ATD Puget Sound Chapter upcoming events

Skills in the Age of AI: Why Your Capability Framework Isn’t Built for What's Coming (June 10, 2026)

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Join fellow ATD Puget Sound members for an interactive, in-person experience focused on building capability-led organizations and making competency frameworks work in practice. The session will be co-facilitated by ATD Puget Sound’s President, Sherry Johnson Metz, who will guide opening and closing conversations to help participants connect, share perspectives, and ground the experience in the realities of our local L&D community and the challenges you’re navigating today.

At the heart of the session, Acorn’s President, Keith Metcalfe, will lead a dynamic workshop exploring the shift toward capability-led organizations — why so many competency initiatives struggle to gain traction, and what actually makes them stick.

Grounded in industry research and practical experience, the session will unpack the organizational and political dynamics that often get in the way, and offer actionable approaches for gaining alignment, engaging managers, and driving meaningful development conversations. This is a content-focused session designed to provide value, not a product pitch.

This experience is intentionally interactive throughout. You’ll have time to exchange ideas with peers, reflect on what you’re hearing, and identify how to apply new insights in your own organization — leaving not just with new knowledge, but with practical next steps shaped by both expert perspective and community dialogue.

Keith Metcalfe, President of Acorn, will lead the working session on what it takes to build a skills infrastructure that can keep pace. That means moving from static competency models to dynamic skills visibility, understanding how to map AI fluency as a real capability rather than a vague aspiration, and connecting development to performance outcomes in a way that leadership will actually act on, and how this is being implemented at Acorn. He'll also address what gets in the way: the organizational dynamics, the political friction, and the false starts that most organizations hit before they find traction.

This experience is intentionally interactive throughout. You’ll have time to exchange ideas with peers, reflect on what you’re hearing, and identify how to apply new insights in your own organization. We want you leaving not just with new knowledge, but with practical next steps shaped by both expert perspective and community dialogue.

About Acorn: Acorn is a performance enablement learning platform that helps organizations build the skills infrastructure needed to develop, evidence, and act on capability (including AI fluency) at the pace the modern workplace requires. Learn more at www.acorn.works.

Sherry Johnson Metz currently serves as the President of the ATDps Chapter. Sherry is the Founder & CEO of Lead Forward Consulting, where she partners with organizations to transform overwhelmed managers into intentional leaders. Sherry offers training, coaching, design and facilitation services, and talent development programs on essential skills and mindsets for empowering leaders and teams. With over 20 years in corporate and HR leadership, she helps companies build a culture of everyday leadership development, where learning is practical, ongoing, and directly tied to business outcomes.

ATD Capabilities - Learning Sciences, Technology Application, Communication, Lifelong Learning, Talent Strategy & Management, Performance Improvement, Future Readiness

Registration:

Pre-Registration - Pre-registration is mandatory.

Walk in - Walk ins are subject to space availability. The fee will be $45.

We are not able to issue refunds after the Friday prior to the meeting. Substitutions are encouraged.

Member Orientation & Networking (June 17, 2026)

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join Us for the ATD Puget Sound Member Orientation! Whether you’re new to ATD or simply want a fresh look at all your membership has to offer, our virtual orientation is the perfect place to connect. Meet fellow members, or those considering membership, expand your network, and explore the benefits, services, and resources available to help you grow in your talent development journey. Come with questions, leave with inspiration—and get even more out of your membership.

Pre-registration is required to have the Zoom log in information sent. We are required to keep track of attendance. Also, there is no real time assistance available for this program.

ATD26 RECAP: Key Takeaways & Conversations (AI in HR SIG) (June 18, 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

DATE CHANGE

Attended ATD 2026 in LA? Couldn't make it but want to know what everyone's talking about? Join Puget Sound ATD for an interactive recap of this year's annual conference.

This member gathering brings together L&D professionals from across the region to share standout sessions, emerging trends, and practical ideas from ATD26. Whether you walked the expo floor, attended sessions or followed along from home, this is your chance to hear multiple perspectives, swap notes with colleagues, and explore how the latest thinking in talent development applies right here in the Pacific Northwest.

What to expect:

Member-led highlights from ATD26 sessions and keynotes
Open discussion on trends shaping our field
Networking with fellow Puget Sound L&D and talent professionals
Come ready to share, listen, and connect. Bring your conference notes — and your questions.

What you'll leave with:

Actionable strategies and frameworks shared at ATD26 sessions and keynotes
Concrete tools and resources you can bring back to your team immediately
Fresh perspectives on the trends shaping L&D in 2026 — and what they mean for your work

Dr. Tammy Wang

holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and has over 20 years of experience in AI and machine learning. She is the CEO and Co-Founder of Simsola AI, an AI native company to use AI assessments and simulations to empower people development. A recipient of the NSF Award for National Talent Growth, she has driven AI innovation in workforce development and previously served as SVP of Data Science at Korn Ferry and CTO at Riviera Partners, leading advancements in AI-driven talent solutions.

