Who doesn't love a good cup of coffee?
Isn't it great that we live in the Kansas City Metro Area that is blessed with so many great cafes? So we thought, why not do informal coffee meetings so we all get to meet each other, learn, and build our network?
Consider yourself invited. It's a simple, informal coffee session... good for networking, relaxing, and also to ask any questions to our Membership team and board members.
Coffee Locations
Apr 18: Rochester Brewing and Roasting Company, 2129 Washington St, Kansas City, MO 64108-2130
LET'S TALK TECH: REAL CONVERSATIONS ON LEARNING TOOLS THAT WORK (AND DON'T)
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Pull up a chair, bring dinner, and get ready to connect with fellow learning professionals in this fun, informal meetup focused on learning technologies. Whether you’re an eLearning developer or a facilitator, we all have stories about tools that saved the day—and ones that totally flopped.
Through a card-based discussion game, we’ll reflect on what’s working, what’s not, what we’ve learned, and what we’re curious about when it comes to using tech to support learning. No slides, no sales pitches—just good conversation and great company.
Perfect for instructional designers, L&D leaders, and anyone who wants to swap tips, ideas, and a few tech fails in a low-pressure environment.
SPEAKER BIO
Tory Hord is a Learning and Development Consultant based in Kansas City with a diverse background in instructional design, eLearning development, and graphic design. She has worked with organizations ranging from small startups to Fortune 500 companies. Tory is passionate about helping organizations achieve their goals through effective learning and development initiatives. She holds a Master of Education in Instructional Design and Technology from Texas Tech University and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD).
Toryhord.consulting@gmail.com
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
ATD CAPABILITIES
Program Description
The purpose of the C&E SIG is to provide an environment within ATD KC where independent consultants, contractors, and business owners can thrive! This unique community of talent developers, instructional designers, learning consultants, and business owners will meet to:
On the second Thursday of each month, the C&E SIG will hold virtual meet-ups and quarterly in-person events for facilitated networking, knowledge sharing, and socializing. Bring your tough questions and challenges as a business owner for the group to solve with their wealth of knowledge and experience.
Put it on your calendar today so you can join us in growing together as a group!
May Chapter Meeting
Upskilling your Organization with AI Literacy
Talent development professionals play a crucial role in ensuring work teams are adaptable and future ready. In this session, Amy will share an AI literacy roadmap, lessons learned, and practical tips based on her experiences supporting an organization-wide AI literacy strategy rollout. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and actionable tips on upskilling your organization with AI literacy that enables innovation and efficiencies.
Amy Swaminathan, CPTD® loves helping others reach their full potential. She’s a champion for driving your own career through ongoing development, learning from others, and using the benefits an ATD membership provides.
Amy has over two decades of learning and organizational development experience that includes leadership and employee experience design, facilitation, coaching, instructional design, and organizational effectiveness consulting. She earned the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) credential in 2018 and continues to learn to earn recertification requirements to impact personal, team, and organization strategies.
Impacting Organizational Capability
This session has been approved for recertification credits by the Association for Talent Development.
In this Lunch & Learn, we will hear from three TD professions (15 minutes each) who will share their communication strategy to support leadership development (nominations, selection, updates for supervisors/senior leadership and executive overview).
Facilitator Bio
She finds great joy in traveling with her husband and son, watching KC Chiefs football, and helping others advocate for their aging parents.
July Chapter Meeting
How to Improve your Employee Experience through Employee Journey Mapping
Employee Journey Mapping is a powerful tool to help organizations understand and improve the stages of an employee’s journey. It can help organizations understand the “moments that matter” for employees and improve the employee experience. They can help you gain a better understanding of employee’s needs.
In this talk, you will learn about the fundamentals of employee journey mapping. By understanding the learnings an employee journey map can offer, you can find those critical “moments that matter” for employees.
Paul Lopushinsky, founder of Playficient, will work through a practical example of building an employee journey map by navigating through the map that comes from a cumulation of past client work and best practices.
Paul Lopushinsky (Law-puh-shin-ski) is the founder of Playficient, a consultancy helping organizations create better employee experiences.
Areas of focus for Playficient include the following:
Paul has worked with organizations such as Ronald McDonald House, The British Columbia Lottery Corporation, UXPressia, and Culture Amp.
Paul’s work has been featured in the BBC, Harvard Business Review, Association for Talent Development, and People Managing People.
Links:
Free Webinar: Discover the Value of ATD Certification (CPTD & APTD)
Date: July 23, 2025, 6:30pm
Location: Virtual
ATD Talent Development Capability Model
The Talent Development Capability Model outlines the essential knowledge and skills practitioners need to succeed in developing themselves, others, and their organizations. It serves as your blueprint for making an impact.
About ATD Certification
The APTD and CPTD certifications set the standard for expertise in talent development. They showcase your commitment to the field and validate your skills.
Join this informational session to explore the ATD Capability Model and learn about our collaborative study group series. Ideal for those considering certification or looking to deepen their knowledge, this session requires no commitment to testing or participation in the study group.
For complete series information, including dates and topics, CLICK HERE
What’s in It for You?
Certification Study Series
Dates: August 6 - November 19, 2025
Orientation: July 30, 2025
Time: Weekly meetings on Wednesday nights, 6:30 - 7:30 PM CST
Cost: $65
Register here
Are you preparing for the ATD Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) or Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) exam? Join our ATD Multi-Chapter Certification Study Group for structured, collaborative study sessions designed to help you stay accountable, gain insights from certified facilitators, and connect with fellow candidates..
For complete series information, including dates and topics, VISIT HERE.
What to Expect:
Who Should Attend?
Registration & Commitment
RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY & TAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS ATD CERTIFICATION.
Learn more about the study group, including dates and topics, VISIT HERE.
Mailing Address:
