Menu
Log in
Log in


    
Our mission is to empower professionals to develop knowledge & skills successfully.


 

Save

Chapter Newsletter

 
 
ASTD Chapter Newsletter
                                                                               April 2016 Issue
President's Message

When we conducted our Leaders in Development event this last year, an area that our members wanted was for Talent Development to have a seat at the Executive Management table. There was a strong desire to be a proactive, strategic force within our organizations. This desire to be “at the table” really resonated with me and I have been trying to figure out why a large majority feel that they do not have a voice.

If we as Talent Development leaders want a seat at the table, we need to vastly improve our business acumen game. Business acumen is an understanding of how your business operates, makes its money, and your role in the process. It is a mindfulness of business drivers and potential pitfalls that can move your company forward or create a potential set back and your role in impacting the bottom line. Business acumen is what you know about your business and how you act upon what you know.

As TD leaders we need to be fully engaged in our organization’s success, understand how funds are brought in to our organization, what makes our organization profitable, what creates growth for our organization and who our main customers are. It is after we truly understand the business needs and functions of our organization that can we be effective TD leaders and warrant a seat at the table.

We are asked as TD Leaders to wear multiple hats: change agent, connecting the dots between departments and team members, facilitator, trainer, manager, coach, etc. If we do not understand the very core of our business functions such as marketing, sales and accounting practices, then we are not as prepared as we should be. It is now time for the instructor to be the learner; schedule coffee with your operational leaders ask them about their role and departments role in the organization, what keeps them up at night, what are industry trends they are actively monitoring, and what do value about your organization.

It is after we have strong business acumen that we can have a “seat at the table.”

Get engaged. Explore possibilities. Be happy.  

Kati O'Brien
President

Chapter Meeting HighlighApril 19, 2016 |

April Chapter Meeting - Onboarding: Clear, Simple and Hassle-Free
Please note that this is an evening meeting

April 19, 2016 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
@ Mercer Island Community and Events Center

As Training and Development professionals, we know onboarding is critical - it should be clear, simple and hassle-free. So why can't we seem to get it right? From pre-employment testing/screening to desk space and computer equipment, there are many moving parts which makes for a very complicated process. During this interactive session, you'll hear about some of the common pitfalls we make when bringing new talent into our organizations along with solutions (including your ideas!) to these challenges. Come learn how Alaska Airlines has made onboarding a strategic imperative, strengthening its focus on onboarding in an effort to create a high-touch experience new hires are not likely to forget!

Presenter: Alicia Wells, PHR, SHRM-CP, is the Manager of Employee Onboarding, Pre-Employment & Badging at Alaska Airlines, Inc. She has been an HR professional for 9 years, focusing on Operations, Learning and Leadership Development, and Talent Development. Most recently, Alicia has started a brand new department, Employee Onboarding, supporting the expansion and continuous improvement of Alaska Airline’s new strategic employee onboarding initiative.

Register for this event.

 Special Interest Groups and Meetings

Interested in joining a small group around various talent development interests? Join one of our six interest groups around topics like the CPLP certification, member networking, learning and technology, south sound professionals, or learning in the purpose economy. Interest group and partner events on our calendar for April include: 

Our April Chapter Meeting is an evening chapter meeting! Join us as Alicia Wells, Manager of Employee Onboarding at Alaska Airlines, speaks to the chapter on Onboarding: Clear, Simple, and Hassle-free!

Membership Highlight

"If it is to be, it is up to me"

As members of this or any professional association we typically joined for any number of reasons. Often, as time goes on, we may find ourselves having lost the purpose of why we joined. Below are 5 of the top reasons people join professional organizations. My challenge to you this month is to think back to why you joined the chapter and refocus your efforts to build yourself more value in this area.

Top 5 Reasons people join professional organizations:
1. Broaden our knowledge
2. Giving back to the community
3. Enhancing our networks
4. Developing leadership skills
5. Staying inspired and motivated

Which one has your name on it? How can you enhance the chapter while enhancing yourself? Thank you for making this such an amazing community!

Kyle McCurdy
Director of Membership
membership@atdpugetsound.org 

PS: remember the 'Member Spotlight' section of the newsletter? Look for its return next month!

Congratulations, ATD Puget Sound!

We are superstars!  
Our chapter received Superstar status from ATD National for our accomplishments in 2015.