ATD Capabilities

Learning Sciences, Instructional Design, Training & Delivery, Technology Application, Knowledge Management, Career & Leadership, Development, Communication Emotional Intelligence & Decision Making,
Collaboration & Leadership, Business Insight, Organizational Development & Culture, Talent Strategy & Management, Performance Improvement, Compliance & Ethical Behavior, Change Management, Data & Analytics,Future Readiness

Pre-registration is required to have the Zoom log in information sent. We are required to keep track of attendance. Also, there is no real time assistance available for this program.

Technology Special Interest Group - AI + Articulate: Practical Ways to Speed Up the Build (Without Losing Quality) - Change of Date Alert (June 25, 2026)

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

CHANGE OF DATE ALERT

Curious how AI can actually help you build in Articulate, without turning your course into generic, robotic content? Join us for a practical, real-world session with Tom Kuhlmann focused on how to use AI as a smart production partner across your workflow: drafting outlines, writing dialogue, generating question banks, creating feedback variations, and producing meaningful alt text.

We’ll also dig into the part that matters most: how to QA AI-assisted content so it stays accurate, inclusive, and unmistakably human, protecting learning quality while saving serious development time.

By the end of this session, you’ll be able to:

Identify the best places to use AI in an Articulate workflow (outline → script → questions → feedback → accessibility text)
Draft stronger prompts to generate usable course content faster—without “starting over”
Generate question banks and feedback variants that align to learning objectives and real performance needs
Create alt text that supports accessibility (and actually helps learners)
Apply a simple QA checklist to verify accuracy, tone, bias, and brand voice before publishing
Leave with a repeatable “AI-assisted build” process you can use immediately in Rise or Storyline

Tom Kuhlmann is Chief Learning Architect at Articulate and the voice behind The Rapid E-Learning Blog, where he shares practical, real-world tips to help eLearning teams build better courses—faster. With 20+ years in the training industry, he’s developed hundreds of hours of eLearning and supported learning projects for organizations including Capital One, Washington Mutual, and Weyerhaeuser.

Consulting & Business Partnering, Future Readiness

Pre-registration is required to have the Zoom log in information sent. We are required to keep track of attendance. Also, there is no real time assistance available for this program.

Unlock Your True Self: A 60-Minute Identity Sprint (Using a Vision Board) (July 14, 2026)

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:00:00 GMT

ATDps: July 2026 Virtual Member Event

Unlock Your True Self: A 60-Minute Identity Sprint (Using a Vision Board)

with Kate Gerasimova

You can't manifest your way out of anything. But you can get clearer on who you are, what you actually want, and the small, repeatable actions that turn vision into momentum.

This 60-minute Zoom workshop blends neuroscience (Dr. Jim Doty, Stanford), the no-nonsense practicality of Barbara Corcoran and Emma Grede, and a fast, hands-on vision board sprint. It's grounded, a little playful, and built for people who roll their eyes at "manifestation" but secretly want a clearer sense of where they're headed.

For ATD members, it's two things at once: a personal reset that makes your next quarter feel intentional, and a workshop design pattern you can borrow for the learners you serve.

What you'll leave with

-A finished vision board (digital, physical, or hybrid — your call)

-A one-line identity statement you can return to

-A 7-day practice card to keep momentum after the session

-A clearer answer to "what am I actually pointing at this year?

Pre-work - Bring one real thing

A photo, an object, a screenshot — something that already matters to you. We'll build the rest in real time. No design skills required.

Our guest:

Kate Gerasimova helps organizations find clarity in complexity, translating strategy into language, programs, and people systems that create real momentum. With deep roots in organizational development and a growing edge in narrative strategy and AI enablement, she partners with technology and mission-driven organizations ready to build what's next. She's at her best when the work is meaningful, the thinking is deep, and the right people find their way to her.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kategerasimova/

Instructional Design, Emotional Intelligence & Decision Making, Performance Improvement

Registration:

Pre-Registration - Members attend at no charge. There is no walk in availability. Pre-registration is mandatory.

Pre-Registration - Non-Member $20.00. There is no walk in availability. Pre-registration is mandatory.

We are not able to issue refunds after the Friday prior to the meeting. Substitutions are encouraged.

In-Person Networking Night (July 16, 2026)

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Come out on July 16, 2026 for our quarterly chapter in-person networking event! Join other current and aspiring talent development professionals in the Puget Sound area for low-key conversation and connection and to learn more about getting involved with the ATDps chapter. This event is open to both members and non-members. We hope to see you there!

