Title: L&D Communications Lead
Company: Ford Motor Company
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Donavon C. Shellenbarger, L&D Communications Lead at Ford Motor Company, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in Communications.
Mr. Shellenbarger’s professional journey spans over 25 years, marked by a diverse and evolving career in communications, design, and leadership. In 2025, he assumed the role of learning and development communications lead at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. In this capacity, he oversees multiple facets of internal communications, including graphic design, video production, e-learning module development, and the orchestration of communication strategies for both employees and leadership. Mr. Shellenbarger’s responsibilities extend to event planning for on-campus learning initiatives, managing video conferencing for project rollouts and new tool introductions, as well as developing lessons centered on artificial intelligence learning. Additionally, he is responsible for writing content and creating graphics, such as logos and article illustrations, among other tasks.
Before joining Ford Motor Company, Mr. Shellenbarger served as a videographer II at 730 Eddy Studios from 2024 to 2025. There, he specialized in branding videos and live event coverage for corporate clients. Mr. Shellenbarger’s work included producing short promotional videos for YouTube to enhance business visibility and capturing conferences and events to support client marketing efforts.
From 2022 to 2024, Mr. Shellenbarger was an instructional developer at Cisive, a company specializing in background checks. During his tenure, he focused on e-learning initiatives that supported the organization’s training objectives.
Mr. Shellenbarger began his career in 2002 as the head graphic designer at McCarty Communications. He then gained experience as a production assistant at Comcast Spotlight in 2006 before advancing into more senior creative roles. From 2006 to 2009, Mr. Shellenbarger excelled as a producer, videographer and editor at Charter Media, followed by his role as a video producer and after effects animator at Meijer until 2013.
Drawing on his background in graphic design and video production, Mr. Shellenbarger played a pivotal role in internal communications at Meijer by creating videos, organizing events and designing posters to enhance employee engagement. His work was distributed across physical grocery stores and supported broader messaging efforts within the company. Moreover, Mr. Shellenbarger collaborated with the government relations team to investigate the practices of pharmacy benefit managers.
In 2013, Mr. Shellenbarger was recruited by Freshwater Digital Media Partners, where he remained until 2016, advancing from production manager to project manager and then to creative director. Over the next 10 years, he worked as a partner and co-owner of Wave Signage from 2014 to 2018, returned to Meijer as a communications specialist between 2016 and 2022, and served as an instructional developer at Cisive from 2022 to 2024.
Mr. Shellenbarger’s professional foundation began in the U.S. Army, which spanned more than five years. Growing up in a military family instilled in him strong leadership skills that continue to inform his approach to business projects and organizational change.
Mr. Shellenbarger’s academic achievements have been integral to his career progression. He has held a bachelor’s degree in design and visual communications from Ferris State University since 2002 and a Bachelor of Science in video production from the same institution since 2006. Years later, he received an Executive Master of Business Administration with a focus on business and strategic leadership from the Quantic School of Business and Technology in Washington, D.C., graduating in 2021.
In addition to his formal education, Mr. Shellenbarger pursued extensive professional certifications to enhance his project management capabilities. Among them, he holds credentials through Coursera in project management and numerous designations through Google’s professional training programs.
Mr. Shellenbarger is an active member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, reflecting his ongoing commitment to professional development within the design community. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is civically engaged as a volunteer with local food banks, where he assists with growing fresh produce, storing food, pulling weeds in the fields, and participates in other hands-on activities aimed at supporting community food security.
In recognition of his creative excellence, Mr. Shellenbarger has received multiple awards, including winning regional television commercial spots on numerous occasions. Looking ahead, he envisions continued success in retirement, focusing on leadership development with an emphasis on influencing positive organizational change.
For more information, please visit:
Contact Mr. Shellenbarger:
