2026 Pre-ATD Michigan Speakers Conference

2026 Pre-ATD Michigan Speakers Conferencene 

One Ticket - All Day Access

Fri Apr 24th, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM Virtual via Zoom

We’re thrilled to present this joint ATD Ann Arbor and ATD Detroit event with support from Innovative Learning Group, a leader in creating performance-first learning that drives results. 

It's that time of year again! Join us for a 1-day virtual conference featuring four talented Michigan-based speakers who will be presenting at the ATD International Conference & EXPO 2026. Whether you stay for the full day or hop online as your schedule allows, this event is designed to give you valuable insights and inspiration.

** By registering, you'll receive access to the recordings of these sessions for you to watch at your convenience. **

MI ATD chapter member bonus: a limited number of seats are available to chapter members to participate in person, as a watch party at the ILG Office, in Troy MI. Enjoy free refreshments and lunch while networking with fellow Michigan ATD members.

Agenda: See below for session descriptions

09:00 - 09:15 AM   Doors open and light refreshments

09:15 - 09:30 AM   Welcome and opening remarks

09:30 - 10:30 AM   Matthew Pierce Building Loyalty, Retention, and Reach Through Customer Education

10:30 - 10:45 AM   Break

10:45 - 11:45 AM   Esther Jackson Build, Buy, or Bot: Rethinking Talent Development for AI Disruption

11:45 - 12:45 AM   Lunch break / networking

12:45 - 01:00 PM   Welcome back remarks

01:00 - 02:00 PM   Betty Dannewitz Tech-Induced Imposter Syndrome: Overcoming Self-Doubt in an AI Obsessed World

02:00 - 02:15 PM   Break

02:15 - 03:15 PM   Megan Torrance Cutting Through the Chaos: AI Implementation Guide for L&D

03:15 - 03:30 PM   Closing remarks / survey

03:30 PM*  Optional In-Person After Hours' VR Experience (Sponsored by Innovative Learning Group)

Registration Options:

• Virtual Advanced Registration | MI ATD Chapter Members: $25. Register by Apr 2.
• In-Person Advanced Registration Watch Party & After Hours | MI ATD Chapter Members: $30. Register by Apr 2. Price includes lunch and refreshments. 
• Virtual | MI ATD Chapter Members: $35. Register between Apr 3 - Apr 24.
• Virtual | Student Members: $15.
• Virtual | Non-Members: $45.

• In-Person Watch Party & After Hours | MI ATD Chapter Members: $40. Register between Apr 3 - Apr 22. Price includes lunch and refreshments. 

Location: ILG 1130 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, MI 48084 

*MI ATD chapter member extra bonus: Optional In-Person After Hours' VR Experience (Sponsored by Innovative Learning Group)
In-person attendees are invited to stay after the final session for an optional networking hour, generously sponsored by Innovative Learning Group (ILG). Join fellow attendees for light snacks and beverages, informal conversation, and the opportunity to experience ILG’s Virtual Reality training solutions firsthand. This relaxed, hands-on experience is designed to spark conversation, encourage connection, and offer a fun, immersive way to explore emerging learning technologies before kicking off the weekend. 
Participation is optional and open to registered in-person attendees only. Space is limited.

Cancellations & Refunds:

Cancellation refund requests will be accepted in writing when emailed to finance@a2atd.org up to 24 hours before the event start time.

Speakers:

Matthew Pierce 

is a video creator and instructional designer focused on practical, effective visual communication. As Growth and Content Marketing Manager at TechSmith, he hosts The Visual Lounge podcast, formerly led customer education, and helps create content across video, social media, web, and PR. He has helped develop professional development coursework for the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications and speaks at learning, customer education, and marketing events.

Building Loyalty, Retention, and Reach Through Customer Education

Customer education is more than support. It’s a powerful way to drive loyalty, retention, and growth. But too often, it gets stuck in a loop of generic help docs or uninspired courses. In this session, we’ll explore practical ways to use video, blogs, podcasts, and academies to teach, engage, and truly support your customers. We’ll examine what makes customer education different, what kinds of content work, and how to align learning with business outcomes, without overcomplicating the process. Whether you're building from scratch or looking to improve what you already have, you'll leave with clear examples, tested strategies, and a fresh way to think about customer learning.

Esther Jackson 

serves as the head of Lynnjac Consulting and as an educator at the collegiate level. With published work including Adaptability in Talent Development and the July 2025 TD at Work issue on C-Suite Personas.

Build, Buy, or Bot: Rethinking Talent Development for AI Disruption

AI isn’t coming. . . It’s already here, quietly reshaping how we lead, decide, and communicate. The question is no longer whether AI belongs in learning—it’s how to use it wisely. This session challenges participants to rethink traditional build-or-buy decisions in light of rapidly advancing AI capabilities. Participants will leave with a sharper lens for evaluating learning solutions and a practical approach they can apply within their own organizational context.

Betty Dannewitz 

is a Learning Solutions Architect with 20+ years in corporate L&D and Founder, CEO, of the Actual Betty and ifyouaskbetty LLC.

Tech-Induced Imposter Syndrome: Overcoming Self-Doubt in an AI Obsessed World

Technology, especially AI, is advancing faster than ever, and with it comes an overwhelming sense of comparison, constant upskilling pressure, and the feeling of never being "good enough." Imposter syndrome in the tech-driven workplace is real-making you question your skills, worth, and achievements, even when you have the credentials to back them up. In this session, you'll uncover how rapid technological change fuels imposter syndrome and gain practical tools to combat it.

Megan Torrance

CEO of TorranceLearning, leads a team of learning experience designers & engineers in reimagining workplace learning. Her firm has served Fortune 1000, major research universities, global associations, and federal agencies for over two decades.

Cutting Through the Chaos: AI Implementation Guide for L&D

Let's explore how learning and development professionals can lead meaningful, human-centered AI adoption across their organizations. Participants will be introduced to three practical tools: the AI Impact Zones, the W.I.S.E. A.T. A.I. framework for responsible implementation, and the AI Implementation Canvas - a strategic planning tool with fourteen dimensions to help teams navigate complexity with clarity. Through hands-on work with a realistic scenario, participants will practice using the Canvas to explore key implementation questions and build confidence in your role as an AI change agent. Attendees will leave with a copy of the Canvas and a clearer sense of how L&D can lead, not just support, this transformation.