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• Chapter Webinar: “Lunch and Learn: Communication Skills for the Technically-Minded Professional”

  • When
    March 18, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Learning Delivered Right to your Desk!

  Register

  AI. Green technology. Augmented reality. These cutting-edge fields are shaping industries, and organizations need employees who can grasp technically complex topics quickly. Technical professionals possess this aptitude, yet they often struggle to communicate these subjects effectively, especially to non-technical audiences.

  Talent development (TD) professionals can play a crucial role in addressing this challenge. By leveraging the Communication, Training Delivery & Facilitation, and Coaching capabilities of ATD’s Capability Model, TD professionals can develop speaker training programs that empower technical staff to present their ideas with clarity and impact.

  In this session, we will explore why a speaker training program makes sense, how to design and implement one (including identifying improvement areas, providing regular practice opportunities, and fostering a culture of constructive feedback), and strategies for measuring its effectiveness. This session is for TD professionals who recognize the importance of technical communication and are ready to take action to bridge the gap between innovation and understanding within their organizations.

  ATD Certification Credits

  ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter programs are pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute for continuing education credits. These credits are based on the ATD Capability Model and may be applied towards initial eligibility and recertification for Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials.

  ATD Certification Credits for this program: 1.00

  
  

  Presenter:
  
  Neil Thompson | Founder

  

  After many poor presentations, engineer Neil Thompson knew he had to improve. With Teach the Geek, he now works with STEM professionals to improve their speaking skills. He created the Teach the Geek to Speak online public speaking course, geared towards those in the technical fields. He also hosts the Teach the Geek podcast, interviewing STEM professionals about their public speaking journeys.

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• ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter: Open House

  • When
    March 23, 2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location
    Virtually

  Register

  This interactive virtual session is your chance to connect and learn with current members, learn what ATD-PHL offers, and discover how to get the most from your membership. Whether you’re new to the chapter or a long-time member, you’ll meet chapter leaders, explore volunteer and leadership opportunities, and help shape future programs through small-group discussions and networking.

  Come share your ideas, ask questions, and get inspired to engage more deeply with our vibrant learning community.

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• Career Management SIG: "The Growth Blueprint: Crafting Your Personal Development Path"

  • When
    March 24, 2026
  •  
    5:15 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Judge Learning Solutions: 151 S. Warner Road, Suite 100 Wayne, PA 19087
  • Spaces left
    26

  Register

  
  

  This growth workshop offers a rare opportunity to step back from the day‑to‑day, reflect on where you are in your career, and intentionally chart where you want to go. Join fellow participants and talent development professionals for a collaborative, energizing session focused on your personal career strategy. You will leverage a comprehensive career planning framework to develop clarity and build the steps for your success. Bring your ideas, your career aspirations, and your curiosity—and walk away with a personalized growth roadmap to accelerate your development and an action plan to move confidently toward your goals.

  The Growth Blueprint workshop will be led by Michele Monte and Kevin Kowalick from Offshoot Professional Development. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to grow and network!

  Agenda: 5:15 – 8:00 pm

  5:15 – 5:50 pm: Registration / Light Meal / Networking
  5:50 – 7:45 pm: Welcome / Discussion / Facilitated Activities
  7:45 – 8:00 pm: Next steps / Wrap / Close

  Thank you to our sponsor: 

  Speaker Bios:

  Michele Monte 

  
  

  With over 20 years in the corporate world in media production and Comcast, Michele Monte has navigated the complexities of executive leadership - managing high-stakes client relationships, navigating corporate politics, and leading through economic shifts. She has experienced the highs, the challenges, and the pivotal learning moments that come with growing a career to the executive level. But through it all, her greatest passion has been coaching and developing PEOPLE.​

  Michele believes that mindset shifts are the catalyst for growth. She blends deep corporate expertise with formal coaching credentials and PROSCI Change Practitioner certification, leveraging the ADKAR model on many of her coaching engagements. 

