ATD PHL Greater Philadelphia Chapter upcoming events

Chapter Program: "Playing With Scrum: An Experiential Intro To Agile Teamwork" (May 14, 2026)

Thu, 14 May 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Scrum is the most popular agile approach to doing complex work. It is designed to enable teams to self-organize and adapt quickly. It sounds good – but is it really possible?

In this interactive session you will join a team, solve problems, optimize systems, and learn-by-doing. Then we’ll explore the theory behind self-organization and the scrum framework, so that you can apply it in your own environment. You will be prepared to be more effective in organizations using scrum or other agile methods. You will also see how these approaches can be applied to instructional design and coaching.

Agenda: 5:30 – 8:00 pm

5:30 – 6:15 pm: Registration / Light Meal / Networking
6:15 – 6:30 pm: Announcements
6:30 – 8:00 pm: Welcome & Program

This event is sponsored by:

Speaker Bio:

Chris Sims | Founder

Chris Sims is a certified scrum trainer, agile coach, and recovering C++ developer who helps organizations improve their productivity and happiness.

Chris is the founder of Agile Learning Labs and the co-author of two best-selling scrum books: The Elements of Scrum and Scrum: a Breathtakingly Brief and Agile Introduction. More of their writing can be found on the Agile Learning Labs blog.

Before starting Agile Learning Labs in 2007, Chris made a living in roles such as: scrum master, product owner, engineering manager, project manager, software engineer, musician, and auto mechanic.

ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter programs are pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute for continuing education credits. These credits are based on the ATD Capability Model and may be applied towards initial eligibility and recertification for Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials.

ATD Certification Credits for this program: 2.50

ATD Regional webinar: "Start to Finish: Practical AI Across the Learning Design Process" (May 27, 2026)

Wed, 27 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Start to Finish:
Practical AI Across the Learning Design Process

Hosted by the Pittsburg ATD Chapter

Wednesday, May 27th | 6:00 - 7:15 p.m. ET | Zoom

About This Event

AI is increasingly embedded in the tools learning and development professionals use, but its role in day‑to‑day design work is often unclear. This session offers a practical, start‑to‑finish walkthrough of the learning design process, showing where AI can support thinking, design, and review without replacing professional judgment.

Using a simple, end‑to‑end example, participants will explore how AI can be applied during early idea generation, the design of ILT activities and eLearning interactions, and final content review. The session emphasizes real‑world decision points and includes guided participation, reflection questions, and discussion to help attendees connect the examples to their own work. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of where AI fits into the learning design process, and where it does not.

About Our Presenter

Andy Marsula | Lead Instructional Designer

Andy Marsula is a Lead Instructional Designer with over 18 years of experience guiding learning initiatives from early concept through delivery in complex, regulated environments. He currently leads instructional design efforts at UPMC, where he supports systemwide education initiatives, manages large‑scale regulatory learning programs, and helps teams bring structure and clarity to under‑framed learning requests.

Andy’s work sits at the intersection of instructional design, prioritization, and workflow design. He is known for helping stakeholders move from vague ideas to clear, performance‑aligned learning solutions while preventing scope creep and improving downstream decision‑making. His approach emphasizes practical design judgment, respect for learner time, and building learning that has a clear purpose from start to finish.
In addition to his day‑to‑day design and leadership work, Andy has presented on learning workflows, governance, and technology at industry conferences, and is a published contributor to The Learning Guild, where he has written on using AI as a support tool for instructional design rather than a replacement for professional expertise. He brings this grounded, process‑focused perspective to his sessions, helping learning professionals see how emerging tools can responsibly support the work they already do.

The ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter is proud to participate in the ATD Regional Webinar Series. This collaboration of 10 ATD chapters, Greater Philadelphia along with Appalachia, Buffalo Niagra, Central PA, Long Island, Maryland, Mid New Jersey, New York City, Northern New Jersey, and Pittsburgh, brings together the best of our networks to provide world class presenters and content. We look forward to sharing these webinars with you throughout 2025!

investment

Greater Philadelphia ATD Members – Member Benefit
Non Members – $20.00

ATD Recertification Credits

ATD Mid-Atlantic Regional Webinar Programs are pre-approved through the ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter by the ATD Certification Institute for continuing education credits. These credits are based on the ATD Capability Model may be applied towards recertification by Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credential holders.

