ATD Nebraska Chapter upcoming events

SIG - From “Just a Dream” to Submitted Proposal: Your ATD27 Speaker Journey (24 Jul 2026)

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:00:00 GMT

New Short-term SIG

From “Just a Dream” to Submitted Proposal: Your ATD27 Speaker Journey

The ATD27 Call for Proposals is open! If you've ever dreamed of presenting at the ATD International Conference, this 3-session Special Interest Group (SIG) is for you. Don't tackle the application process alone. Join this cohort to work together—from choosing the right topic to polishing your proposal and confidently hitting "Submit."

Session 1: From Dream to Commitment

Session 2: Craft a Proposal They'll Remember

Session 3: Polish, Prepare, and Submit

As a participant in this SIG, you gain:

Structured worksheets and templates
Access to sample proposals
Peer feedback on proposal drafts
Dedicated writing time
Accountability between sessions
A finished proposal

Guided by two-time ATD international conference speaker Stephanie Blakemore, you'll break the process into manageable steps while receiving feedback, encouragement, and accountability from fellow aspiring speakers. Stephanie will share lessons learned from successfully navigating the CFP process twice, along with practical tips she wishes she'd known the first time. By the end of the series, you'll have a completed proposal ready to submit before the August 6 deadline.

Speaker: Stephanie Blakemore

Stephanie Blakemore is an Instructional Design Manager for Scooter's Coffee, our ATD Nebraska Chapter President, and a two-time ATD International Conference Speaker.

New Member Orientation (30 Jul 2026)

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Welcome New Members! Please join us for this online meeting where you'll have the opportunity to meet board members, hear from a tenured member about their experience and learn more about the benefits of ATD and how to access our resources!

Orientation is facilitated by members of ATD Nebraska's Membership team.

Make Your Mark: Professional Presence for Talent Development Professionals (Partner Program with ATD Nashville) (30 Jul 2026)

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT

As learning and talent development professionals, we spend much of our time helping others grow, build skills, and achieve their career goals. Yet many of us struggle to intentionally manage our own professional presence and visibility.

Whether you're exploring a career transition, pursuing a new opportunity, building your professional network, or seeking greater influence in your current role, your professional presence shapes how others perceive your credibility, expertise, and potential. It is reflected in how you communicate, build relationships, contribute to the profession, and engage both in person and online.

Register for this event on the ATD Nashville website: ATD Nashville - Virtual Event: Make Your Mark: Professional Presence for Talent Development Professionals

Use the partner code: ATDNEBRASKA26

Speaker: Rebecca Woodard

Rebecca Woodard is a leadership coach and talent development professional with deep experience developing people and programs across healthcare, life sciences, and professional services. As a Certified Master Coach and Facilitator of The Leadership Challenge, she supports professionals at all levels through Challenger, Gray & Christmas, guiding career transitions with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

SIG - From “Just a Dream” to Submitted Proposal: Your ATD27 Speaker Journey (31 Jul 2026)

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 20:00:00 GMT

New Short-term SIG

From “Just a Dream” to Submitted Proposal: Your ATD27 Speaker Journey

Session 1: From Dream to Commitment

Session 2: Craft a Proposal They'll Remember

Session 3: Polish, Prepare, and Submit

As a participant in this SIG, you gain:

Structured worksheets and templates
Access to sample proposals
Peer feedback on proposal drafts
Dedicated writing time
Accountability between sessions
A finished proposal

Speaker: Stephanie Blakemore

Stephanie Blakemore is an Instructional Design Manager for Scooter's Coffee, our ATD Nebraska Chapter President, and a two-time ATD International Conference Speaker.

SIG - From “Just a Dream” to Submitted Proposal: Your ATD27 Speaker Journey (03 Aug 2026)

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:00:00 GMT

New Short-term SIG

From “Just a Dream” to Submitted Proposal: Your ATD27 Speaker Journey

Session 1: From Dream to Commitment

Session 2: Craft a Proposal They'll Remember

Session 3: Polish, Prepare, and Submit

As a participant in this SIG, you gain:

Structured worksheets and templates
Access to sample proposals
Peer feedback on proposal drafts
Dedicated writing time
Accountability between sessions
A finished proposal

Speaker: Stephanie Blakemore

Stephanie Blakemore is an Instructional Design Manager for Scooter's Coffee, our ATD Nebraska Chapter President, and a two-time ATD International Conference Speaker.

SIG (Special Interest Group): Career Planning (04 Aug 2026)

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Learn About the Career Planning SIG!

One way to build your personal brand and get your name out there is by presenting in front of others. Whether you want to be a guest speaker in a college class, give a presentation for a non-profit organization’s monthly meeting, or deliver a breakout session at a conference, speaking opportunities abound. In this session, we’ll discuss where to find speaking opportunities, how to position yourself, and tips and tricks for making a great submission.

What is AI Literacy? How HR and L&D Can Enable AI Productivity and Safety (12 Aug 2026)

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the talent development landscape, yet many HR and L&D professionals feel uncertain about how to navigate this change responsibly and effectively.

This interactive webinar demystifies AI literacy and provides practical guidance for enabling AI productivity while maintaining critical safety and governance standards.

Speaker's Information: John Rood, CEOwner Proceptual

Speaker's Bio: John Rood is the Founder of Proceptual, where he specializes in AI governance and safety. He teaches these subjects at Michigan State University and the University of Chicago, sharing his expertise with the next generation of leaders. As a Certified AI Systems Auditor, John has conducted AI audit, governance, and training projects for a diverse range of organizations, from Global 50 corporations to innovative startups.

Virtual Coffee Chat (20 Aug 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

☕ ATD Nebraska Coffee Chat

Connect. Learn. Grow.

Join us each month for an ATD Nebraska Coffee Chat — a casual gathering offered in person during odd months and virtually during the even ones. It is a great chance to connect with fellow members, share ideas, and build relationships in our talent development community. Feel free to bring a friend or colleague who is interested in learning more about ATD! All are welcome.

Learning Leaders Forum (26 Aug 2026)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Join fellow learning leaders for a conversation about strategy, challenges, and opportunities in organizational learning.

Mandi Dilling and Stephanie Blakemore of Scooter's Coffee will share how they transformed a struggling franchise training program using a practical Fix | Flex | Fill Gaps approach. Then, we'll open the conversation to hear how you're addressing learning challenges and opportunities within your own organization. Whether you join us in person or online, you'll have opportunities to connect and learn from fellow leaders. And yes, as you might expect, we'll serve coffee.

Location: Scooter's Coffee | Miracle Hills Office – 11808 Miracle Hills Drive, Omaha, NE 68154 - Bellevue Training Room

Once registered you'll receive additional information on the location and the virtual attendance link.

New Member Orientation (02 Sep 2026)

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Orientation is facilitated by members of ATD Nebraska's Membership team.

Coffee Chat (08 Sep 2026)

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

☕ ATD Nebraska Coffee Chat

Connect. Learn. Grow.

Join us each month for an ATD Nebraska Coffee Chat — a casual gathering offered in person during odd months and virtually during the even ones. It’s a great chance to connect with fellow members, share ideas, and build relationships in our talent development community. Feel free to bring a friend or colleague who's interested in learning more about ATD! All are welcome.

Trainer's Institute Base Camp: Design Thinking (18 Sep 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Great learning experiences rarely begin with content. They begin with curiosity, smart questions, and a willingness to test ideas before investing in a full build.

In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore how selected Design Thinking methods can strengthen training design by bringing more action, experimentation, and learner insight into the early stages of a project. Design Thinking is especially useful because it moves teams beyond discussion and into doing: mapping what learners experience, spotting assumptions, reframing challenges, generating options, and prototyping ideas quickly.

