Monthly thoughts and chapter happenings shared from the desk of Dana Devlin, ATD Dallas President for 2023-2024.

  • 01 Sep 2020 7:01 PM | Rance Greene

    I love September. Throughout my life, it's marked periods of major changes in my life and career. I moved to New York City from my little town in North Carolina in September, 1997. I was thrilled to be living at the crossroads of the world. I came face to face with new cultures, new experiences and, of course, new foods (I still miss that part of New York!). I still maintain friendships with people I met in New York who have returned to their home countries or are living abroad. To say that my horizons were broadened by spending nine years among such diversity is an understatement. What a gift. 

     

    It was in September, in New York, that my son (our first child) was born. It was in September that we (my wife and two babies) moved to Dallas. My son was three and my daughter was one. This year, my son will be taking his driver's test (which I'm actually stoked about--he's a good driver). Time flies! When we moved to Dallas, I was transitioning from full-time ministry to…? I didn't know what was next, but fast forward a few years to another September when I took my first corporate role in talent development as a performance consultant. Shortly thereafter, I attended my first-ever ATD Dallas event. I'll never forget the warm welcome, the comradery and that special feeling: "Hey, these people care about making life at work better as much as I do!"

    September also marks a change in our chapter.


    It's at this time when leadership begins to transition to the next year's board. I'll meet with the 2020 board by ourselves one more time before we attend the ATD Chapter Leaders Conference, after which, new board members who will begin their service in 2021, will join the current board for the remainder of our board meetings this year. Usually, the conference takes place in DC. We set time aside to focus solely on the chapter, spending daytime hours attending the conference and making connections with other chapter leaders and spending evenings strategizing and planning for the upcoming year. This year, it will be a virtual conference and virtual planning sessions. The energy coming out of these planning session vault the chapter into another impactful year with new ideas and renewed passion for our members. 

     

    I've served as your President since 2019. The volunteers who have served alongside me these past two years are remarkable. Through triumphs and challenges, we've changed and grown together. We will end 2020 strong, laser-focused on delivering A.R.E. (Access, Recognition, Expertise) through the end of the year and into 2021, as I continue to serve…this time, as Past-President. 

     

    I'd like to spend the next few blog posts introducing you to your 2021 board. Stay tuned! In the meantime, check out our upcoming events, sign up to volunteer and stay connected to your ATD Dallas family. This is also an appropriate time to remind ourselves of ATD Dallas's purpose: "To empower people who are changing their organizations for good."

     

    #dallasknowstalent

     

    Rance Greene

    President, 2019-2020

     

  • 22 Jun 2020 6:33 PM | Rance Greene

    Every month, I have a phone date with two other men—Vincent & Joey—that I met while living in New York City. All three of us moved to different parts of the country, but the first Friday of every month, we still call one another to catch up and to pray for each other. Vincent is black. Joey is Hispanic. I’m Caucasian. Until June 5, the first Friday of June, I don’t think the differences in the color of our skin even crossed our minds. But during that call, for the first time, we talked about it. We talked about what it was like to grow up black, Hispanic and white. And even though we’ve been there for each other through many difficulties in our lives, the conversation wasn’t necessarily an easy one. 

     

    I called Vincent again later in the week to ask him more about some of the thoughts he expressed during our conversation. He shared many personal stories about racism. Since that conversation I’ve met with many friends in the black community who are part of our ATD Dallas family to talk about inclusion, equity and racism. I’m grateful to each one of you who shared your stories with me. I know it wasn’t comfortable for you. It’s awkward. It’s emotional. It’s not something we’re used to talking about. But I’m hopeful that as more of us engage in these conversations, we’ll all have a greater understanding and respect for one another. Thank you. Because of your openness, I understand how ATD Dallas can support greater inclusion and equip members with the tools to overcome ingrained biases. And more importantly, I know why it’s so crucial. 

     

    ACCESS. RECOGNITION. EXPERTISE. This is who we A.R.E.

     

    ATD Dallas does, and always will, offer every member #ACCESS to our vibrant community. For members of our chapter who are black, please keep coming to our events and being yourselves. Your presence, your friendship, your perspectives keep us thriving. Stay connected and keep sharing your stories with those you trust and who are willing to listen.

     

    We care about you and we #RECOGNIZE that, with the help of our active volunteer base, we can do more to support thoughtful, sustainable programming that gives our members, and the organizations our members belong to, skills that help us see our own biases and overcome them. We’ll start with our July chapter meeting, when Korn Ferry will guide us through the talent management cycle through the lens of inclusion. 

     

    I encourage all of our members to build the #EXPERTISE of engaging in healthy conversations that build understanding. To get started, I’ve shared two pathways on Degreed with all of our members on Unconscious Bias and Diversity and Inclusion. Please check out all of Degreed’s curated content on related topics, such as empathy, and approach your conversations well-equipped. 

     

    If you are a Power Member, you also have access to National’s diversity and inclusion curated resources, which you can find here


    Our best resource to understanding and leading the way to equity at every level is one another. It begins with listening. Start there. 

     

    With love and respect,

    Rance Greene

    President 2019-2020

  • 01 Jun 2020 7:16 PM | Rance Greene

    I spoke with a new member ATD Dallas today who pinged me on LinkedIn and asked if we could chat. She had attended our New-To-Industry Meetup in May and enjoyed the hands-on problem-solving and connecting with others in the field. During our phone conversation, she asked some great questions about life as a performance consultant, what serving on the board of ATD Dallas was like and how I landed in this industry. I learned about her education and interests in organizational psychology and UX, so I connected her to some folks in ATD Dallas that could help her along in those fields. We commiserated with one another about the constant pressure on presenters to be "peppy." Yeah, that's just kinda hard for us. I encouraged her to know her audience, care about them and deliver her message in a way that is genuine to her and to compel her audience to offer insights and self-discover the solutions she is presenting. I can't wait to meet her...some day...in person!

     

    It's these kinds of personal connections with fellow-professionals that members have expressed over and over, provide the deepest value to their membership. A $100 membership gives each member over 40 opportunities throughout the year to build their #expertise in sessions led by professionals, #recognizedfor their leadership in the field. And best of all, we get to do all of that with friends, because of #access.

     

    During trying times like these, it's the network of caring professionals in our talent development community that make the value of belonging even sweeter. It's the commitment of every volunteer in ATD Dallas to make sure that during exceptionally difficult times, we provide exceptional ACCESS, RECOGNITION and EXPERTISE. 

     

    This is who we A.R.E. no matter what. 

     

    I'm proud of the creativity of our volunteer staff, offering meaningful and flexible programs that speak to the needs of our members and equips them with what they value most. Check out our events page and join us for a special interest group or our monthly chapter meeting. 

     

    Southwest Learning Summit Update

    "So...August will be here soon. What about our annual conference that has outperformed itself year over year? Are we still having it?"


    Absolutely. Before I share the details of the conference, I'd like to share a testimonial from last year:

    "I’m a former ATD Dallas member that relocated to New Orleans for the last 2 years. Upon returning to Dallas in August, I attended Southwest Learning Summit … even before I finished unpacking … because I wanted to see how the organization had morphed during my time away. My plan was to visit ATD as well as two other professional associations related to the work I do in my organization. As it turns out, my experience at SWLS sealed the deal and I plan to rejoin ATD Dallas without even visiting the other associations. I love that the chapter continues to embrace technology solutions supporting our members,  I love that sessions I attended were informational and engaging! And I love that there were multiple sessions offered on coaching! Way to go,  ATD Dallas! Glad to be back!" -Michele Newhouse

    Welcome back Michele! A team within our volunteer community has been especially hard at work to make sure you, and all attendees, have an equally amazing experience...virtually. The board unanimously voted to make this year's Southwest Learning Summit (SWLS) a virtual two half-day conference for several reasons. The two most important reasons:

    • COVID-19 may not have run its course by August, so we want our attendees to feel (and be) safe and healthy. 
    • We are also mindful that many ATD Dallas members have had to look for work as a result of COVID-19 and we wanted to make sure the conference was affordable. So, we have decided to ask for a minimum donation of $35 from each attendee. If you are able, we hope you will decide to give more since all of the registration fees will go directly to City Square, a non-profit that shares our value of community, and our purpose to empower others. I hope you'll read more about their work with Dallas youth and their front-line role in combatting poverty and COVID-19. 

    "But I've already been to a bajillion online conferences and it's just like a string of webinars with some chat interactions at the end!" 

     

    I hear you. I've been to those conferences too. And they are good for building expertise, but they aren't as great for connecting people. But our conference will be different. Here's how:

    1. It's Dallas-centric, so you'll mostly hear from Dallas-area experts and connect with Dallas-area professionals right here in the talent development capital of the world
    2. You'll connect with fellow-attendees, speakers and sponsors before, during and after the conference through the conference app. 
    3. Breakout sessions will not be your typical "sit-and-get". Expect short presentations with plenty of time to interact, ask questions and offer your own insights. 
    4. The committee is popping with more innovative ideas than this blog has room for. Look for more details coming soon. 

    Register now to reserve your virtual seat. 

     

    Thanks again for all you do to empower others who are changing their organizations for good. You are needed now more than ever. 

     

    #dallasknowstalent

     

    Rance Greene

    President, 2019-2020


  • 01 Apr 2020 1:55 PM | Rance Greene


    Talent Development has always had its unsung heroes. So much of what we do is accomplished in the shadows. The weeks of analysis and performance consulting. Months of design and development. Managing stakeholder relationships, resources and technology challenges. Pressing through to emerge with a solution that empowers the organization's most valuable asset: People. 

     

    And now, with the added challenges that COVID-19 has introduced, you've quickly pivoted to offer remote solutions, overcoming more technology challenges to deliver effective interventions, onboarding programs and skill-building courses that make a difference in your customers' lives. In some cases, you're literally saving lives.


    Many of you have businesses of your own that may be particularly challenged. I've seen you adapt to our new reality. You've re-thought how you design and deliver your expertise to clients. You've started podcasts, posted videos and published blogs to generously share your knowledge with our community.

     

    Constraints have spawned creativity. Hardship has spurred innovation.


    To all of you, ATD Dallas salutes your valiant efforts. I expect the AXIS Awards will be packed with show-stopping submissions this year (Applications open in June!). I can't wait to see what you've been doing and celebrate it with you.

     

    Many in our community are now in transition because of the pandemic. Resources in some industries are drying up and talent development areas have been trimmed down. Our hearts are with each of you.


    Lean into the networks you've built within ATD Dallas. Let your colleagues know that you're seeking new opportunities. Reach out to me. I'm happy to share what open positions I know about with job-seekers in talent development. Check out ATD National's job bank. Now's a great time to leverage remote employment opportunities. Take advantage of our transition membership option. And don't miss our Career Development meeting on April 27, "Succeeding at a Virtual Interview."

     

    ATD Dallas's programming continues online. This month, we're testing our Zoom platform's capabilities even further by offering a virtual Happy Hour with breakout rooms built around topics of interest. If you've never experienced this kind of interactivity on a virtual platform (it's fairly new to us as well), stop by and join us.


    In May, join us online again for Best Practices for Training Delivery, in person, online, anywhere.


    We've also added some webinars hosted by ATD Houston; they've generously offered them to ATD Dallas for free.


    Please take advantage of these opportunities. We will eventually be past COVID-19. Take some time to develop yourself.


    Access RECOGNITION Expertise

     

    With gratitude for each of you,

     

    Rance Greene

    President 2019-2020


  • 02 Mar 2020 9:20 AM | Rance Greene



    You may be saying, “Isn’t the Southwest Learning Summit in August?” And you would be right. But read on and you’ll see why I’m writing about this in March. Here are the five top reasons why I am registering now for our premiere regional conference.

    REASON #5 - Pace

    There’s time for everything at this full-day conference and you don’t feel like you’re being overloaded with too much all at once. Time for taking in the great concurrent sessions. Time for chatting with our top-notch vendors. Time to eat (the food is amazing). Time to network with peers at all levels of Dallas-area organizations. And with over 400 attendees, there’s a lot of networking potential. But not so large that you feel a like a number. Don’t want to miss all of that, so I’m registering now.

    REASON #4 - Expertise

    You will be hard-pressed to find more talent development expertise under one roof anywhere in north Texas. Surveys from last year’s conference show an incredibly high value from our concurrent session speakers who are leading the way in our field. I’m not missing that.

    REASON #3 - Karl Kapp

    Our keynote speaker for the conference will be with us all day, starting with a general session on the state of the industry and the future of the industry. He’s  conducting an open Q&A session later in the day. Karl has invested into so many people in our industry and I’m thrilled that he’s investing in us. Definitely not missing a chance to interact with Karl!

    REASON #2 - You

    The favorite part of this conference is meeting you, seasoned professionals, new members, speakers, sponsors. We’re all in this together. And this is one day during the year I count on to reconnect with the Dallas-area TD people I care about….which means you need to register now too.

    REASON #1 - We’re going to sell out early

    93% of 2019 attendees indicated that they would return to SWLS 2020. That means that if you didn’t attend last year (which sold out), you have a 7% chance of making it into the conference this year. And with more and more people joining ATD Dallas, this is an opportunity you don’t want to pass you by. I will be surprised if there are still open slots left in June, so please join me in registering for SWLS now, in March. You won’t regret it.

     

    February showcased some amazing programming. Southwest Airlines gave us an in-depth look into their performance management re-haul from the yearly review to quarterly coaching check ins. Simple, human, brilliant. I left inspired to implement the principles on my own team. The L&D SIG addressed design for multi-generations for a live and virtual audience with Darren Ford. Career Development had a knock-out session with Fanny Dunagan on leveraging training experience to build a LinkedIn brand. Rave reviews, Fanny. Thank you! Bart Castle and I facilitated the quarterly New Member Meetup. Welcome to the chapter new members!

     

    Opportunities to connect with the ATD family in March are upcoming. If you are on the waiting list for the Amazon event, please know that we are limited in how many may attend and we’ll bring wait listed folks onto the roster as space is made available. Some of our venues accommodate less people, but the board is aware of the surge of interest to attend our meetings and we’re working to keep our events as open to as many members as possible. For now, please visit our event page and register for only those events you feel like you will be able to make to leave room for those who are able to attend. And if, at the last minute, you need to cancel, please let us know by emailing info@tddallas.org so we can make room for others.

     

    We’ve also seen a surge in volunteerism. To express your interest in volunteering, simply complete Volunteer Form and we’ll reach out to you right away to discuss how you would like to give back to our community.

     

    #dallasknowstalent

     

    Rance Greene

    President 2019-2020


  • 03 Feb 2020 9:00 AM | Rance Greene


    At ATD Dallas's first community event, a joint happy hour with ATD Mid Cities chapter, I met a number of people who work in some very niche industries within our field:

    • A new member of our chapter who focuses on technical training for trade skills.
    • I met a woman who works for a company that provides training strictly for the mortgage industry.
    • Then there's Davide, whose expertise is training engineers on soft skills. Talk about niche!
    • The board of the North Texas chapter of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) was there representing a subset of talent development that stands on its own. 

    Each of us comes to this industry with a unique experience to offer one another. In attendance at the happy hour were professionals who come to our field from a wide range of backgrounds and experience: finance, teaching, engineering, ministry, multi-media, writing, programming, military career, the list goes on. This tapestry of experience means that our field is rich with unique solutions to business problems. And, no matter how diverse business becomes, there is a diverse talent development pool ready to produce a compelling, engaging experience to meet the changing needs of organizations. The movement of professionals transitioning from other fields and entering talent development doesn't show signs of stopping…and that's good. There's room for all of us. This is why I tell students of instructional design, organizational development or other talent development studies to nurture a second discipline. We are growing as an industry addressing a growing number of business challenges. And Dallas is leading the way.

     

    The board of ATD Dallas is committed to connecting you with our value proposition of Access, Recognition and Expertise. Check out this month's opportunities to connect with us. We hope you'll join us…there's room for you in our community.



    Our Volunteer Summit on Feb 1 was electric. Imagine some of the best talent development professionals in Dallas coming together for 4 1/2 hours to execute on our strategy to make the member experience greater than ever. Our year is off to a rocking start! If you want to get in on the fun, complete this volunteer form and we'll connect you to an area that suits your interests and goals. 




    If you are new to our community or just haven't plugged in yet, I invite you to join me and other board members for an informal meet up at I Love Pho on Forest Ln and 75 at 11:30. I look forward to connecting with you! I think you'll find that there's plenty of room for you contribute to our vision of making Dallas the Talent Development Capital of the World. 


    #DallasKnowsTalent


    Rance Greene

    President 2019-2020

  • 06 Jan 2020 11:57 PM | Rance Greene



    When I look back to the very first blog post of 2019, I'm reminded of why we still come together as an organization of talent development professionals. Yes, it's because we develop ourselves and deepen our expertise. And it's because of the recognition ATD Dallas bestows on each of its members for the work they do in this industry. But one of the biggest reasons why we still come together is because we know we'll meet other like-minded professionals.

     

    People who care about empowering others.

    People who offer connections and counsel.

    People who "get" us.

     

    So, when volunteers talk about who we A.R.E. (our value proposition of Access, Recognition and Expertise) to other interested professionals and organizations, it's the "A" that connects us most to one another: ACCESS.


    We are a vibrant community of talent development professionals who understand one another. We know the struggles and the joys of working in this industry. That's why, in 2020, our promise to you, as the board of ATD Dallas, is to keep you connected to our growing community--to give you as much access as possible. Among us are the leaders, the innovators, the rock star practitioners who keep talent development thriving. It's exciting to enter into a new year in such good company.


    #DallasKnowsTalent


  • 11 Nov 2019 8:45 PM | Rance Greene

    During this season of reflection and Thanksgiving, ATD Dallas enjoys highlighting the volunteers who make us a community that empowers people who are changing their organizations for good. Throughout 2019, I've shared many stories that came straight from our volunteers. You've heard about the #access ATD Dallas offers its members to hundreds of other talent development professionals in our community. You've read stories about volunteers, and the companies they serve, who appreciate the #recognition they receive from ATD Dallas for their innovative work. You know about the #expertise we offer from rock star practitioners and thought leaders from some of the most innovative companies in Dallas.

     

     Access. Recognition. Expertise. This is who we A.R.E.

     

    Right now, social media is buzzing with our Volunteer Highlights, like some of the ones below. They speak for themselves. There's incredible value in the talent development community we've created. Our organization is run by volunteers to make that happen. Leading, growing and, as our Past-President, Matt Hirst, would say, happy. Happy because there are rich rewards in giving back.

     

    I'm honored to volunteer alongside such a talented and generous group of professionals. We've grown together. We've helped one another. The contributions of each volunteer in our TD family is an inspiration to keep giving back more. That's worth celebrating!


    Join us for the AXIS Awards, December 3, where we celebrate the innovative work of Dallas companies…and honor the work of our own volunteers.

     

    I hope you'll also join us for our last chapter meeting of the year on November 19 for drinks, eats and a splash of ritual. The 2019 Board will share our successes from this year. The 2020 Board will be sworn in. You'll have a chance to share your thoughts on where you'd like to see ATD Dallas go. You'll mingle with the leadership team and fellow members.


    And for those who are thinking of presenting at next year's Southwest Learning Summit (August 20), no problem! You can submit your proposal now! You can also register to attend! We're going to sell out again in 2020. You don't want to miss our keynote, Karl Kapp, so better safe than too late!

     

    Can't wait to see you at our next event!

     

    #dallasknowstalent

     

    Rance Greene

    ATD Dallas, President

    November 11, 2019


  • 18 Sep 2019 9:43 PM | Rance Greene

    I sat in a large crowded room with about 150 other talent development professionals who'd joined the conference for industry know-how and to get their finger on the pulse of what was…new. The speaker was incredibly gifted. He was touting a way of learning that was…new. And sharing special knowledge with us that was supposedly cutting edge stuff. It was the first time I'd heard a speaker stand on stage and inform everyone that we had the attention span of a goldfish. I looked around the room. "Does everybody believe that?" I thought. I mean, really. If we had such minuscule attention spans, why are we all still in this room after thirty-five minutes? The special knowledge the speaker shared with us is that because of this well-established fact (our brains are suddenly not being able to focus for longer than 8 seconds) there was a…new…panacea for learning that would solve all of our problems. It's called…microlearning!

     

    That this particular speaker was more than a little misinformed goes without saying. That his microlearning company was benefiting from all of this misinformation was without question. For years, we've been bombarded with proposed definitions of exactly what microlearning is. It's a video. It's less than 5 minutes. It's mobile. It's a job aid. Hm…so what is it? And when is it appropriate for learning solutions?

    Wonder know more. Karl Kapp and Robyn Defelice have written a (short) book that gives us a logical and useful understanding of the sometimes misunderstood delivery method of microlearning. What I love about Microlearning Short and Sweet is that it begins with an answer to the basic question of: "What is it?" I also appreciate the explanation of what it's not. Yay for non-examples! I'd like to share a few nuggets from this particular list of non-examples:

     

    Microlearning is not:

    • New. Get out! Yes, it's true that we've been training others how to do specific skills in short bursts for…well, for time immemorial. Technology has provided new possibilities for delivering that training, but the concept is time-tested.
    • Shrunken head learning. Ha! We'll just take this one hour course and chop it up into 20 five minute pieces, cause that'll work! Actually, no. No it won't. Karl explains this nicely in a video. It's only 1:41. It must be microlearning.
    • Right for every learning solution. Yes, if you're still designing half day leadership sessions, you don't have to live with the guilt that you haven't converted it to 8 minutes anymore.

    Karl and Robyn bring their expertise in instructional design to bear on how microlearning fits with learning principles. When should microlearning be considered as a viable delivery method? How do you create a microlearning strategy? How do you plan and create microlearning? How do you design it? How do you measure it? It's a tour of the instructional design process through the lens of microlearning. If you are a seasoned or new-to-industry professional that feel microlearning may be the right solution for your learning programs, Microlearning Short and Sweet is a great resource. It's over 160 pages, so it probably doesn't qualify for microlearning, but it's a quick read..and it's sweet!

     

    As many of you know, Karl Kapp is our 2020 SWLS keynote! 97% of SWLS attendees indicated that they will return next year, so that leaves very few spots open. We sold out this year and expect to do the same in 2020. Lock in this year's rates by registering before September 30. If you've missed that date, go ahead and register to reserve your spot to hear the best thought leadership in Dallas, the talent development capital of the world!

     

    Last month you heard from a couple of our SWLS concurrent speakers who had an amazing experience. Here's a great story from a new friend, Trey Talley, I met through ATD Dallas who is brand new to talent development. He came to SWLS and wrote this great recap of his experience. Everything below, including the subtitles, are his.

     

    “Have I made a horrible mistake?”

    I began to wonder if leaving behind fifteen years of experience in one career to launch a new career in talent development at almost forty years old was reckless. I’d been certain that my extensive experience teaching and training plus a graduate degree in Education would open doors for me and it was exciting. However, that excitement faded when door after door closed. Each job application was followed by a cordial rejection or deafening silence. I couldn’t decide which was worse. Both were a gut punch. After a flurry of these, my hope was on the ropes. I was ready to throw in the towel.

     

    “I don’t want to talk about it.”

    I began to dread, and even avoid, conversations with my friends and family. They wanted to know I had landed on my feet and I didn’t want them to know I’d only landed on my face. Metaphor can be just as painful as the real thing. I felt like I was at an impasse. Uncertain whether I was at a dead end or simply in need a sherpa who knew the terrain to lead me forward, I turned to the all-powerful-cosmic-answer-machine: the internet.

     

    “Am I going to fit in here?”

    I honestly can’t remember how ended up on the ATD Dallas website. Regardless, my digital stumbling resulted in joining the chapter. Before my first special interest group meeting, I remember questioning whether I would fit in here. I wondered if I’d feel like an outsider since I was new to the industry. Those thoughts weren’t allowed to linger. Immediately after the meeting, someone introduced himself because his path into talent development was similar to mine. Shortly after this, at my first chapter meeting, I had a similar experience. These two individuals continue to generously share their wisdom and regularly serve as champions for me. Beyond these two individuals, ATD Dallas has become a community where I fit in.

     

    “You’re doing what on your birthday?”

    According to some, waking up at 4:30am to volunteer at and attend a professional conference is a strange way to celebrate turning 40 years old. While they are probably right, I loved every minute of the Southwest Learning Summit this year. Working alongside the other volunteers and conference committee members was a pure joy. Talking with fellow attendees in line or before classes and hearing their stories was a privilege. And lastly, meeting people from companies I sent applications to has started to open doors that were once closed. I can’t think of better birthday presents than those.  

     

    Thanks to ATD Dallas, I have a community of support and resources. Thanks to SWLS, those closed doors are starting to open. Though I haven’t yet accepted my first job in talent development, I’m again excited by my decision to launch a new career in talent development.

     

    Start the countdown. I’m prepared for lift off.


    Nice story writing, Trey! SWLS causes no small stir. It's a big deal to a lot of people. Can't wait to see you there!


    Coming up on September 30, join the Career Development SIG to hear our own master presenter and networking natural, Sally Luttrell for "Presenting Your Best Self When Networking Face-to-Face". And on October 22, we'll gather for dinner and decay. No, actually decay resistance. You're familiar with the learning decay curve. Michael Torie will show you how to curb the curve. Friends, food and no decay. What could be more fun?

     

    Thank you to the corporations who submitted for an AXIS Award! Judging has begun! I encourage all ATD Dallas volunteers and Dallas area corporate learning departments to join us for a night of celebrating you on December 3 for our annual gala! Recognize and be recognized for the innovative work done by Dallas talent development professionals!

     

    If you're convinced that story-writing for instruction is a competency you want to master, I welcome you to join my online workshop--Story Design--for three action-packed online sessions that will equip you to discover, design and deliver stories for instruction. October 28, November 4 & 11. ATD Dallas members get a discount, naturally!

     

    Each of our in-person events are touch points, short and sweet…like microlearning, but members can continue the self-development and the conversations using your own ATD Dallas Degreed account. And if you like more in-person encounters, volunteer and build a deep and lasting network among some of the best professionals in the industry. Or, if you're brand new to ATD Dallas, like Trey, join me and the Membership team for the New Member Meetup on November 13 at I Love Pho, 75 & Forest, in Dallas at 11:30. Let us know you're coming by emailing membership@tddallas.org!

     

    Let's summarize:

    • Microlearning is not a fad. It's a legitimate delivery method for learning. Buy Karl and Robyn's book to delve in and utilize it's power.
    • SWLS rocks the house and you should register now.
    • Trey writes a very nice story.
    • Meet up with ATD Dallas people frequently to maximize your member benefits (aka - Access. Recognition. Expertise). It's who we A.R.E. 

    #dallasknowstalent

    Rance Greene

    ATD Dallas, President

    September 26, 2019

     

     



  • 02 Sep 2019 11:46 AM | Rance Greene


    Imagine a ballroom packed some of the most forward-thinking leaders in the talent development industry, changing their organizations for good. Financial institutions, automotive, sports apparel, hospitality, healthcare--all gathered to receive recognition for their innovations in twelve distinct categories, such as Change Management, Diversity & Inclusion, Design & Delivery, Learning Technology…. This is the AXIS Awards, hosted by ATD Dallas. It's the prestigious learning awards gala that celebrates companies and ATD Dallas volunteers all in one exciting night.

     

    Last year, I sat, amazed as twenty-two awards were given to some of the most impressive solutions, impacting employees, clients and society.

     


    In the Strategic Planning category, Marriott International won second place for rethinking its recruiting and onboarding strategy. The Dallas Market Human Resources Manager began by identifying and piloting strategies that would appeal to a younger generation of workers, including the opportunity for flexible part-time roles and the implementation of text communication with potential candidates. Texting potential candidates! When's the last time a recruiter took time to text you from their cell phone? Now, positions are filled quicker and local General Managers can focus on running their individual properties instead of filling positions. The program has been so successful, that it is now being rolled out in 5 additional markets.

     

    While Marriott found ways to reach young workers, Parkland Health & Hospital System found a solution that benefited high school students. One of their five AXIS Awards last year was 1st place in Talent Mobility. Statistics indicate that less than 5% of the current Dallas Independent School District (DISD) ninth grade students will earn a college degree by their mid-20s. In 2015, Parkland initiated The Rise to Success program to create a pipeline of future health care professionals among high school graduates from low income areas through a structured development path leading to a health care career. They experienced an increase in retention of PCAs by almost 200%, which has dramatically reduced the number of job vacancies and allowed the team to focus on sustainably growing to meet the region’s future healthcare needs. 

     

    With the dramatic increase in suicide rates among children in recent years, Children’s Health System of Texas identified the need to refine their process for identifying and caring for patients who may be at risk for suicide or self-harm, resulting in the implementation of suicide and self-harm screenings in their inpatient units and emergency department. The Children’s Health Learning Institute team designed a blended learning approach which included spaced learning, online micro-learning modules / videos and quick reference tools to ensure all physicians, clinical staff and ancillary staff were prepared to execute new screenings. Their Design and Delivery solution won first place and best of show. What a privilege to design learning that literally saves the lives of children.

     

    It made me proud to see the impact of talent development upon Dallas organizations and their communities. And as we honored our volunteers of the year, it made me proud that so many people give so much of themselves to make sure ATD Dallas serves its purpose of empowering the people in that room to change their organizations for good. Several past-Presidents of ATD Dallas, including Susan Brookshire, the winner of the Dee Dick Lifetime Achievement Award, were sitting at my table at the AXIS Awards. Each of them had invested at least a year of leadership, building upon the work of their predecessors.

     

    This year, we'll gather again. We'll celebrate Dallas's talent development community again. We'll toast our successes and honor those who have given. I hope you'll be one of those people!

     

    Please, share your success story with us and apply for an AXIS Award. Last year, 22 awards were given.


    This could be your year.

    Last month, over 400 of you joined ATD Dallas at the Plano Event Center for Southwest Learning Summit (SWLS). Throughout the rest of the year, I'm going to share stories with you from those who attended. The first one is from Duncan Welder of RISC, Inc. He and Art Werkenthin were first-time attendees and presenters. Many of you attended their session on xAPI. Here's what they had to say about the conference:

     

    As a first-time attendee and presenter at the 2019 Southwest Learning Summit I was simply blown away.  The Summit kicked off with an engaging and energizing keynote from Lee Derryberry and Dr. Laura Hume from the Ernst & Young on the state of the industry and the future of workplace learning.  The Plano Event Center provided a fantastic venue that allowed attendees to network with each other and meet show sponsors in the expo area.  During our session on The Fundamentals of xAPI, the audience was highly involved and asked probing questions on the use of new learning technologies within their organizations.  I look forward to next year and certainly see the SWLS as a benchmark for regional (and national) conferences to strive for. 

     

    A benchmarking conference is exactly what should be expected by the talent development capital of the world.

     

    A special thanks to the SWLS committee, lead by Steff Allison and her co-chair, Lara Azcona, for making SWLS a sold-out, wildly successful day of development. 93% of attendees plan on returning to SWLS 2020. And with talent development superstar, Karl Kapp, keynoting, seats are going to go quickly. During September, you can register for SWLS 2020 at a big discount and guarantee your spot!


    We spend so much time developing others. ATD Dallas develops us. Here are some more opportunities to develop yourself this month.


    If you are new to our community, I invite you to join me, our Membership team and fellow-TD professionals at our next New Member Meetup on November 13 at I Love Pho on Forest Ln and 75 in Dallas. You don't have to wait until then to get plugged in though. Volunteer! Or contact us to learn more about the community and how you can get more involved. 


    I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event or connecting on Degreed


    #dallasknowstalent


    Rance Greene

    ATD Dallas, President

    September 1, 2019





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