ATD Houston upcoming events

General Meeting: Leading the Emotional Side of Change (November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Leading the Emotional Side of Change: How to convert resistance into progress

Everyone understands the need for change. We just don’t like to be changed. When we’re deeply connected to our ways, being asked to do things differently triggers frustration, anxiety, and even grief. In today’s environment of constant disruption, plans and policies aren’t enough—leaders need to know what to do when emotions run high. This interactive, research-backed session equips HR professionals and people leaders with practical techniques to meet resistance with skill.

Learner Objectives:

Recognize the emotional signals beneath resistance — and understand what they're really telling you.
Practice three hands-on techniques for responding to pushback in the moment.
Leave with a concrete plan for applying your insights at your workplace.

ATD Capability Model – Managing Learning Programs and Integrated Talent Management

To learn more about this model see: https://tdcapability.org/#/

Marek Rudak is an emotional intelligence expert who has designed workshops for premier organizations such as NASA, Fidelity, and Rice University. He is certified in the EQ-i 2.0® & EQ 360® assessments that help his clients quickly understand what they need to do specifically to improve their leadership skills and effectiveness.

Marek is also certified in Red Team Coaching, a revolutionary set of tools first developed by the military and intelligence agencies, then evolved to help business executives thrive in complexity and make better decisions by ensuring emotions are an asset, not a liability. Marek graduated in the top 10% of his class at West Point and became a Ranger in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon separating from the Army, he joined ExxonMobil, where he worked on global, multi-billion-dollar projects for ten years.

As an executive coach, Marek accumulated over 5,000 hours coaching C-suite leaders and their teams at multiple Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, non-profits, and government agencies.

Judith Walton is a leadership coach and organizational development consultant who helps leaders navigate the emotional side of change—especially when the stakes are high and the path forward isn’t clear. With over 20 years of experience at NASA, she built and supported teams operating in complex, high-pressure environments where clarity had to emerge in real time.

She specializes in helping leaders work the stretch between “we don’t know yet” and “now we do,” equipping them to stay grounded in moments of resistance, surface what’s really driving pushback, and move teams toward shared ownership and progress.

Judith’s approach blends emotional intelligence, practical tools, and real-world application—giving leaders not just insight, but something they can use immediately when emotions run high and decisions matter most.

Webinar: AI in L&D: Q4 2026 Snapshot & What’s Ahead in 2027 (November 12, 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

As 2026 draws to a close, artificial intelligence continues to reshape how talent development professionals design, deliver, and measure learning experiences. From autonomous AI agents streamlining instructional workflows to multimodal generation and hyper-personalized learner journeys, AI has moved past early experimentation into operational reality across organizations.

Join ATD Houston for a high-impact, forward-looking session with industry leader Debbie Richards as we take a clear-eyed look at where generative and agentic AI stand in the final quarter of 2026—and, more importantly, what talent development teams must prepare for in 2027.

Whether your organization is refining existing AI policies or looking ahead to the next wave of smart learning ecosystems, this webinar will provide practical insights, emerging benchmarks, and strategic guidance to keep your practice ahead of the curve.

What You’ll Discover

During this 60-minute interactive session, you will explore:

The Q4 2026 State of Play: A practical debrief on current enterprise adoption—how L&D teams are leveraging autonomous agents, multimodal authoring tools, and adaptive skill-mapping engines today.
Key Shifts on the Horizon for 2027: Predictions and emerging paradigms for the coming year, including real-time performance support ecosystems, deeper workflow integration, and the evolution of learner interfaces.
Ethics, Governance & Quality Control: Best practices for data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and maintaining human-centered learning integrity amid rapid technological acceleration.
Actionable Next Steps for L&D Leaders: Concrete strategies to ready your team’s skillsets, technology stack, and instructional design workflows for the year ahead.

Who Should Attend

Talent Development & HR Leaders
Instructional Designers and E-Learning Developers
Corporate Trainers and Facilitators
Performance Consultants and L&D Strategists

About the Speaker

Debbie Richards

President, Creative Interactive Ideas

Debbie Richards is an acclaimed learning architect, author, and frequent keynote speaker specializing in emerging learning technologies. As the founder and president of Creative Interactive Ideas, Debbie works with organizations nationwide to evaluate, implement, and optimize cutting-edge technologies—from AI-driven learning workflows and immersive extended reality (XR) to modern instructional system design. A passionate advocate for the talent development profession and a longtime ATD contributor and leader, Debbie is dedicated to empowering educators and practitioners with actionable, technology-enabled strategies.

GIG Rice Village- Join us for a Networking Luncheon (November 19, 2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Take a midday break and join ATD Houston for the Rice Village GIG Networking Luncheon, a casual gathering where talent development professionals and others can expand their networks, exchange ideas and best practices, and connect with peers in a welcoming environment.

Event Cost:
Purchase your lunch and join the conversation. We'll provide a welcoming space to connect, exchange ideas, and build meaningful professional relationships

What You'll Experience:

· Build meaningful connections with professionals from across the Houston area.

· Share ideas, challenges, and successes with peers in learning and talent development.

· Enjoy engaging conversations in a relaxed, friendly environment.

Upon Arrival & During the Event:

· Stop by the ATD Houston table and check in with Sonja Goodwin, ATD Houston Director of GIGs (gigdirector@tdhouston.org).

· Purchase your lunch and join the group.

· Introduce yourself, meet fellow attendees, and enjoy an hour of conversation and networking.

We look forward to connecting with you at Rice Village!