Whether Design Thinking is new to you or already familiar, this session gives you a practical way to use it in learning design. Participants will work with a realistic training challenge and move from an initial request to a rough learning experience prototype. Along the way, we’ll discuss where the process gets messy, how to adapt the methods to real project constraints, and how these tools can help you design learning that is more focused, collaborative, and effective.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have practiced a repeatable before-you-build process you can add to your training design toolbox.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Use selected Design Thinking methods to explore learner needs, challenges, and context.
Identify assumptions that may influence training design too early.
Reframe a training request into a clearer learning design challenge.
Generate possible learning solutions before narrowing too quickly.
Prototype a small learning experience that can be tested and improved before a full build.

Facilitator Bio: Stephanie Hammer

Stephanie is the founder of Hammer Learning Experiences LLC, where she designs, facilitates, and delivers practical learning experiences for professionals in complex business environments. A certified Design Thinking coach through the Hasso Plattner Institute, Stephanie brings together communication strategy, learning design, and hands-on facilitation to help learners apply new skills in real situations. Her approach is structured, collaborative, and action-oriented.

Trainer's Institute 2026 (18 Sep 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Trainer's Institute (TI) is a four-part learning series with each session focusing on a core area of talent development, including Learning Technologies, Instructional Design, Training Delivery, and Evaluating Impact.

Trainer's Institute is the premier development opportunity in the Omaha area for anyone new to the talent development field or those looking to enhance and level up their skills.

Each session will be facilitated live in-person and hosted at a different area business. Registration opens first to participants opting to attend the entire series. Registration for individual sessions opens later in the summer, pending seat availability. Your best deal is to register for the whole series while early bird pricing is available!

All sessions start at 9 a.m. and will end no later than 3 p.m.

Check out the details for each level on the 2026 Trainer's Institute Page here!

BASE CAMP: Instructional Design

September 18, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Stephanie Hammer

Location: Core Bank

ANCHOR: Learning Technologies

October 02, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Alana Hoffman and Carrie Shively

Location: Core Bank

SCALE: Training Delivery

October 16, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Theresa Hummel-Krallinger

Location: Core Bank

SUMMIT: Evaluating Impact

October 27, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitators: Debbie Petru

Location: Core Bank

Deliver and Track Learning Experiences, No LMS Required (Partner Program with ATD Las Vegas) (18 Sep 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Learning platforms (LMS, LXP, etc.) often create barriers for organizations: they’re inflexible, expensive, clunky to use and manage, and frequently fail to produce meaningful data.

In this session, discover how Build Capable XCL allows you to deliver and track a wide range of content – SCORM and xAPI content, PDFs, videos, images, websites, and more – all without requiring a platform or user accounts.

✅ XCL is a patent-pending tool that creates a shareable link to your content. When someone clicks the link, you collect real-time data about their actions.

We’ll explore real-world case studies of how organizations are using XCL to deliver and track learning experiences at scale. Plus:

Try an XCL learning link yourself and see how your data is reported.

Explore the free AI-powered analytics tool, Build Capable XCL Data Explorer, and create on-demand visualizations from your data.

Register for this event on the ATD Las Vegas website: ATD Las Vegas- Virtual Event: Deliver and Track Learning Experiences, No LMS Required

Use the partner code: ATDLVPartner

Speaker: Sarah Mercier, MBA, CPACC

Sarah Mercier specializes in innovative learning technology and strategic implementation of learning solutions. As CEO of Build Capable, she leads efforts in inclusive design, equity, and accessibility. Sarah is an international facilitator for ATD and a frequent speaker at global conferences, known for her ability to translate complex concepts into practical applications.

Trainer's Institute 2026 (02 Oct 2026)

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Trainer's Institute is the premier development opportunity in the Omaha area for anyone new to the talent development field or those looking to enhance and level up their skills.

All sessions start at 9 a.m. and will end no later than 3 p.m.

