ATD Kansas City upcoming events

Special Interest Group: TD Consultants & Entrepreneurs (Thursday, July 09, 2026)

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Program Description

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:

Learn from each other through facilitated “mastermind” groups
Develop referral networks to support business development
Provide peer support and mentoring for each other

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!

Learning Tech SIG, Getting to Know One Another (Monday, July 20, 2026)

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT

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:

Meet and connect with fellow ATD KC members who share an interest in learning technologies
Share what you are currently working on and hear what others are exploring
Identify potential collaborators, thought partners, or resources within the SIG community
Help shape the direction and future programming of the Learning Technologies SIG
Build community with peers who are navigating similar challenges and opportunities in learning technology

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.

ATD Capabilities

Personal Capability – Communication, Emotional Intelligence & Decision-Making, Collaboration and Leadership
Professional Capability – Instructional Design, Training Delivery & Facilitation, Technology Application

ATD Multi-Chapter Certification Study Group (Fall Cohort) (Wednesday, July 29, 2026)

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:30:00 GMT

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

As we present

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

Details

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:

Expert-Led Discussions – Learn from certified facilitators and advisors who provide guidance on key exam topics.
Multi-Chapter Collaboration – Expand your network with professionals across multiple ATD chapters.
Accountability & Support – Stay on track with a structured study plan and a community of learners.
Engaging Sessions – Participate in weekly virtual meetings covering critical concepts, study strategies, and Q&A.

Who Should Attend?

Talent development professionals actively preparing for the CPTD or APTD exam.
Those seeking a structured study plan and expert insights to boost exam confidence.
Individuals looking to connect with peers and learn from experienced ATD-certified practitioners.

Registration & Commitment

$65 for ATDKC members, Partner Chapter members, and non-members
Participants should be ready to engage in discussions, lead teach backs, and dedicate time for self-study.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY & TAKE THE NEXT STEP TOWARDS ATD CERTIFICATION.

Learn more about the study group, including dates and topics, VISIT HERE.

If you are pursuing certification, we recommend purchasing optional resources from ATD, such as

Talent Development Body of Knowledge (ATD Members have access to virtual copy.)
Additional preparation materials available on the ATD Certification Site

If you purchase from ATD, we ask that you use the ATDKC ChIP code, CH6027.

Workshop: Strategic Learning Architect - Driving Performance in the Age of AI (Thursday, August 13, 2026)

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

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

The Three Pillars of Modern TD: Learn to reorganize your work around Enablement, Curation, and Governance to move from pushing content to facilitating high-value learning experiences.
Strategic Problem Diagnosis: Practice shifting conversations with leaders from training requests to identifying "strategic anchors” trying every initiative to a top-level company priority.
The Human-AI-Human Framework: Master a non-negotiable process where human expertise provides the strategic direction and the final quality pass to ensure nuance and accuracy.
Strategic Thinking in Prompting: Engage in hands-on activities to use prompting as a tool for organizational diagnosis and skills gap analysis rather than just generating text.

Speaker Bio

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

Professional: Learning Sciences, Instructional design, Technology Application
Organizational: Future Readiness

ATDKC Informal Networking Happy Hour (Thursday, August 27, 2026)

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:30:00 GMT

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!!

New Member Onboarding (Friday, September 25, 2026)

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:30:00 GMT

GET THE MOST FROM YOUR ATD KANSAS CITY MEMBERSHIP

Program Description

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:

Understand the advantages of being a member.
Participate in programs and events that directly impact you.
Discover the benefits from navigating our member site.
Meet our leadership team.

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?

ATDKC Informal Networking Coffee (Friday, October 02, 2026)

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:30:00 GMT

ATD Kansas City, Membership Coffee

Join us for an informal Networking Coffee!

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!!

2026 Fall Conference: Learn. Connect. Transform. (Monday, October 26, 2026)

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:15:00 GMT

ATD Kansas City is proud to announce

2026 Fall Conference

Be part of the area’s largest learning and networking event:

A full day of the latest in trends and tools for elevating learning to a championship level.
Learning together with your colleagues – instructional designers, training practitioners, and consultants - from all around the greater KC area.

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

ATDKC Informal Networking Coffee (Friday, December 04, 2026)

Fri, 04 Dec 2026 14:30:00 GMT

ATD Kansas City, Membership Coffee

Join us for an informal Networking Coffee!

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!!

New Member Onboarding (Friday, December 18, 2026)

Fri, 18 Dec 2026 15:30:00 GMT

GET THE MOST FROM YOUR ATD KANSAS CITY MEMBERSHIP

Program Description

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:

Understand the advantages of being a member.
Participate in programs and events that directly impact you.
Discover the benefits from navigating our member site.
Meet our leadership team.

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 upcoming events

Special Interest Group: TD Consultants & Entrepreneurs (Thursday, July 09, 2026)

Special Interest Group (SIG)

Talent Development Consultants & Entrepreneurs

Learning Tech SIG, Getting to Know One Another (Monday, July 20, 2026)

Special Interest Group - Learning Technologies

Getting to know one another

ATD Multi-Chapter Certification Study Group (Fall Cohort) (Wednesday, July 29, 2026)

Details

If you are pursuing certification, we recommend purchasing optional resources from ATD, such as

If you purchase from ATD, we ask that you use the ATDKC ChIP code, CH6027.

Workshop: Strategic Learning Architect - Driving Performance in the Age of AI (Thursday, August 13, 2026)

ATDKC Informal Networking Happy Hour (Thursday, August 27, 2026)

New Member Onboarding (Friday, September 25, 2026)

ATDKC Informal Networking Coffee (Friday, October 02, 2026)

2026 Fall Conference: Learn. Connect. Transform. (Monday, October 26, 2026)

ATDKC Informal Networking Coffee (Friday, December 04, 2026)

New Member Onboarding (Friday, December 18, 2026)