Ann Arbor ATD upcoming events

April Virtual Coffee Chat (Wednesday, April 08, 2026)

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Virtual Coffee Chat: Connect and Grow with Us!

Wed Apr 8, 12:00 - 12:55 PM

Hosted by: Lisa Garcia, MOD, CPTD, CTT

A2ATD VP of Finance, Leader of the CPTD Virtual Study Group

Join us for a warm and welcoming coffee chat—an excellent opportunity for our members to connect and share in an informal setting! Whether you're a seasoned member or new to our community, this is the perfect chance to foster connections and learn more about what we have to offer.

This month, we’ll spend time talking about the benefits of the ATD Capability model and our CPTD study group. As we all strive to learn and grow our careers as TD professionals, this is one of the ways Ann Arbor ATD is supporting the L&D community. Bring your questions, ideas, and aspirations! Celebrate your successes, and seek support for challenges!

Meet your board, mingle with fellow TD professionals, and dive into meaningful conversations.

The instructions to join the Zoom webinar will be included in the registration confirmation email and in the email the morning of the event.

Agenda:

12:00 - 12:05 PM | Welcome

12:05 - 12:50 PM | Discussion

12:50 - 12:55 PM | Meeting Close

Registration Details:

Ann Arbor Chapter Members: Free
Other MI ATD Chapters: Free
Student Members: Free
Non-Members/Guests: $10

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. See further information on our Event Policies page at this link.

2026 Pre-ATD Michigan Speakers Conference (Friday, April 24, 2026)

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT

2026 Pre-ATD Michigan Speakers Conference

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.

Career Pathways in Talent Development (Thursday, May 07, 2026)

Thu, 07 May 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Career Pathways in Talent Development Panel Discussion

Thu May 7, 5:30 - 8:00 PM

Washtenaw Community College - Morris Lawrence Building

Meet a panel of successful Talent Development professionals and learn about all the different journeys they took to get where they are now. Whether you're a teacher looking to move into corporate or consulting, or an aspiring project manager, instructional designer, team leader, business owner, or entrepreneur, there'll be something for everyone during this panel discussion!

Panelists: Christina Calderwood, Julia Keider, DeAnna Strand (biographies are listed below)

Moderator: Jen Laidlaw

Objectives:

Discover various career paths for Talent Development professionals
Uncover new career ideas or paths for yourself

Agenda:

5:30 Networking and dinner

6:15 Introductions

6:30 Panel Discussion

7:45 Close

Registration Details: Please register by Wed May 6.

Ann Arbor Chapter Members: Advanced Registration $30 by Thu Apr 23, Regular Registration $35
Other MI ATD Chapters: Advanced Registration $35 by Thu Apr 23, Regular Registration $40
Student Members: $15
Non-Members/Guests: $45

All attendees (including guests) must register in advance so we can make facility and food arrangements.

Location:

Washtenaw Community College - Morris Lawrence Building

Community Meeting Room ML 150

4800 E Huron River Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Panelists:

Christina Calderwood

is a project manager and instructional designer at Innovative Learning Group with nearly 30 years of experience in training and performance improvement. She has consulted with clients across the automotive, business services, insurance, finance, retail, manufacturing, nonprofit, technology, and defense industries. Her work includes designing custom training solutions in areas such as AI, leadership, software development, quality, engineering, and sales. She recently led an AI project for an automotive client focused on enhancing internal learning and development processes.

Christina is a member of the Association for Talent Development and ATD Detroit and is serving a two-year term on the ATD Detroit board of directors as vice president of membership. She holds a master’s degree in education with a concentration in instructional technology from Wayne State University and a bachelor’s degree in education from Central Michigan University.

Julia Keider

is the Principal Executive Coach at Keider Consulting Group, a Livingston County-based coaching, consulting, and leadership development organization focused on developing people as they pursue their aspirations for leadership greatness. She is an Authorized DiSC® Partner, a certified professional with the Association for Talent Development (CPTD), a SHRM certified professional (SHRM-CP), a volunteer leader with Livingston County SHRM, and a two-time graduate from Eastern Michigan University.

For the last ten years, Julia has remained committed to modeling and practicing coaching and leadership strategies with clients to practice on their own, incorporating best practices in teaching and adult learning. Blending business, human resources, and education into her frameworks for client engagement, Julia believes in finding the balance of learning strategies and applying them to the workplace, leading clients to discover leadership through strategy, incorporating productive communication skills, and elevating others to find their talents and strengths.

DeAnna Strand, MA, CPTD,

is the Learning and Development (L&D) Program Manager at Gift of Life Michigan. For over 25 years, her passion has been developing people. Her HR and L&D background spans across several different industries including organic food, automotive and healthcare. As an ATD Master Trainer and Master Instructional Designer, she creates leadership programs, skill improvement workshops, and other learning opportunities. She oversees the new hire onboarding program, focusing on a valuable employee experience and successfully integrating them into the organization’s culture. DeAnna is also a certified Predictive Index (PI) practitioner.

Moderator: Jen Laidlaw

is the owner of TeamWerks Talent Development and Consulting where she helps small businesses improve team and leadership effectiveness with a focus on values, positive company culture, and practical outcomes. With 20+ years in manufacturing and digital marketing, she specializes in coaching front-line leaders, applying agile practices, and developing custom learning programs. She is a current board member of the Ann Arbor chapter of Association for Talent Development, the New Enterprise Forum out of Ann Arbor SPARK!, and Livingston County SHRM (formerly LAHRA). Jen has a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan and is a certified Scrum Master and a DiSC and Franklin Covey facilitator.

SAVE THE DATE - MI Regional Conference 2026 (Monday, October 12, 2026)

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Mark your calendar for the MI Regional Conference 2026

Additional Details to Come.