Hello Chapter Members! You are welcome to attend our monthly Central Iowa Chapter ATD Board Meetings, where we focus on chapter operations, governance, and strategic planning. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month.

If you would like to observe a meeting, please sign up to receive the Google Meet link. 

Questions? Let us know! Email us at president@atdiowa.org.

Topic: From Firefighting to Future Building: Prioritization, Coaching, & Learning that Sticks featuring Melissa Schettler

Time: 8:30 to 10 AM

Description: In this interactive session, participants will learn how to move beyond constant urgency and fighting fires to building leadership capacity through intentional time prioritization, stronger coaching conversations, and learning practices that stick. Led by ATD Central Iowa Emerging Talent Development Leader Award Winner, Melissa Schettler, you will leave with immediately applicable strategies and be better equipped to grow your people before small issues become fires.  

Dr. Melissa Schettler has more than 15 years of experience across K–12, higher education, and, most recently, Learning and Development. Her expertise includes instruction, curriculum development, learner engagement, and systems that support meaningful growth. As the owner of Learning Systems Consulting, she partners with organizations to improve the systems that teach, support, and help people grow.

The purpose of the Leadership SIG is to explore new possibilities, share best practices, and build relationships in order to develop your leadership ability and develop leadership capacity in others.  

The Leadership SIG meets the third Friday of each month from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Meetings are held virtually via a Zoom meeting link (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87974286838?pwd=YjhJVTlzY2RZc0ZnTG1iTVkyOUluUT09).  The SIG is hosted by Aaron Barber (Sammons Financial Group, abarber@sfgmembers.com ) and Tony Giudicessi (ITA Group, tgiudicessi@ITAGroup.com).  If you have any questions, comments or ideas for the SIG, please connect with one of them.

Cost: FREE

Topic: Helping People Move Forward in Times of Change

Date: Friday, May 29th, 2026

Time: 8:30 AM to 10 AM (program approximately 60 minutes)

Description: 

Nonprofit leaders - and most talent development professionals - face constant change, yet success depends on how people experience it. This session introduces the "Trough of Chaos," a practical model for understanding the emotional journey individuals go through during change and equips participants with the "4 Ps" - Purpose, Picture, Plan, and Part - to respond effectively. Through real-world examples and interactive practice, participants will learn how to recognize where people are, address resistance, and guide teams toward clarity, engagement, and forward momentum.

Facilitator Bio: 

Susan Weinschenk is a Talent Management and Learning Professional with 20+ years of experience leading enterprise talent and leadership development, succession planning, and organizational change strategies within a multi-state, full-service financial institution. She has expertise in aligning talent systems with organizational impact, leadership continuity, and sustainability. Susan is a long-time member of ATD and earned a BGS from the University of Iowa in Business, Psychology, and Sociology.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The purpose of the Non-Profit SIG is to serve our communities and enhance engagement with Iowa nonprofit organizations by offering high-quality leadership and professional development to individuals who work for non-profits and others in talent development. We meet on the 4th Friday of the month at 8:30 a.m., usually virtually via Zoom. 

The Nonprofit Special Interest Group (SIG) is hosted by Thom Powell (thomleader@outlook.com) and Alicia Vermeer (alicia@cyconcepts.org). If you have any questions, comments or ideas for the SIG, please connect with one of them.

In a world where change feels constant and hope can feel hard to hold onto, talent development professionals are being asked to do more than ever - develop resilient teams, navigate uncertainty, and equip their people to lead through complexity. But the leadership playbooks of the past weren't built for this moment. In this engaging virtual workshop, social change leader, author, and keynote speaker Catherine Alonzo introduces the framework from her newly released book, The Changemaker's Toolkit: How to Power Social Change in a World That Needs Hope. Drawing on more than a decade of work alongside some of the most influential movements of our time Catherine shares four powerful tools every changemaker needs: Vision, Action, Values, and Conviction.

Participants will learn how to:

• Define a clear vision for the change they want to drive in their organizations and communities
• Build systems and teams oriented for action rather than burnout
• Identify and lead from core values to minimize friction and increase effectiveness
• Cultivate the conviction needed to keep going when the path forward feels uncertain

Meet The Speaker

In this practical virtual session, Jordon Taylor, the "Corporate Training Companion," unveils a robust framework for validating trainer readiness and ensuring consistent, high-quality learning experiences. We will move beyond theory and dive into two essential tools: the Certification Guidelines and the Training Lesson Plan.

Attendees will explore a systematic process for the tracking of trainer capability, ensuring that no critical skill gap is overlooked. You will also learn how to implement a four-step preparation model, covering participant learning, trainer preparation, delivery strategies, and lesson breakdowns. This model empowers facilitators to deliver with confidence. Whether you are building new internal faculty or upskilling subject matter experts, this session provides the actionable blueprint you need to internally certify your trainers for success.

Meet the Presenter: Jordan Taylor 

Jordon Taylor helps new and experienced learning professionals build real skill in modern corporate training, drawing from his own experience as a trainer, consultant, and learning leader. He designs practical, engaging Train-the-Learning-Professional experiences that build strong instructional habits, confident facilitation, and effective learning systems. Blending expertise in corporate training, performance consulting, and instructional design with a magician’s timing and a musician’s creativity, Jordon makes learning stick. He has designed and led 100+ programs across industries, built company-wide train-the-trainer curriculum, coached dozens of facilitators, and created scalable virtual onboarding and continuing education with 90%+ satisfaction. Whether you’re new to training or leading learning at scale, Jordon helps you use modern tools like AI, Google Workspace, and Office 365 to create learning experiences people actually remember.

