ATD Puget Sound Chapter upcoming events

In-Person Networking Night (October 15, 2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Come out on October 15, 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!

Technology Special Interest Group (October 29, 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join us as we return from a summer break. More details to come!

Instructional Design, Training & Delivery, Technology Application, Future Readiness, Livelong learning

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.

Leadership By Design: The Future We’re Building - Leadership Development SIG (November 04, 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 01:00:00 GMT

The Leadership SIG is a community for talent development professionals who want to intentionally grow as leaders while expanding their impact within their organizations and the profession. Through interactive learning experiences including workshops, executive panels, educational sessions, and collaborative discussions, members will develop the leadership capabilities to lead themselves, guide others, advance their organizations, and champion the future of talent development.

What does the future of leadership require from us as Talent Development professionals? Join us for an engaging conversation exploring the signals and shifts shaping our profession and the way we lead. Featuring the voices and perspectives of Talent Development leaders from across the region, this event will bring together an executive panel and facilitated roundtable discussion to explore how we can move beyond responding to change to intentionally shape what comes next for ourselves, our organizations, and our profession.

By the end of this session, you’ll have:

New perspectives on the shifts and signals shaping our organizations and profession
Practical ideas you can apply immediately in your leadership and talent development work
Questions to help you think differently about your role and influence
Connections with Talent Development leaders from across the region

Moderator:

Melinda Gilliam is the Founder and Impact Partner of Melliam LLC and brings more than a decade of experience in learning and development, specializing in leadership development, coaching, facilitation, and organizational learning strategies that help individuals and organizations grow with intention. She holds a B.A. in Education, an M.S. in Counseling and Adult Development, and the Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credential. Guided by the belief that learning is one of the greatest forms of care, Melinda is passionate about creating people-centered learning experiences that inspire growth, strengthen leadership, and create lasting impact.

Melinda Gilliam - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-gilliam/

Panelists:

Sarah Keimig's career path has been anything but linear—it’s been a series of zigzags that have shaped how she lead and how she sees opportunity.

Today, as a Senior Culture Partner and internal consultant, she works across the organization on culture strategy, BRG program design, leadership development, and team dynamics. Her experience also includes four years designing and facilitating Inclusive Leadership learning for over 800 leaders.

She's a mother of four and a veteran, and she loves building bridges, solving problems, mentoring others, and helping people see what’s possible. Above all, she tries to remain a student of her environment—always learning, staying curious, and growing alongside the people around her.

Sarah Keimig - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-keimig-3348112b/

Barrett Evans is Deputy Executive Director of Learning & Development at Sound Transit, where he leads the capability and leadership development infrastructure behind America's busiest light rail system. With over 20 years of experience at the intersection of talent, learning, and organizational transformation, Barrett has held senior L&D and HR leadership roles at Ford Motor Company and Macy's Inc., guiding large-scale workforce transformation and consistently moving L&D from support function to strategic driver.

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

Mariasol Hill is a talent development and business leader at Microsoft who is passionate about helping people and organizations grow through change. As a Director of Business Programs within the Microsoft Commercial Business organization, she leads talent development and learning initiatives designed to strengthen leadership capability and prepare teams to accelerate customer outcomes .

Mariasol has spent her career building global programs that bring together learning, talent strategy, community, and employee experience. From leading large-scale early-in-career programs to shaping development experiences for leaders, she is especially interested in how talent leaders can move beyond delivering programs to becoming strategic partners who help organizations anticipate and shape change.

Her leadership philosophy centers on clarity, curiosity, and creating the conditions for others to thrive. She believes the best leaders do more than navigate the future. They help design it by creating future leaders.

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

Bobby Humes

Bobby Humes - https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachbobby/

Impacting Organizational Capability, Future Readiness, Change Management, Developing Professional Capability, Collaboration & Leadership

Seattle Networking Interest Group (November 05, 2026)

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 01:00:00 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.

Leadership Development in the AI Era What real data reveals - AI in HR Interest Group (November 12, 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Leadership Development in the AI Era What real data reveals

As AI becomes part of how organizations train and develop their leaders, this session shares what we’ve learned works, what doesn’t, and why. Drawing on real, empirical data from AI-driven leadership development cohorts, we’ll unpack the psychology behind engagement, why some people thrive with AI-based simulations and how to enhance the experience.

Explore how structure, cadence, and facilitation shape outcomes as much as the technology itself.
Discuss learner outcomes that show up consistently across cohorts, and what they reveal about designing programs that have the biggest impact on leadership development.
Look at real data from multiple cohorts across several companies to understand organizational impact.
Share insights and best practices gathered from working with diverse groups of leaders.
Share data on how leadership skill needs are shifting in the AI era, and what organizations should be building toward now.

Zachary Van Rossum, EdD,

is an expert in the psychology of learning and development, with a specialty in psychometrics, leadership decision-making, facilitation, and coaching. As Chief Research Officer & Co-Founder of Simsoal.ai he builds innovative assessments and experiential learning simulations that accelerate leadership development. Zachary is also a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he teaches graduate level courses in adult learning, leadership, coaching and self-development.

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, Training & Delivery, Technology Application, Career & Leadership Development, Coaching, Communication, Emotional Intelligence & Decision Making, Collaboration & Leadership, Cultural Awareness & Inclusion, Project Management, Lifelong Learning, Organizational Development & Culture, Talent Strategy & Management, Performance Improvement, 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.

Seattle Networking Interest Group (December 03, 2026)

Fri, 04 Dec 2026 01:00:00 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.

AI in HR Special Interest Group (SIG) (December 10, 2026)

Thu, 10 Dec 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Dr. Tammy Wang

ATD Capabilities

Training & Delivery, Technology Application, Knowledge Management, Career & Leadership Development, Emotional Intelligence & Decision Making, Lifelong Learning, 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.