| Welcome to Connect 5! Connect 5 is the exclusive podcast from ATD Central Iowa bringing you the stories, insights and need-to-know information – right from the people who have it – to help you thrive in talent development. Wherever you live and whatever you do, if you’re in the world of talent development, Connect 5 is here for you. In each episode, we’ll introduce you to someone new who’s got important stories and experiences to share. From training, to entrepreneurship, to leadership, instructional design and just about anything TD-related in-between, Connect 5 is a can’t-miss addition to your development library. New episodes are released bi-weekly, starting Monday, May 15th! |
Access and subscribe to Connect 5 through on your mobile device through Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. Or, just click the links below! |
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Meet the Host!
Adam Rich is currently serving as the 2024 President for ATD Central Iowa, but by day, he's Director of Organizational Development at Athene, USA, where he helps build and execute strategies to bring high-impact development opportunities to employees across the enterprise. With extensive experience in a variety of talent development roles, including training delivery, instructional design, eLearning development and leadership, Adam invites you to come along with him on a journey to both be entertained by and learn from the incredible stories and insights of our guests. Interested in building your skills in editing, communication, marketing or sponsorship outreach? We're looking for volunteers to join our production team! Connect with Adam at president@atdiowa.org to learn more about how you can get involved. |
Episode List |
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| Season 1, Episode 3 - Kristin Tague With over 29 years of experience in HR - 20 of which in the talent development space, Kristin has worked for some amazing companies including Farm Bureau Financial Services, JP Morgan Chase, Principal, American Equity and now Pella Corporation. Her experience started with Executive Development, broadening to a leadership role focusing on a variety of aspects of employee development. With extensive experience building capabilities, from mentorship programs, change management, coaching and designing talent practices, Kristin is passionate about helping us know our people better and ensuring they have the right skills ready for the future. Apple PodcastsSpotify Google Podcasts |
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| Season 1, Episode 6 - Kai Gillespie Kai has been in Learning & Development at IMT Insurance for over 6 years and in the Talent Development field for over 10 years. She stumbled into Talent Development after graduating from college in 2009. Having no job prospects due to being an Anthropology major in rural Iowa during a recession, she stumbled upon the Talent Development field. Kai initially fell in love with instructional design while working at Brownells, Inc. and Farm Bureau. After being laid off (and receiving that spot on her TD career bingo card) she earned her Master’s of Science in Leadership Development from Drake University. During her time at Drake, she became focused on organizational development, culture, and making organizations people-focused, and has been able to practice her work (and musings) at IMT Insurance for the last 7 years. Apple Podcasts
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Season 1, Episode 7 - Deidre Williams
Ms. Deidre N. Williams possesses 20 years in corporate learning and talent development. Throughout her diverse career, she has served in key leadership positions overseeing both domestic and international learning and development training strategies and solutions, project management and business/talent development endeavors with industry innovators Merck & Co., Intrepid Learning Solutions, Total System Services, Inc., and AFLAC. As a result, and achievement–oriented professional, Ms. Williams has attained extensive trainings and certifications from The Association of Talent Development (formerly the American Society of Training & Development), Harvard University, Development Dimensions International, PROSCI, the SCRUM Alliance, the London Image Institute and the American School of Protocol. She is both a Master Trainer and Master Facilitator and possesses certifications in Human Performance Improvement (HPI), Change Management (CCMP), Agile SCRUM (CSM), and Agile SCRUM Product Ownership (CSPO). In January of 2023, Deidre obtained her CDE (Certified Diversity Executive) credentialing from the Society for Diversity In December of 2018, Deidre relocated to Des Moines, IA and brought her passion and vision for learning to EMC as the new Vice President – Learning and Development. In this role, Deidre oversaw all enterprise learning solutions to include: industry designations, professional development training, coaching, leadership development, virtual learning, change management and EMC University. With a fervent desire to align learning solutions with organizational priorities, Deidre and her team have been hyper-focused on ensuring transformative learning experiences for all EMC team members. In her words, “Learning and Development is laser focused on serving as trusted advisors and active consultative collaborators, engaging in design thinking and customer centricity in all learning solutions. in 2020, Deidre’s role expanded as she became Vice President - Organizational Effectiveness, overseeing enterprise learning solutions via Learning & Development, Leadership Development, EMC University, Talent Development, and Diversity Equity & Inclusion. Under Deidre’s leadership, in 2021, EMC Insurance Companies was recognized by Chief Learning Officer Magazine as a 2021 Learning Elite Organization. Apple Podcasts