This webinar supports 1.25 credits in the Capabilities:

Developing Professional Capability - Technology Application

Developing Professional Capability - Learning Design

Webinar Registration

A link to attend the webinar will be included in your registration confirmation email.

Accessing the Webinar

A Zoom Registration link will be sent with your Registration Confirmation and Reminder emails. This is best completed within an hour of starting the webinar and will lead directly into the meeting. Completing registration more than an hour before the webinar will not lead directly into the meeting, instead resulting in another confirmation email from Zoom with a direct link to the meeting to be used later (at the time of the webinar).

Recording

This webinar will be recorded in this instance.

Online Event Recording Policy

By activating your webcam while attending this online event, you consent to be recorded. Your entry and webcam activation constitutes your consent to such recording for any purpose in connection with the event. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not activate your web camera during the event.

Materials

The presentation and materials will be shared after the event.

Questions

For any questions about this event, please contact us at info@tdphl.org.

Lehigh Valley GIG: Turn Resistance to Change into a Strength by Traversing the ‘Gates of Grief’ (June 02, 2026)

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Turn Resistance to Change into a Strength by Traversing the ‘Gates of Grief’

In a world of change where the only constant often feels like more change and uncertainty, how do we navigate these experiences with greater wholesomeness? Many of us often respond to this change in a myriad of ways, and though not all resistance to change is grief, a huge portion that is associated with the experience is unacknowledged loss.

Every meaningful transition, whether it be personal or professional, even the positive ones, involves some form of loss. This can include loss of an old identity, a familiar routine, a relationship dynamic, or a sense of certainty. That loss quietly triggers grief, but because it is often subtle, people don’t recognize it for what it is. We rationalize it as… we just ‘feel off, unsettled, or resistant’. Instead of processing those emotions, we may turn to busyness—focusing on productivity, planning, or constant distraction—to avoid feeling the discomfort. But avoided grief doesn’t disappear; it resurfaces as anxiety, procrastination, irritability, or a persistent sense of being stuck.

What we often label as “fear of change” is, at its core, unprocessed grief. The real shift comes when we stop asking why change feels so hard and start asking what we’re losing that we haven’t allowed ourselves to grieve. Ultimately, navigating change isn’t just about strategy—it’s about developing the capacity to feel and process loss, because unfelt grief blocks transition, while felt grief allows movement.

In this presentation, participants will be introduced to the work of Frances Weller, who introduces the “Gates of Grief” and highlights that grief has multiple entry points—not just major loss, but also the parts of ourselves we’ve denied, the sorrows of the world, ancestral pain, and unmet expectations.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the connection between change and grief

2. Identify avoidance patterns like busyness & recognize how constant activity, productivity, and distraction can function as ways to avoid processing grief.

3. Apply the “Gates of Grief” framework to real situations

Location: 

Lehigh Valley Health Network/ Jefferson Health
Center For Healthcare Education
3900 Sierra Circle
Center Valley, PA

Speaker

Jessica Liu, PhD:

Chapter Program: "How to Not Suck at Hard Conversations" (June 11, 2026)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:30:00 GMT

The dreaded ‘we need to talk’ text, the challenging performance review...hard conversations are a fact of life. All of us dread them, and most of us suck at them. Hard conversations will always be hard, but sucking at them is a choice.

Hard conversation skills are essential for high-performers, whether your role is in HR or not. These skills apply far beyond feedback and performance reviews. Especially as AI advances, those with strong relational skills will stand out from the crowd.

The Relational intelligence and communication skills provided in this session touch all three components of ATD's capability model. This session will support building personal capability for navigating conflict, organizational capability for increasing feedback effectiveness, and professional capability for managing relationships more effectively.

