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EmPOWER Talent
- to become a high-performing organization.
- to tackle your biggest business challenges.
- to build a thriving, engaged workforce.
- to achieve a competitive edge in your industry.
Attending the 2024 ATD Houston Chapter Talent Development Conference will leave you EmPOWERed with the knowledge, resources, and connections to take your talent development efforts to the next level. Take advantage of this opportunity to invest in your professional growth and the success of your organization!
Important links
Morning Keynote: Empathetic eLearning
Christopher and Michael Allen, renowned experts in learning psychology and instructional design, will equip you with the tools to redesign your learning experiences and develop content that fosters deeper understanding and application.
The focus on developing content for better communication, interpretation, and synthesis empowers L&D professionals to "Enhance" learner understanding and "Optimize" learning outcomes. By crafting content that fosters deeper analysis and synthesis of information, the conference empowers attendees to go beyond rote memorization and develop the critical thinking skills needed to apply knowledge in real-world situations.
Michael W. Allen, CEO and Founder, Allen Interactions
With 45+ years of professional, academic, and corporate experience in teaching, developing, and marketing interactive learning and performance support systems, Dr. Allen has led teams of doctorate-level specialists in learning research, instructional design, computer-based training, and human engineering. He developed the advanced design and development approaches at Allen Interactions, including CCAF-based design and the SAM process for iterative, collaborative development.
Christopher W. Allen, President, Allen Interactions
President of Allen Interactions, focusing on developing frameworks, tools, and technology that enable value driven instructional outcomes. He received his Master’s Degree from The George Washington University, is an Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), and his written works have been featured on Entrepreneur.com and Forbes
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Afternoon Keynote: Building Talent Sustainability in the Age of AI
Brandon Carson, Vice President of Learning, Leadership, and Cultural Experiences at Starbucks
Our world is changing in profound ways. There are fundamental shifts occurring that redefine how we view the world and our place in it – what we expect from both the work we do and the lives we live. To meet this moment, L&D must move beyond swirling hype cycles and reimagine itself as a modern, adaptable, and nimble practice connecting the changing landscape of business to a highly productive and satisfied workforce. In this discussion, Brandon shares lessons learned on how to build a flexible L&D playbook that delivers both a transformative approach to the practice while enabling a strategy of continuous learning. This session is packed with practical insights and paints a positive picture of the remarkable future for those of us in the talent development field.
Brandon shares how to:
- Focus your L&D practice on the fundamentals that enable scalable learning
- Embrace the new workplace operating model that fuels significant productivity gains
- Link business and human performance to build a sustainable workforce
Brandon Carson is the Vice President of Learning, Leadership, and Cultural Experiences at Starbucks. He has extensive experience in developing learning strategies, leading teams, and implementing learning technology at scale. He has authored two books, Learning in the Age of Immediacy, and the award-winning L&D's Playbook for the Digital Age both from ATD Press. In 2020, he founded L&D Cares (www.ldcares.org), a nonprofit that provides no-cost mentoring, coaching, and resources for talent development professionals to help them thrive and flourish in their careers. Brandon holds an M.Ed in Educational Technology, a BA in Business, and certification in advanced analysis. He encourages you to connect with him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/brandoncarson.
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Session Speakers
ATD Houston 2024 Talent Development Conference Schedule
- Michelle Lentz - Down the Rabbit Hole: Design Thinking for AI
- Amber Schultz - Supercharge your productivity with Generative AI
- Eric Waters - Let’s Talk aBot it: Leveraging AI and VR to EmPOWER Collaboration in Teams
- Sonya Calooy - Improv-ing Your Coaching Game: Comedy Techniques for Serious Results
- Betty Dannewitz - Imposter Syndrome Steals Talent! Spot it and Stop it!
- Ijeoma Nwaogu - From Self-Sabotage to Self-Empowerment: Strategies for Breaking Free from Fear, Perfectionism, and Burnout at Work
- Wayne Turmel - Leveraging Chaos: How L&D Can help people survive buyouts and reorgs
- Kassy LaBorie - Connection, Belonging, and Engagement in Virtual Training
- Jevon Wooden - The Empathy Advantage – Build Stronger Teams, Drive Innovation, and Cultivate an Inclusive Culture
- Elena Agaragimova - Transforming Team Dynamics: Empowering Managers through Strategic Talent Development and Individual Well-being
- Mike Thompson - Decoding AI for Learning Pros
- Dr. Bob Nelson - Redefining Career Development
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What to Expect
- Come ready to participate, learn, listen and network!
- A light breakfast, hot lunch, and snacks will be included throughout the day. If you have dietary restrictions, please email conferencechair2024@tdhouston.org
- Wear comfortable clothing whether it is jeans or business - we want you to just be you!
- Ample onsite parking will be provided without cost.
Coaches Corner
Back by popular demand - ATD Houston is thrilled to partner with the Houston chapter of the International Coaching Federation to bring you a Coaches Corner during the conference. Six certified coaches will be available for 30-minute, complimentary coaching sessions throughout the day. These coaches have volunteered to bring their coaching expertise to the conference to support our conference participants. You will get to choose the topic of your coaching session!
Conference participants will be able to sign-up for a coaching session beginning the morning of the conference. Sign-ups will be on a first come-first served basis. (One coaching session per participant.) Come prepared with your topic and goal of your coaching session so that you and the coach can maximize every minute together!
Hotel Bookings:
Book your room at the Embassy Suites Energy Corridor using our discount code CESATD (until 9/12). Reservations: ATD Houston Chapter discount
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APTD/CPTD Certification
This program is eligible for 5 APTD and CPTD recertification points from the ATD Certification Institute. The amount indicated is the maximum number of recertification points a participant can receive for this program.
Visit https://www.td.org/ci-recertification for more details about the APTD and CPTD recertification policies
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