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| Season 1, Episode 8 - Amy Pfeifer Amy has been working in the world of talent development for about 15 years, starting her journey as a technical trainer onboarding new employees. Since then, she's held a broad range of learning and development roles and responsibilities: facilitation (technical and soft-skills), instructional design, curriculum development, consulting & training project management, development of new trainers, and formal leadership. Amy currently sits within Human Resources and runs programs and consults around the topics of skills and career development. She has a Master's degree in Leadership Development from Drake University and is currently finishing a Ph.D in Education from Drake University, focused on adult learners. Amy is also an adjunct professor at Drake University and has taught courses on understanding self and others, global leadership, ethics & culture, and instructional design. Spotify
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| Season 1, Episode 9 - Gianna Pugliese Originally from Chicago, Gianna moved to Des Moines in 2016 to pursue her MSEd in Literacy at Drake University. She started working with Adult ELLs in 2017 at Lutheran Services in Iowa, where she taught Beginning English to our newest neighbors who were illiterate in their native languages. In her 4 years at LSI, Gianna was also the adult Refugee Education Coordinator, overseeing the Education Department. In 2021, she transitioned to the West Des Moines Community School District to advocate for foreign-born students and their families. Gianna is passionate about shifting the narrative from one that is deficit-focused towards a strengths-based lens where educators promote self-efficacy and humanity. Spotify
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| Season 1, Episode 10 - Terry Rich Terry Rich is a disruptive innovator and entrepreneur with a drive for integrity and honesty. He’s worked in the trenches, survived the new business trends, and had success with generational changes. Oh, and he’s given away over one billion dollars. Creative. Lucky. Energetic. Fraud-busting. Terry Rich is a successful CEO and President of 25 years who loves to engage and entertain audiences across the globe. Under his leadership, state lottery sales and profits increased by 50%. He also led the Blank Park Zoo to profitability from a $600,000 deficit while positioning it as the second largest attended attraction in the state. But his national insight on business, banking, gaming, TV production, marketing and PR led him to success in his professional career and to his passion for public speaking. Oh, and he’s also given away over $1 billion. Terry led the team that cracked the largest lottery fraud in US history. During the investigation, Terry oversaw day-to-day operations while considering long-term consequences, adapting quickly to change, and delivering on promises. Before that, he started four successful entrepreneurial businesses, and has numerous national media appearances including ABC, NBC, HBO, CBS, 20/20, CNN, CNBC, USA Today and The New York Times; a movie host on Starz! and appeared as a panel guest on the "Tonight Show". His production of a Fox Sports show called “Socker Slam” is currently a featured documentary on the Hearst streaming service “Very Local”. He’s a disruptive innovator and entrepreneur with a drive for integrity and honesty. He’s worked in the trenches, survived new business trends, and had success with generational changes. Terry’s keynotes are energetic, motivating, and perfect for an early morning, lunch or after dinner presentation. Terry Rich has authored two books: The $80 Billion Gamble and Dare to Dream, Dare to Act. SpotifyGoogle Podcasts |
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| Season 1, Episode 11 - Rona Berinobis In addition to serving on multiple community boards, Rona leads Athene’s foundation, community relations, talent development, employee engagement and internal communications initiatives. In this combination of accountabilities, she has the unique opportunity to lead impactful experiences in the workplace and the community. Prior to joining Athene, she worked at Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. At Wellmark, Rona developed and executed an award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion movement to maximize organizational effectiveness. Rona’s expertise is in strategic development, employee engagement, change management, coaching and consulting. SpotifyGoogle Podcasts |