Everyone will leave with a step by step guide on how to excel at hard conversations, and a new perspective on navigating relational tension.

Learning Objectives:

Understand how to create common ground and understanding
Practice having difficult conversations to make future ones easier
Cultivate balance while holding tension
Practice with maintaining boundaries
Practice with effective listening

Participant Outcomes:

Learn simple steps to create psychological safety with others
Learn the art of giving and receiving difficult information
Receive a clear framework for navigating conflict
Learn how we respond to challenging feedback, and how to do it gracefully
Downloadable or printed worksheet provided to participants

Agenda: 5:30 – 8:00 pm

5:30 – 6:15 pm: Registration / Light Meal / Networking
6:15 – 6:30 pm: Announcements
6:30 – 8:00 pm: Welcome & Program

This event is sponsored by:

Speaker Bio:

Gabriel DeRita | Coach

Gabriel DeRita is a leadership and communication coach renowned for helping executives master crucial conversations, build stronger team connections, and achieve measurable improvements in collaboration and performance. With extensive experience coaching senior leaders from global Fortune 500 companies such as Airbnb, LinkedIn, Goldman Sachs, PayPal, Dropbox, and Gap, Gabriel brings proven strategies and actionable frameworks to every organization he supports.

In a previous career, he held successful management and sales roles in the technology and tourism sectors, before hitting hard reset in 2018 to leave everything behind and live on a bicycle for a year to find deeper meaning and purpose. He found it in his current role, and Gabriel now dedicates himself fully to empowering leaders through executive coaching, interactive trainings and experiential workshops. His practical, engaging approach ensures leaders immediately gain tools they can apply to their toughest workplace conversations.

ATD Certification Credits for this program: 2.50

L&OD SIG Workshop: “Measuring Learning & Development’s Impact” (June 18, 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Join us for what may be one of the most valuable workshops that L&D professionals can and should experience as part of their career journey. We are honored to have Patti Phillips, CEO of the ROI Institute and recipient of many talent development awards, as our presenter.

This highly practical 5-hour workshop provides L&D professionals with the tools needed to quantitatively and qualitatively link learning to measurable outcomes. You'll move beyond smile sheets to focus on demonstrating actual impact and ROI, following the Phillips Five-Level Framework and ROI Methodology. This workshop covers concepts critical to demonstrating value, like:

Aligning L&D programs/initiatives with organizational KPIs.
Isolating the effects of L&D programs on business measures like turnover rate, employee engagement scores, customer satisfaction, revenue impact, and leadership pipeline strength.
Calculating Return on Investment (ROI) for L&D initiatives.
Creating a compelling data story to communicate L&D’s impact to stakeholders.

While this workshop is an introduction to the ROI Methodology, you will leave with tools and resources to help you demonstrate value in terms that matter most.

Note: The ROI Methodology was adopted by ATD Education as the methodology of choice for its Evaluating Learning Impact and Measuring Return on Investment Certificate programs. It is documented in over 100 books including more than 50 ATD publications.

Facilitator:

Patti P. Phillips, PhD, CPTD

Patti P. Phillips, PhD, CPTD is CEO of ROI Institute. She helps organizations implement the ROI Methodology® in more than 70 countries. Her work spans private sector, public sector, nonprofit, and nongovernmental organizations. Patti has authored and edited more than 75 books on measurement and evaluation.

Patti serves as chair of the International Federation of Training and Development Organizations Board of Trustees; chair of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research Evaluation Advisory Board; co-chair of the Institute for Corporate Productivity People Analytics Board; and board member of the American Board of Optometry. From 2018-2024, Patti served on the United Nations Institute for Training and Research Board of Trustees. During her tenure she served as board vice chair and finance committee member.