  Michele partners with professionals and businesses to foster personal growth, enable the pivot from transactional to strategic and help build a winning mindset to drive business results. 

  
  

  Kevin Kowalick

  
  

  Kevin Kowalick brings over 20 years of experience at NYC ad agencies, Comcast, and TransUnion in corporate strategy, operations, sales & marketing, technology, learning & development, and academia.  He understands what it takes to lead, grow, and thrive in high-stakes, fast-moving environments giving him a holistic, real-world lens he brings to every interaction.  

  As an ICF-certified leadership coach and professor of organizational leadership at Temple University, Kevin specializes in helping leaders navigate change, build confidence, grow in their careers, and drive meaningful results. 

  Kevin's leadership development work is about unlocking potential. Whether someone is stepping into a bigger role, navigating political or technological complexity & change, learning new skills, or simply feeling stuck, his work centers on goals and growth. The result is a focused space to reflect, reset, and accelerate. Clients walk away not just with solutions, but with stronger skills, sharper awareness, and real momentum.

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• Bucks County GIG: Podcasting for TD Professionals: Design, Develop & Distribute

  • When
    April 08, 2026
  •  
    5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Bucks County Community College 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA 18940
  • Spaces left
    44
  • Registered
    5 registrants

  Register

  Many talent development professionals are looking for ways to share ideas, build community, and grow their professional voice. Podcasting has emerged as a powerful platform to do exactly that.

  In this session, John Parsell and Rory Sacks, hosts of the "Is Training the Answer?" podcast, share how starting a podcast became a catalyst for professional growth, deeper industry relationships, and ongoing learning.

  This session explores how podcasting can become a learning practice, a way to explore ideas, connect with experts, and continuously develop your thinking as a talent development professional.

  Participants will learn:

  • Why podcasting is an effective tool for developing expertise and professional presence
  • How conversations with practitioners and thought leaders can accelerate your own learning and perspective
  • Practical approaches for launching a podcast with minimal friction
  • The technology, logistics, and workflow needed to sustain a podcast over time
  • Strategies for attracting interesting guests and building a niche audience

  Whether you’re considering starting a podcast or simply looking for new ways to engage with the TD community, this session will provide practical insights into how sharing ideas publicly can accelerate both personal learning and professional impact.

  Participants will be able to:

  • Explain how podcasting can support professional growth and knowledge sharing within the talent development community
  • Identify practical tools and workflows for launching and sustaining a podcast
  • Apply strategies for building a network of guests and growing an engaged audience

  
  

  Agenda:

  5:30 - 6:15 pm Networking/Light Dinner

  6:15 - 6:30 pm Chapter Announcements

  6:30 - 8:00 pm Presentation

  Location: 

  Hosted by Bucks County Community College Newtown Campus.

  275 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA 18940.

  The meeting will be held in the Solarium.

  Parking Directions:
  
  ATD guests can park in lots V1 and S2 across from the campus main entrance.

  Brief Introductions & Photos: 

  

  Rory Sack 

  I’m the AI Director at Merkley+Partners, where I help bring AI into the heart of the agency’s creative, media, analytics, and operations. I work with teams across the company to shape our approach to AI, build tools that make our work smarter and more creative, and make new technology feel less intimidating and more useful. Over the past twenty years, I’ve helped grow teams and talent for brands in healthcare, tech, CPG, finance, and entertainment, including Komodo Health, Persado, Investopedia, and StubHub.

  

  John Parsell

  Engaging people leader, author, podcast host, speaker, Instructional Designer, and accomplished Learning Experience Architect with over 15 years of experience creating effective learning solutions and building innovative learning teams. I believe in the strategic value of learning to drive behavioral change and performance improvement to achieve business goals. I love architecting experiences for learners that support their growth, development, and ever evolving transformation to achieve their goals.
  ​​
  It's my belief that your learning organization is a strategic advantage for your company. If you share this vision, I invite you to join me on my journey. Let's learn and grow together.
  