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| Season 1, Episode 12 - Molly Mackey Molly J. Mackey is a speaker, author and trainer of leaders. She believes that by intentionally intersecting the ongoing journeys of leadership and learning we can create better leaders and Better Leaders = Better Lives™. Molly is the founder and chief learning officer of the LEAdeRNship Institute. She also serves as the Director of Knowledge Acquisition and Transfer at Optimae LifeServices. Molly has over 18 years of business and speaking experience. She has a passion for business, strategy, leadership and learning. She has taught business classes at a collegiate level since 2009 and currently partners with community colleges and other organizations offering training. Molly lives in Jesup, IA with her partner and has four children ages 1 to 16. SpotifyGoogle Podcasts |
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| Season 1, Episode 13 - Jeni Johnson Jeni has been involved in learning and development in some capacity her whole life. As the oldest, she grew up teaching her sisters, and in college, one her first jobs was teaching other students how to create photographs for their design portfolios. It may sound corny, but mentoring, teaching, and guiding others is in her blood and is truly who she is. While in L&D, she’s been able to work with various industries like healthcare, non-profit, government, higher education, and corporate. SpotifyGoogle Podcasts |
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 | Season 1, Episode 14 - Kristin Economos Kristin Economos is the owner and founder of the Life Skills Launch; a consulting business that equips young professionals with skills for the launch to adulthood. She also serves as the Director of the Adams Leadership Institute at Drake University; an undergraduate leadership program designed to train students in self-awareness, collaboration, and organizational skills. Prior to her current roles, Kristin earned her bachelor and master’s degrees from Iowa State University and has worked professionally for 14 years in college admission, academic advising, curriculum design, and leadership development. In her free time, she works toward her annual 30x30 project - a personal goal to read 30 books a year, each year of her thirties. She loves cooking, hosting, and her drooly golden retriever, George. SpotifyGoogle Podcasts |
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| Season 1, Episode 15 - Tim Slade Tim Slade is a speaker, author, and award-winning freelance eLearning designer. Having spent the last decade working to help others elevate their eLearning and instructional design content, Tim has been recognized and awarded within the learning and development industry multiple times for his creative and innovative design aesthetics. Tim is also a regular speaker at international eLearning and instructional design conferences, a recognized Articulate Super Hero, a LinkedIn Learning instructor, author of The eLearning Designer’s Handbook, and creator of The eLearning Designer’s Academy. SpotifyGoogle Podcasts |
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| Season 1, Episode 16 - Mike Taylor Mike Taylor is a teacher at Franklin University in a program focused on how to create effective educational courses and support materials. With an MBA from Ohio University and a specialized Master's from San Diego State, he's got both the business and tech skills to back it up. Mike currently leads cybersecurity training and awareness at Nationwide, but before that, he did consulting and worked in an agency. He also spent two years as a Community Manager for Articulate and their eLearning Heroes community. Mike has taught ATD Certification course in Storyline, Instructional Design, and eLearning, and he’s a speaker who's been invited to events worldwide. So, in a nutshell, Mike’s got a ton of experience in education, technology, and public speaking, and loves sharing what he knows and helping others level up their skills. SpotifyGoogle Podcasts |
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| Season 1, Episode 17 (Season Finale) - Mary Roth Mary has been in the L&D field since 2008 and has done a little of everything from facilitation, to design, eLearning development and audio/video production. Her career started in a call center, followed by supporting a call center with training facilitation and then training design (along with few different roles in process management and knowledge management). Today, she makes her living as an instructional designer at Principal Financial Group. Outside of her talent development role, she’s married to her fabulous spouse, Joe. They have two elementary-aged girls who have their own unique personalities. Mary and her husband Joe and own The Dealt Hand, a company that hosts board game night and game-related events around the Des Moines metro! Their biggest event of 2024 is called Camp Refresh held at the Y Camp in Boone, IA. Spotify Google Podcasts |
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