She, along with her husband and ROI Institute co-founder Dr. Jack J. Phillips, is the recipient of the 2024 Association of Learning Providers (ISA) Thought Leader Award, 2022 Association for Talent Development (ATD) Thought Leader Award, and the 2019 Center for Talent Reporting Distinguished Contributor Award. Additionally, in 2015, Patti was honored as the ATD CPTD Fellow, a distinction that recognizes her contributions to the professionalization of the talent development field.

Premiere Sponsor:

https://www.firstrust.com/

Executive Sponsors:

https://www.advantexe.com/	https://www.explorance.com/
The future of leadership development is here. Click to learn about Judge Leadership+.

Corporate Sponsors:

https://www.burlington.com/	https://www.firstcomcu.org/
https://www.peco.com	http://www.TalentMetrics.io
https://www.hbse.com/

Get Certified:

Attendees qualify for initial eligibility and recertification of the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials.

ATD Certification Credits for this program: 6.0

ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter: Open House (June 22, 2026)

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMT

This interactive virtual session is your chance to connect and learn with current members, learn what ATD-PHL offers, and discover how to get the most from your membership. Whether you’re new to the chapter or a long-time member, you’ll meet chapter leaders, explore volunteer and leadership opportunities, and help shape future programs through small-group discussions and networking.

Come share your ideas, ask questions, and get inspired to engage more deeply with our vibrant learning community.

Delaware GIG: Communicating Up: How to Effectively Communicate with Leadership (June 30, 2026)

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:30:00 GMT

As trainers and professionals, our ability to communicate effectively with leadership is critical to driving change, gaining support, and advancing our mission. This dynamic and engaging session will empower you to:

Break through common communication barriers with leadership
Gain insight into how leaders think, prioritize, and make decisions
Communicate your ideas with clarity, confidence, and professionalism
Strengthen your influence and effectiveness within your organization

Through meaningful discussion and hands-on activities, you will leave equipped with practical tools you can immediately apply to enhance your leadership presence and professional impact.

Location: 

Widener University
Delaware Law School
4601 Concord Pike
Wilmington, Delaware 19803

The event is located at Project New Start (PNS), which is a green two-story building on the law school campus.

Park in any available, unreserved space.

Directions & Parking:

From Philadelphia and Points North: I-95 south to Exit 8/Route 202 North - Concord Pike.*

From Baltimore and Points South: I-95 north to Exit 8/Route 202 North – Concord Pike.*

From Pennsylvania Turnpike (Route 76): Take Exit 23/Downingtown off the turnpike and follow Route 100 South to Route 202 (approximately 15 minutes). Travel south on Route 202 into Delaware. Two miles past the state line, on the left side of Route 202, is the Delaware Law School.

From New Jersey: New Jersey Turnpike, 295 South or 40 West to Delaware Memorial Bridge. Take I-95 North to Exit 8/Route 202 North - Concord Pike.

Widener University Delaware Law School is five miles north of the exit (Exit 8) on the right side of Route 202 (Concord Pike).

Enter the campus at the traffic light entrance on Route 202. Drive into the parking lot and make a left.

Agenda

5:30 - 6:15 pm	Networking/Light Dinner
6:15 - 6:30 pm	Chapter Announcements
6:30 - 8:00 pm	Presentation

Speaker

Tracey Connolly:

Tracey Connolly is the owner of Engage Training, LLC, and currently travels the country as a consultant, facilitating workshops and seminars on leadership skills, communication, and interpersonal skills. She spent more than 20 years developing employees at the Delaware Departments of Human Resources, Finance, and Labor. While with the Department of Human Resources, she created and led the State of Delaware’s leadership development program and served as the Statewide Recognition Coordinator.

Tracey earned a doctorate in 2002, with a focus on innovation and leadership. When not conducting training, she volunteers for the local YWCA, is a regular platelet donor, and enjoys performing in a local Irish band.

Learning Conference (September 15, 2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

ATD Greater Philadelphia and the Villanova College of Professional Studies are pleased to announce our first ever Learning Conference to be held on September 15th, 2026 (this will be an all-day event) at the Inn at Villanova University. More information to follow soon! Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for registration information.