GCATD upcoming events

Workshop: Ship Happens-Be the Reason It Does (10 Jul 2026)

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Ship Happens is an interactive workshop designed to help Learning & Development professionals think and operate like product managers. Instead of building courses by request or compliance, participants will be challenged to approach the request like product managers who validate assumptions and iterate before investing time and energy into long-term products.

In this session, attendees will step into one of three fictional organizations facing realistic learning challenges. Using these scenarios as their sandbox, they’ll explore how product thinking elevates ADDIE, uncover hidden root causes behind training requests, and practice translating stakeholder “asks” into strategic outcome statements.

The workshop culminates in the creation of an outcome-based roadmap: a practical tool that aligns learning efforts to business impact through clear North Star results, small testable pilots, and evidence-driven scaling.

This workshop equips L&D professionals to challenge assumptions, design with intention, and ship solutions that genuinely change performance because learning doesn’t matter until ship happens.

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Cara North is an award-winning product-minded learning leader who helps organizations stop launching courses and start launching outcomes. She began her career as an “accidental” L&D professional in telecommunications, where a surprise promotion into training revealed a talent for simplifying complexity and improving performance. Nearly two decades later, her work spans corporate, higher education, and consulting environments with organizations including Amazon, The Ohio State University, Silfex, Medical Mutual and JPMorganChase.

Cara is the author of the award-nominated book Learning Experience Design Essentials and serves as adjunct faculty at Boise State University. She is also the founder of The Monthly 60-a community of practice for learning and development professionals to network and sharpen skills in one high-impact hour each month. Cara also serves as a certificate program facilitator for the Association for Talent and Development. She resides in Columbus, Ohio with her partner and their four cats. When she’s not working, you can find her in an Orangetheory Fitness studio chasing her next benchmark score, watching esports, or gaming her stress away. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caranorth11/

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM; Doors open at 7:45 AM with networking available until 10:00 AM. Continental Breakfast will be provided.

Conveners: Kim Breeze, Bob Riess, Jonathan Wilson

Organizational Development (OD) SIG: Credible Strategist (16 Jul 2026)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:30:00 GMT

In 2026, the GCATD Organizational Development (OD) Special Interest Group is excited to bring you the Global OD Competency Framework series. This internationally recognized framework outlines the core knowledge, skills, and behaviors that define effective OD professionals and provides a common language for the practice of organization development.

Vic Clesceri will join us to lead a discussion around the fourth core competency: Credible Strategist. Credible Strategists are influential communicators and culturally competent collaborators who support organizations by building trust, facilitating clear dialogue, and navigating diverse contexts. In this roundtable, you’ll explore strategies for effective communication, enhancing cross-cultural understanding, and adopting a credible presence that helps teams and leaders move forward with shared commitment and clarity.

ABOUT THE CONVENER

Vic Clesceri is an organizational development practitioner specializing in Talent Management Workforce Planning, Leadership Development, and Instructional Design.

With a background of 30 years corporate experience, 24 years professorship experience, and 10 years consulting experience, he brings a differentiated perspective on organizational development.

Vic is the founder of The Management Sherpa, a boutique agency shepherding coaching and talent development cultures within organizations. Vic is a professor of Marketing for Miami University’s Farmer School of business and a two-time Amazon bestseller, with books on Talent Management and Organizational Behavior.

Organizational Development (OD) SIG: Informed Consultant (17 Sep 2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:30:00 GMT

This meeting, led by Mary Tettenhorst of Impact Talent Strategies, wraps up our Global OD Competency Framework series. Informed Consultant centers on professional consulting excellence grounded in self-awareness, ethical practice, and continuous learning. Topics include building strong consulting relationships, applying emotional intelligence, and staying current with evolving OD knowledge and methodologies. Attendees will reflect on how lifelong learning and reflective practice strengthen consulting impact and support sustained organizational growth.

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Mary Tettenhorst is the Founder of Impact Talent Strategies, where she partners with organizations to develop leaders, build strategic people practices, and drive meaningful results. With more than 20 years of experience across every facet of talent development, Mary brings a practical, people-first approach to the employee lifecycle – from recruiting and onboarding to leadership development, performance management, and succession planning.

Outside of work, she's a wife and mom of two boys. If not on a soccer field, you’ll likely find them hiking in the mountains or adding stamps to their National Parks Passports. As a proud “boy mom,” she spends a lot of time learning, laughing, and being challenged – in all the best ways. If you’re looking for a partner who can bring both heart and strategy to your talent efforts, Mary would love to connect!

Learning Leaders SIG (30 Sep 2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:30:00 GMT

Topic: More details TBA. Convener: Leah Cridlin

2026 GCATD Conference: Empowering People Through Learning - Developing Potential at Every Level (07 Oct 2026)

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Much more to come!

KEYNOTE

Jeff Walton, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, BCC | Human Resource Director, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Workshop: The Science & Showmanship of Great Training (23 Oct 2026)

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The Science & Showmanship of Great Training explores how trainers can design learning experiences that are interactive, memorable, and meaningful. Participants will examine how adult learners engage with content, why passive information alone rarely creates lasting learning, and how movement, storytelling, challenge, games, and discussion can be used with purpose—not as gimmicks, but as tools for deeper engagement.

Through a mix of examples, discussion, and hands-on practice, participants will discover the “Learning Experience Arc” and apply it to their own training design. The session culminates in an interactive challenge where trainers transform abstract or difficult-to-teach topics into practical, engaging learning activities they can adapt for their own audiences.

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Nathan Floom is the Senior Manager of Learning and Development in Sinclair’s Workforce Development Department. For over a decade, he has helped leaders and teams across industries become rock stars in their roles. Each year, Nathan delivers around 100 high-energy training sessions known for their engaging, practical, and interactive approach to building real-world leadership skills. He is a certified facilitator of Patrick Lencioni’s The 6 Types of Working Genius and a qualified facilitator of the AFS Global Up–Global Competence program. In 2023, he was nominated for Teacher of the Year in the Adult Education category for the Southwest Ohio region. Nathan holds a BFA, an MA, and a certificate in Instructional Design from the Association for Talent Development. He is also an Eagle Scout.

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM; Doors open at 7:45 AM with networking available until 10:00 AM. Continental Breakfast will be provided.

Conveners: Kim Breeze, Bob Riess, Jonathan Wilson

Learning Leaders SIG (28 Oct 2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:30:00 GMT

Topic: More details TBA. Convener: Leah Cridlin

Learning Leaders SIG (25 Nov 2026)

Wed, 25 Nov 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Topic: More details TBA. Convener: Leah Cridlin

Learning Leaders SIG (16 Dec 2026)

Wed, 16 Dec 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Topic: More details TBA. Convener: Leah Cridlin