  ATD Certification Credits

  ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter programs are pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute for continuing education credits. These credits are based on the ATD Capability Model and may be applied towards initial eligibility and recertification for Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials.

  ATD Certification Credits for this program: 1.50

  

  
  

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• Chapter Webinar: “Elevate Your Presence on LinkedIn”

  • When
    April 14, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Learning Delivered Right to your Desk!

  Register

  LinkedIn is no longer optional for learning and talent professionals—it is a critical platform for visibility, credibility, and connection. Whether you are looking to strengthen your professional brand, expand your network, or leverage LinkedIn more intentionally for business or career growth, this practical webinar will help you do so with clarity and confidence.

  In Elevate Your Presence on LinkedIn, participants will explore how to move beyond a static profile and use LinkedIn as a dynamic professional tool. This session is designed for professionals at all career stages who want to be more strategic, authentic, and effective in how they show up and engage on the platform.

  In this session, participants will learn how to:

  1. Optimize their LinkedIn profile to clearly communicate value, expertise, and professional focus
  2. Understand and apply different levels of LinkedIn activity
  3. Leverage LinkedIn best practices for general networking, Business-to-Business interactions, and job searching

  In this webinar led by Aubrie Nooney and Toni Thomas, attendees will leave with actionable insights, practical tips, and a clearer framework for using LinkedIn in a way that aligns with their professional goals—without feeling overwhelmed or inauthentic.

  This webinar is ideal for talent development professionals looking to elevate their presence and impact on LinkedIn.

  ATD Certification Credits

  ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter programs are pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute for continuing education credits. These credits are based on the ATD Capability Model and may be applied towards initial eligibility and recertification for Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials.

  ATD Certification Credits for this program: 1.00

  
  

  Presenters:
  
  Toni Thomas | Executive

  

  Toni Thomas is a dynamic executive HR leader with a passion for helping others.

  With over 20 years of experience in sales and HR, Toni has honed a unique approach to talent management. Her career is a testament to her commitment to delivering impactful solutions, always infused with her signature blend of kindness and service.

  With expertise in strategic planning, coaching, outplacement, and career transition services, she works with C-suite leaders and individuals alike to support their goals and ensure they feel valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

  Toni is the Regional Director of Business Development for Challenger, Gray, & Christmas, where she supports businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area with career outplacement and employee transition services, as well as executive coaching services.

  Toni resides in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband. She is the proud mom of three wonderful children, a fierce animal lover, and a community service enthusiast.  

  
  

  Aubrie Nooney | Senior Leader

  

  Aubrie Nooney is a senior leader in learning and organizational development with a passion for engaging, empowering, and inspiring talent to perform, grow, and thrive. With expertise in training, change management, project leadership, sales enablement, human resources, and communications, Aubrie enjoys partnering with leaders to design strategies that drive business results.

  Throughout a career spanning small, national, and global organizations, Aubrie has led enterprise-wide initiatives that drive performance, engagement, and cultural alignment. 

  Aubrie is also the current President of the ATD – Greater Philadelphia chapter and is delighted to participate in her very first chapter event as a featured speaker. She hopes the audience will take away valuable insights from the session and welcomes anyone who is new or who would like to get more involved with the chapter.

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• Chapter Program: "Playing With Scrum: An Experiential Intro To Agile Teamwork"

  • When
    May 14, 2026
  •  
    5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Judge Learning Solutions: 151 S. Warner Road, Suite 100 Wayne, PA 19087
  • Spaces left
    29

  Register

  Scrum is the most popular agile approach to doing complex work. It is designed to enable teams to self-organize and adapt quickly. It sounds good – but is it really possible?

  In this interactive session you will join a team, solve problems, optimize systems, and learn-by-doing. Then we’ll explore the theory behind self-organization and the scrum framework, so that you can apply it in your own environment. You will be prepared to be more effective in organizations using scrum or other agile methods. You will also see how these approaches can be applied to instructional design and coaching.