Check out the details for each level on the 2026 Trainer's Institute Page here!

BASE CAMP: Instructional Design

September 18, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Stephanie Hammer

Location: Core Bank

ANCHOR: Learning Technologies

October 02, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Alana Hoffman and Carrie Shively

Location: Core Bank

SCALE: Training Delivery

October 16, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Theresa Hummel-Krallinger

Location: Core Bank

SUMMIT: Evaluating Impact

October 27, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitators: Debbie Petru

Location: Core Bank

Trainer's Institute Anchor: Learning Technologies (02 Oct 2026)

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Today’s learning and enablement teams are being asked to do more than ever and wear more hats while doing it. AI and modern learning technologies can help accelerate productivity, streamline workflows, and make it easier to create impactful learning experiences at scale.

In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore practical ways to use tools like AI and virtual learning technologies to support real day-to-day work.

Through examples, discussion, and guided working sessions, participants will:

Explore how modern learning technologies and AI can improve productivity and reshape workflows across learning, enablement, instructional design, and talent development
Apply practical AI frameworks and prompts to real work challenges from their own roles
Create usable drafts, frameworks, or assets they can immediately refine and take back to their teams

Facilitator Bios: Alanna Hoffman and Carrie Shively

Alanna is a product marketing and go-to-market leader at Sojern, a global digital marketing company, focused on enabling sales teams through sales enablement and product marketing. She has spent over 10 years working across sales enablement and product marketing, helping sales teams ramp faster, win more deals, and adopt new products through clear, practical sales enablement programs.

Carrie is a Training & Development Specialist with over 10 years of experience designing scalable, tech-enabled learning experiences that accelerate initial training and improve long-term performance. Her work at Thrasher Foundation Repair is focused on practical, application-based solutions that drive adoption and consistency across teams. A former teacher, Carrie is passionate about the intersection of learning and technology, and she enjoys leveraging a multitude of tools and facilitation strategies to create engaging, real-world training experiences through high-impact instruction.

Trainer's Institute 2026 (16 Oct 2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Trainer's Institute is the premier development opportunity in the Omaha area for anyone new to the talent development field or those looking to enhance and level up their skills.

All sessions start at 9 a.m. and will end no later than 3 p.m.

Check out the details for each level on the 2026 Trainer's Institute Page here!

BASE CAMP: Instructional Design

September 18, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Stephanie Hammer

Location: Core Bank

ANCHOR: Learning Technologies

October 02, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Alana Hoffman and Carrie Shively

Location: Core Bank

SCALE: Training Delivery

October 16, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Theresa Hummel-Krallinger

Location: Core Bank

SUMMIT: Evaluating Impact

October 27, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitators: Debbie Petru

Location: Core Bank

Trainer's Institute Scale: Facilitation (16 Oct 2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

We’ve all sat through a painful presentation. And if we’re honest — we’ve delivered a few too. Great training delivery isn’t just about knowing your content. It’s about commanding a room, creating connection, managing the unexpected, and leaving your audience with something they’ll actually remember. In this high-energy, humor-forward full-day workshop, facilitator and comedian Theresa Hummel-Krallinger takes participants on a candid, laugh-out-loud tour of the most common mistakes presenters and trainers make — and exactly how to fix them. Through peer coaching, checklists, practice triads, and a healthy dose of the Rule of Three, participants leave with concrete tools, sharper instincts, and the confidence to deliver programs that stick.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

Identify the most common delivery mistakes that undermine credibility and engagement

Apply a practical presenters checklist to self-assess and improve their own delivery

Design and deliver energized openings and powerful closings that frame the learning experience

Use humor techniques — including the Rule of Three — to increase engagement without sacrificing professionalism

Apply strategies for managing group dynamics, side conversations, and challenging participants

Incorporate reinforcement techniques that create lasting learning beyond the training room

Facilitator Bio: Theresa Hummel-Krallinger

Theresa is a facilitator, consultant, and — yes — a professional stand-up comedian. That combination isn't accidental. For over 30 years she has helped organizations develop their people through high-energy, humor-forward programs that are as practical as they are memorable.