Seattle Networking Interest Group (August 06, 2026)

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Seattle Networking Interest Group

Our Networking Interest Group meets virtually the first Thursday of every month for connection, conversation and conviviality! Whether you’re a current member or curious about becoming one, these structured gatherings are intentionally designed to help you:

Meet talent development professionals from across the Puget Sound region
Discover new ways to get involved with our Chapter
Get the most value out of an ATD Puget Sound Membership
Engage with Chapter Leaders
Experience and learn fun virtual connection building activities you can use at work

Whether you’re an experienced trainer, facilitator, coach, instructional designer, consultant, or aspiring to work in one of the many fields of L&D, these meetings give you the chance to learn from and with others, feel more connected to the industry and get inspired to be an active member of the ATD Puget Sound community.

Can’t join us for the full 90 minutes? No problem! This is your open invitation to a virtual open house: anyone can "Zoom" by, whenever, and for however long you can stay.

Pre-registration is required to have the Zoom log in information sent. Also, there is no real time assistance available for this program.

Finding Your True North: Leading from Values and Guiding Principles with Keith Lewis (August 18, 2026)

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT

ATDps: August 2026 Member Event

Finding Your True North: Leading from Values and Guiding Principles

with Keith Lewis | VeraSpark

Whether you're stepping into a new leadership role, navigating a career transition, or simply looking to lead with greater clarity and intention, this session is for you.

Drawing from his own journey and executive coaching experience, Keith Lewis will walk attendees through a powerful, practical process for uncovering core values, organizing them into meaningful themes, and translating them into a personal set of guiding principles.

Because great leadership starts from the inside out, and when you know who you are, every next step becomes clearer.

Takeaways

Leave with a framework you can begin applying immediately, whether you're in an interview, leading a team, or figuring out your next chapter.

Our guest: Keith Lewis, Facilitator/Speaker/Coach

Keith is the president of VeraSpark, LLC, a global executive/leadership coaching, facilitation, and keynote speaking company based in Austin, Texas since 2001.

Keith’s expertise and background includes the following areas:

Effective Leadership
Interpersonal Communication
Coaching for Performance Skills
Giving and Receiving Feedback
True Teamwork

Keith is the author of the book: Sparking Your Inner Leader: A Practical and Passionate Perspective from the Mascot Who Became an Executive Coach. Well known coach Marshall Goldsmith notes, “With a blend of humor, personal reflection, and practical wisdom, this book challenges traditional leadership perspectives and offers a fresh, engaging approach. No matter where you are in your leadership journey, this book will leave you with valuable takeaways and what it means to truly inspire and lead.”

As a senior consultant in Change Management with Anderson Consulting (now Accenture), Keith cultivated his knowledge in organization development, corporate culture and organizational communication. Keith also contributed to the growth of Eagle’s Flight, a global experiential training company, as a Vice President of Business Development. While managing a sales team in Austin, Keith added over $3.5 million in sales and delivered hundreds of programs.

Keith earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Northwestern University, received a Masters in Business Administration from The University of Texas, has a certification in The Leadership Circle 360 Profile and Culture Survey, Accelerated Learning Design and Delivery, various business simulations, and is a graduate of Corporate Coach University.

Keith’s clients have included USAA, Advanced Energy United, Advanced MicroDevices, Freescale Semiconductor, Shell E&P and Shell Services, Baker Hughes, Inc., Granite Construction, Texas Instruments, Leadership Austin, Brinker International (Chili’s), Chick-fil-a, Interos, Enterey Life Sciences Consulting, University of Texas Development, Dell Medical School, Executive Education at Notre Dame, Texas Mutual Insurance, Essential Anesthesia Management, The Business Leadership Center at SMU’s Cox School of Business, The McCombs School of Business at the University ofTexas and the Stagen Leadership Institute.

Keith is a member of the Association for Talent Development (founder of the Collaborative Consultant special interest group) and the International CoachFederation.

Finally, Keith is proud of the fact that: he’s been married for over 30 years, he has 3 wonderful kids, he is a 5 th generation Texan, he served as Willie the Wildcat forNorthwestern University for four years and as Bennie the Bull for the Chicago Bulls for two seasons.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithdlewis/

Career & Leadership Development, Emotional Intelligence & Decision Making, Lifelong Learning, Performance Improvement, Compliance & Ethical Behavior

Registration:

Pre-Registration - Members attend at no charge. There is no walk in availability. Pre-registration is mandatory.

Pre-Registration - Non-Member $20.00. There is no walk in availability. Pre-registration is mandatory.

We are not able to issue refunds after the Friday prior to the meeting. Substitutions are encouraged.

Seattle Networking Interest Group (September 03, 2026)

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Seattle Networking Interest Group

Meet talent development professionals from across the Puget Sound region
Discover new ways to get involved with our Chapter
Get the most value out of an ATD Puget Sound Membership
Engage with Chapter Leaders
Experience and learn fun virtual connection building activities you can use at work

Can’t join us for the full 90 minutes? No problem! This is your open invitation to a virtual open house: anyone can "Zoom" by, whenever, and for however long you can stay.

Pre-registration is required to have the Zoom log in information sent. Also, there is no real time assistance available for this program.