Event Description
Join members of the ATD Kansas City Learning Technologies Special Interest Group for an informal get-to-know-each-other gathering. This is a relaxed, connection-focused event — no formal agenda, no slides. Whether you are new to the SIG or a longtime member, come ready to share what you are working on, what tools and trends have your attention, and what you hope to get from this community.
All ATD KC members and prospective members with an interest in learning technologies are welcome to attend.
Food purchases will be on your own.
Program Description
Come as you are. This gathering is designed to help members of the Learning Technologies SIG connect, share, and get to know one another in a low-key setting. Conversations might touch on what tools you are experimenting with, challenges you are navigating, or areas where you are looking for collaborators or input. The goal is simple: build the relationships that make this SIG more useful for everyone.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this guide, learners will be able to:
Special Interest Group Leaders
Jolene Burns is a Senior Manager of Enterprise Training who leads strategic learning initiatives that drive technology adoption and empower employees to succeed. She specializes in transforming complex concepts into engaging, accessible training experiences for diverse audiences.
A collaborative and results-driven leader, Jolene is known for developing high-performing teams, advancing content strategy, and delivering scalable learning solutions aligned to business goals. She is also a founding member and leader of Women in Technology (WiT) employee resource groups, where she champions inclusion and the growth of women in tech.
Lauren Hays, PhD, is an associate professor of instructional technology at the University of Central Missouri, where she coordinates the educational technology programs, including the Graduate Certificate in Corporate Training. She is passionate about using technology effectively and aligning its use with the science of learning.
Free Webinar: Discover the Value of ATD Certification (CPTD & APTD)
Date: July 22, 2026, 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?
ATD Kansas City
is proud to welcome our partner chapters
ATD Florida Suncoast
ATD Greater Cincinnati
ATD Hawaii
ATD Hawkeye
ATD Houston
ATD Puget Sound
ATD Certification Study Series
Dates: August 5 - November 18, 2026
Orientation: July 29, 2026
Time: Weekly meetings on Wednesday nights, 6:30 - 7:30 PM CST
Cost: $65 for members, partner chapter members, and non-members
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, topics, and partner chapters, 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.
The Leader in the Room:
Why Leadership Engagement Matters in Learning
Join fellow talent development professionals for a 90-minute Leadership Special Interest Group (SIG) focused on the real challenges and priorities shaping leadership development today. This interactive session is designed for practitioners who design, deliver, or support leadership programs—and those looking to sharpen their approach with practical, market-tested insights.
Our features leadership spotlight speaker for Wed. May August 12th, 6 pm – 7:30 pm is Steven Patterson, Sr. Associate Development Partner, Netsmart.
Agenda
6:00 - 6:30: Participant round table. After brief into to to ATDKC, scope of the Leadership Special Interest Group, and introduction of our guest leadership development leader, everyone will be engaged in conversation and polling on their top priority for leadership development and challenges.
6:30 - 7:00: Guest leadership speaker, Steven Patterson, will spotlight a priority leadership topic she is focused on, learnings and challenges. The goal is to gain insight into multiple industries and takeaway tips. The leadership topic is not prescribed, so our featured leadership speaker can choose what they want to highlight. This should include a presentation and time for Q&A.
7:00 - 7:30 pm: Crowdsourcing, networking and connection. This is optional if guests want to stay on to chat further, share, and collect insight from others.
What You'll Learn:
Featured Speaker Bio
Steven Patterson is a Senior Associate Development Partner at Netsmart, where he designs and delivers learning experiences that help associates, managers, and leaders grow their skills and increase their impact.
His work spans onboarding, sales enablement, leadership development, and organizational learning initiatives, including enterprise programs such as Thoughtful Leadership, Grow the Next, and role-based development journeys for sales and client-facing teams.
Passionate about creating learning cultures that drive measurable behavior change, Steven focuses on the critical connection between learning and leadership. Through partnerships with managers, emerging leaders, and executive stakeholders, he has observed that one of the strongest predictors of learning success is active leadership engagement.