Behind the Scenes: Every year, our chapter must submit a lengthy report to ATD National, showing that we have met the minimum standards required and report out on our goals and accomplishments. Without this report, we would not be able to keep our status as a Puget Sound chapter. Last year, we achieved 100% compliance with all minimum requirements, and met and exceeded the additional requirements from National, some of which were brand new this year. None other than Tony Bingham himself sent us a letter of congratulations! 

Looking Ahead: We are proud of the way we continue to grow and stretch ourselves as a chapter and as chapter leaders. We set our goals high and we achieve them. We work together as a leadership team to challenge each other to reach our highest potential.

Do you want to be part of our future? If you're interested in developing and growing your leadership skills with us, we'd love to chat with you. There are smaller roles that require just a few hours per month and larger roles with more time commitment involved, but every role is vital to our success. For more information, email us at: president@atdpugetsound.org, we'd be happy to let you know about the current opportunities with our leadership team.

 Learn-a-palooza Returns | Save the Date: June 24, 2016 |

In late June, school may be out for the summer for the kiddos, but we at ATD Puget Sound NEVER stop learning!

Back by popular demand, we're reprising the best concepts and some of the most popular topics from our December Learn-a-palooza and adding new speakers/topics.

In response to participants' feedback from the December session, we'll offer a brief keynote speaker, several topics at various "speed learning" stations for you to check out and decide what to dive deeper into during afternoon breakout workshops.

We're still lining up speakers and ironing out the venue/pricing details, but please mark your calendar for Friday June 24th, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.

We can't wait to learn with you in June! Topics on offer during this day-long event will include:

  • Diversity, Inclusion & Equity
  • Workers of the Future
  • Micro-learning Best Practices
  • Virtual Reality Technologies for Learning
  • And more!

Register for this event and keep an eye on your in-box for an email update about this event. We can't wait to learn with you in June! Want to present, get involved, or have questions: contact SpecialEvents@atdpugetsound.org 

 New Hire Hackathon - Making Onboarding Better | Save the Date: June 10, 2016 |


June 10th, 2016 | 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
@ Microsoft Lincoln Square Building, Bellevue - 15th Floor

If you will miss or just want to continue the conversations began at the April chapter meeting regarding Onboarding with Alicia Wells, join us Friday June 10th for an Onboarding Hackathon.  In partnership with Microsoft, former ATDps Chapter President Darren Nerland will host an "open source" half-day work session for people interested in improving how we onboard new hires.

This is an opportunity for the experts in the room (YOU!) to get together and share best practices and build a real, practical solutions that participants can take away by workshop's end.

This event is FREE – but we ask that you complete this brief survey beforehand to help shape the discussion. Registration link will be up on the ATDps website soon - Please visit our June events page & keep an eye out for more information in upcoming monthly newsletters.

Want to get involved or have questions? Contact SpecialEvents@atdpugetsound.org

 Learning Conference | Save the Date: October 12-13, 2016 |

Planning for the ATDps Workplace Learning Conference is in full swing! We hope you’ll join us October 12-13, 2016 for two full days of learning immersion and networking.

  • Day 1 will follow a traditional conference format, offering keynote speakers, workshops – including skills building ones—and a member happy hour. 
  • Day 2 will be an Open Space format, where your Chapter leaders will facilitate a dynamic process to tap the experts in the room – YOU – to deliver exciting content that meets participants’ needs “just in time”.  We can’t wait to see you there!

In the meantime, here are some important upcoming dates:

  • Registration link will go live APRIL 2016
  • Call for presenters and RFP, MAY 2016
  • Ongoing recruiting for volunteers - contact SpecialEvents@atdpugetsound.org 
Add More to Your Membership

Power Membership offers members twice the support, twice the resources, and twice the networking than just one membership.

ATD membership provides the tools you need for success. Chapter membership applies those tools to your organization and community. Together you are a Power Member! 

Learn more about Power Member benefits here.


Copyright © 2016 ATDpugetsound. All rights reserved.
Contact email: contact.us@atdpugetsound.org
You are receiving this message because you opted in at www.atdpugetsound.org

     .

CONTACT US

ATD Puget Sound Chapter
P.O. Box 46368
Seattle, WA 98146

©-2021

Email:  contact.us@atdpugetsound.org


Save
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software