A proud ATD member and Past President of the Greater Philadelphia ATD Chapter, Theresa has also served as a member of the ATD National Advisors for Chapters (NAC) — so she knows firsthand what it takes to build learning communities that deliver real value to their members. She has been a featured speaker at regional and international ATD conferences, as well as SHRM and the Training Directors Forum.

A graduate of the Wharton CHRO program, she also served on the non-credit faculty at Temple University for 17 years, is a graduate of the Women Unlimited leadership program in NYC, and is a two-time Emmy Award winner for her work on the PBS talk show Counter Culture. She is the author of Make Waves and the founder of High Five Performance, Inc.

When Theresa is in the room, learning happens — and people leave smiling.

Trainer's Institute 2026 (27 Oct 2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Trainer's Institute is the premier development opportunity in the Omaha area for anyone new to the talent development field or those looking to enhance and level up their skills.

All sessions start at 9 a.m. and will end no later than 3 p.m.

Check out the details for each level on the 2026 Trainer's Institute Page here!

BASE CAMP: Instructional Design

September 18, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Stephanie Hammer

Location: Core Bank

ANCHOR: Learning Technologies

October 02, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Alana Hoffman and Carrie Shively

Location: Core Bank

SCALE: Training Delivery

October 16, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitator: Theresa Hummel-Krallinger

Location: Core Bank

SUMMIT: Evaluating Impact

October 27, 2026 | 9am - 3pm

Facilitators: Debbie Petru

Location: Core Bank

Trainer's Institute Summit: Evaluating Impact (27 Oct 2026)

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

This session blends practical strategy with mindset work: you’ll leave with a simple, actionable roadmap for building a learning culture that speaks the language of business—and a reflection guide to uncover the assumptions you need to release to get there. Whether you lead talent development, team learning, or enterprise-wide training initiatives, you’ll walk away empowered to drive measurable impact and cultivate a learning culture of agility and purpose. Join us if you’re ready to let go of going through the motions—and step into learning that truly transforms.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the key elements of a data-driven learning framework and describe how they can be leveraged to demonstrate the business value of talent development initiatives.

2. Evaluate current learning programs to uncover assumptions, legacy practices, or misaligned metrics that may be hindering organizational learning agility.

3. Apply a clear, step-by-step roadmap to design or refine a learning culture that integrates data insights, leadership priorities, and measurable impact.

4. Practice strategies for “letting go” of outdated learning methods and shifting toward a culture that encourages experimentation, reflection, and continuous growth.

5. Develop a personalized action plan to communicate learning outcomes in the language of business, reinforcing credibility and influence within organizational decision-making.

Facilitator Bio: Debbie Petru

Debbie oversees the learning strategy for over 2000 associates across six states at Heritage Communities. She leads a frontline manager training program and partners with senior leaders on KPIs, addressing skill gaps with outcome-focused development opportunities. She drives frontline engagement through the Heritage Always Learning Academy (HALA). An ATD Nebraska past president, Debbie enjoys family time, the outdoors, reading, movies, and volunteering. She is currently writing her memoir, “Daffodils for My Daughter.”

In today’s fast-paced workplace, the true differentiator isn’t just more training—it’s aligning learning with business impact and being willing to let go of old habits that hold us back. In this breakout session inspired by the insights of Debbie Petru (from her blogs on data-driven learning cultures and the journey of letting go), you’ll explore how to:1. Anchor your learning strategy in a clear, measurable framework, starting with the end in mind, identifying key stakeholders, gathering available data sources and defining meaningful KPIs.2. Embrace a mindset of letting go—of outdated assumptions, irrelevant metrics, and “one-size-fits-all” training—so you can more readily respond to real business needs and shift direction when required.