Drawing upon his practical experience and lessons learned from development programs, Steven helps organizations move beyond isolated training events to create environments where learning is intentionally supported, consistently reinforced, and visibly modeled by leaders at every level.
Facilitator Bio
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. She is a Sr. Talent Development Consultant at Saint Luke’s/BJC Health, supporting leadership development and new employee orientation.
Aligned ATD Capability Model Areas
This session aligns with the following ATD Talent Development Capability Model domains:
This session has been approved for recertification credits by the Association for Talent Development.
The purpose of the Consultants &Entrepreneurs Special Interest Group (SIG) is to provide an environment within ATD Kansas City 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 meet-ups - some will be virtual and others in-person - for facilitated networking, knowledge sharing, and socializing. Bring your tough questions and challenges from your business 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!
WORKSHOP: The Strategic Learning Architect
Driving Performance in the Age of AI
The ground is shifting for talent development. For decades, our value was often measured by the volume of content we could create. Today, AI can generate outlines, scripts, and assessments in seconds. This transition is not about replacement; it is the partner we need to finally move from being order-takers for training requests to becoming strategic leaders who drive measurable business results.
In this two-hour interactive virtual workshop, we will explore how to evolve from a content creator into a Strategic Learning Architect. You will learn to use your professional judgment as the ultimate filter, ensuring AI acts as an accelerator for quality rather than just a generator of generic content. By narrowing our focus to high-impact activities, we will practice moving away from tactical production toward solving real business problems.
Key Takeaways
Debbie Richards is an AI strategy consultant and the president of Creative Interactive Ideas. As a long-standing leader within the Association for Talent Development (ATD) community, she has served as the president emeritus for the ATD Houston chapter. She frequently leverages her deep expertise to support ATD chapters and members globally as an ATD facilitator, where she leads specialized workshops on applying AI in Learning & Development.
Debbie is the author of the TD at Work issue, "Become a Strategic Learning Architect With AI," and her work focuses on helping TD professionals move beyond tactical content creation to become strategic business partners. She is a regular speaker at international conferences, championing AI literacy and the "human-AI-human" framework to ensure technology acts as a powerful accelerator for performance and business results.
Fee
ATD Capabilities
ATD Kansas City, Membership Happy Hour
Join us for an informal Happy Hour
as we celebrate the start of a new school year
We love meeting new people in the Talent Development space here in Kansas City! This event is an informal meet-up, hosted by ATDKC Membership Team. Come join us, buy yourself a drink, network, and learn from other Talent Development professionals in the Kansas City area!
Cost: This is a free event for both members and non-members in the Kansas City area.
Even though this is a free event, please register for the event so that we can get an approximate headcount.
We look forward to meeting you there!
PS: If you bring a non-member, yours and their first drink is on the house!!
GET THE MOST FROM YOUR ATD KANSAS CITY MEMBERSHIP
Whether you are brand new to ATD Kansas City, or you've been a member for a while but don't feel like you're getting the most out of your membership, JOIN US!
Let us walk you through the experience of ATDKC Membership. We want you to benefit from your time with us and also realize the vital part you play in our community.
During this session, our goal is for you to:
The Talent Development community in Kansas City is very unique. We cover many different industries and have diverse skillsets, which often has us pursuing varied goals. But the one thing that we have in common and brings us together is that we want the best for the entire community. We want ATKC to be TD Strong.
We build each other up. We encourage one another. And we walk alongside our peers as we reach for greatness.
And you are integral to our success. Won't you join us on June 26?
ATD Kansas City, Membership Coffee
Join us for an informal Networking Coffee!
ATD Kansas City is proud to announce
2026 Fall Conference
Be part of the area’s largest learning and networking event:
We will again be back at the Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas.
Registration will open at 7:15 am
Program Runs 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Light breakfast and full lunch provided.
Note: Any cancellations must be completed one week prior for a full refund.
To register groups of 5 or more, send attendee list and key contact (for invoicing) to vpmarketing@tdkc.org..
For the latest conference details
Visit the Fall Conference 2026 page at tdkc.org
Keynote, Speakers, Sessions, Community Involvement, Networking
Details Coming Soon
Mailing Address:
