels 1–4).

  4. 2011 – 2012

    Senior Business Analyst

    Liberty Mutual Insurance, Seattle, WA

    Built and grew the Bricks & Clicks digital marketing program into the #1 carrier-supplied program for independent agencies in the United States — reaching 759 in-person and 430 virtual participants.

  5. 2007 – 2011

    Technical Trainer

    Liberty Mutual Insurance, Seattle, WA

    Delivered 55 national conferences to 1,527 participants and taught 559 Microsoft Office classes to 4,548 participants, consistently maintaining a Level 1 evaluation score of 9 or above.

  6. Earlier

    Additional Experience

    Safeco · New Horizons · Freelance

    Technical trainer roles across insurance, corporate learning centers, and independent consulting — plus Youth Program Director at Holland America Cruise Lines and academic tutoring at Sylvan Learning.

Recognition

  • Presidential Excellence Award — Liberty Mutual Insurance, 2017 Recognized for outstanding contribution to talent development and organizational performance.
  • Presidential Customer Experience Award — Safeco Insurance, 2010 Honored for excellence in customer-facing training and program delivery.
  • Employee retention improvement Achieved through data-driven learning programs integrating HR, business, and LMS data at Liberty Mutual.

Education & Credentials

BS in Education Master Certificate, Internet Marketing Project Management Certificate Microsoft Office Specialist PMI Member Microsoft Power Up Program

Contact

Location Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone 425-941-5463
Email mickthornton@outlook.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/mickthornton (opens in new tab)