  Agenda: 5:30 – 8:00 pm

  5:30 – 6:15 pm: Registration / Light Meal / Networking
  6:15 – 6:30 pm: Announcements
  6:30 – 8:00 pm: Welcome & Program

  This event is sponsored by:

  
  

  Speaker Bio:

  Chris Sims | Founder

  
  

  Chris Sims is a certified scrum trainer, agile coach, and recovering C++ developer who helps organizations improve their productivity and happiness.

  Chris is the founder of Agile Learning Labs and the co-author of two best-selling scrum books: The Elements of Scrum and Scrum: a Breathtakingly Brief and Agile Introduction. More of their writing can be found on the Agile Learning Labs blog.

  Before starting Agile Learning Labs in 2007, Chris made a living in roles such as: scrum master, product owner, engineering manager, project manager, software engineer, musician, and auto mechanic.

  
  

  ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter programs are pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute for continuing education credits. These credits are based on the ATD Capability Model and may be applied towards initial eligibility and recertification for Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials.

  ATD Certification Credits for this program: 2.50
  

  
  

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• Chapter Program: "How to Not Suck at Hard Conversations"

  • When
    June 11, 2026
  •  
    5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Judge Learning Solutions: 151 S. Warner Road, Suite 100 Wayne, PA 19087
  • Spaces left
    28

  Register

  The dreaded ‘we need to talk’ text, the challenging performance review...hard conversations are a fact of life. All of us dread them, and most of us suck at them. Hard conversations will always be hard, but sucking at them is a choice.

  Hard conversation skills are essential for high-performers, whether your role is in HR or not. These skills apply far beyond feedback and performance reviews. Especially as AI advances, those with strong relational skills will stand out from the crowd.

  The Relational intelligence and communication skills provided in this session touch all three components of ATD's capability model. This session will support building personal capability for navigating conflict, organizational capability for increasing feedback effectiveness, and professional capability for managing relationships more effectively.

  Everyone will leave with a step by step guide on how to excel at hard conversations, and a new perspective on navigating relational tension.

  Learning Objectives:

  • Understand how to create common ground and understanding
  • Practice having difficult conversations to make future ones easier
  • Cultivate balance while holding tension
  • Practice with maintaining boundaries
  • Practice with effective listening

  Participant Outcomes:

  • Learn simple steps to create psychological safety with others
  • Learn the art of giving and receiving difficult information
  • Receive a clear framework for navigating conflict
  • Learn how we respond to challenging feedback, and how to do it gracefully
  • Downloadable or printed worksheet provided to participants

  Agenda: 5:30 – 8:00 pm

  5:30 – 6:15 pm: Registration / Light Meal / Networking
  6:15 – 6:30 pm: Announcements
  6:30 – 8:00 pm: Welcome & Program

  This event is sponsored by:

  
  

  Speaker Bio:

  Gabriel DeRita | Coach

  

  Gabriel DeRita is a leadership and communication coach renowned for helping executives master crucial conversations, build stronger team connections, and achieve measurable improvements in collaboration and performance. With extensive experience coaching senior leaders from global Fortune 500 companies such as Airbnb, LinkedIn, Goldman Sachs, PayPal, Dropbox, and Gap, Gabriel brings proven strategies and actionable frameworks to every organization he supports.

  In a previous career, he held successful management and sales roles in the technology and tourism sectors, before hitting hard reset in 2018 to leave everything behind and live on a bicycle for a year to find deeper meaning and purpose. He found it in his current role, and Gabriel now dedicates himself fully to empowering leaders through executive coaching, interactive trainings and experiential workshops. His practical, engaging approach ensures leaders immediately gain tools they can apply to their toughest workplace conversations.

  
  

  ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter programs are pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute for continuing education credits. These credits are based on the ATD Capability Model and may be applied towards initial eligibility and recertification for Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials.

  ATD Certification Credits for this program: 2.50
  

  
  

  Show details