ATD Central Iowa's newest event is back, and this time KinetIQ Live! is tackling workplace assessments head-on.

What's the difference between feel-good new-age pseudoscience and meaningful, validated insights?

How do talent development and HR practitioners sift through thousands of psychometrics to find one that actually works for their organization?

And why the heck is DiSC spelled like that?

All of these questions and more will be answered as eight expert practitioners dig into what works, what doesn't, and why it matters in a fun, fast-paced, action-oriented format.

This isn't a night of sales pitches. It's a night of healthy skepticism, science-informed practice, and meaningful action.

Individual GA and Reserved Group seating available. Ticket includes heavy apps and two drink tickets.

Questions? Email preselect@atdiowa.org.

Great leaders aren’t born—they’re developed, through self-awareness, intentional coaching, meaningful conversations, and hard work. In this engaging, hands-on workshop, participants learn how to lead from within while using a coach approach to positively influence others.

Drawing on concepts from Leading the Team Within, (Ann Wright) and the OSCAR Coaching Model (Andrew Gilbert and Karen Whittleworth) this session equips leaders to transform everyday conversations into opportunities for clarity, growth, and connection. Participants will examine how self-leadership, purpose, and confidence directly influence communication, decision-making, and team performance. Guided by Ann, they will also explore how traits often viewed as negative, can be reframed into leadership strengths—enabling more confident decisions for themselves and the teams they lead.

Through reflection, discussion, and hands-on application, attendees will build confidence, sharpen communication, and strengthen connections that drive meaningful impact. Participants will practice coaching and be coached, strengthening their ability to ask curiosity-driven questions with clarity and impact.

Walk away with practical tools and one clear action you can apply immediately to lead and influence more effectively—one conversation at a time. Whether you’re leading team members, collaborating across departments, or striving to grow personally, this session equips you to lead from within and make a lasting difference.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Actively listen and ask powerful, curiosity-driven questions that build trust and connection by utilizing a coach approach-one conversation at a time
• Apply the OSCAR Coaching Model to lead and influence others through everyday conversations
• Increase self-awareness and confidence by reframing perceived weaknesses into leadership strengths
• Lead and positively impact others by strengthening communication and relationships to foster collaboration, engagement, and team performance

Fatigue is contagious. Talent developers feel it first. In a world where hybrid work, rapid change, and emotional overload are the new normal, leaders are burning out while trying to keep everyone else motivated.

This session explores how emotional intelligence and body language shape the transfer of energy across teams and learning environments. Using neuroscience, behavioral research, and real-world examples, Dr. Claire Muselman teaches how to identify compassion fatigue, reset emotional energy, and communicate with confidence and authenticity.

Through interactive exercises and practical takeaways, participants will learn how to use their tone, posture, and nonverbal cues to create belonging, trust, and engagement. They’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how presence and self-awareness influence facilitation, leadership, and culture. When we intentionally manage our energy, we elevate our impact and the entire learning experience. Attendees will leave recharged, refocused, and ready to spark connection, confidence, and curiosity in every room they enter.

After the session, the learners will be able to:

1. Recognize the signs of compassion fatigue in themselves and others.

2. Apply emotional-intelligence strategies to build empathy, boundaries, and resilience.

3. Use body language, tone, and micro-expressions to strengthen presence and connection.

4. Design micro-moments of belonging and energy renewal within training and leadership settings.

5. Facilitate with renewed confidence and authenticity to elevate learner engagement.

Meet The Speaker: 

Dr. Claire Muselman is the Chief Operating Officer of WorkersCompensation.com and a Professor of Practice at Drake University specializing in Leadership, Human Resources, and Organizational Behavior. She is also Co-Director of the Master of Science in Leadership program and a nationally recognized keynote speaker. With more than 250 published articles on leadership, emotional intelligence, and neuroscience, Dr. Claire blends academic insight with real-world application to help leaders communicate with clarity, compassion, and confidence. Her signature style, bright, dynamic energy, brings science to life through practical, human-centered strategies that elevate energy and impact. Known for her work with Captive Resources, CLM, and executive education programs, she empowers organizations to build cultures of empathy, accountability, and connection. Whether teaching in the classroom or speaking on stage, Dr. Claire’s mission is to make leadership feel both brilliant and deeply human.

This workshop is designed for Learning & Development professionals who facilitate experiential or participatory learning and want to more effectively engage groups that arrive hesitant, skeptical, or resistant. Crossed arms, eye rolls, and quiet withdrawal are often less about unwillingness and more about unclear expectations, perceived exposure, or unexamined assumptions about what participation is supposed to look like. Drawing from challenge-course facilitation and real-world team-building programs, Janie shares examples and stories from the field that illustrate how choice operates in practice—and how intentionally designed invitations can support comfort, engagement, and readiness. The session explores the concept of “comfort zones” and offers practical approaches for designing experiences that invite participation without pressure or manipulation.

At the end of this session, learners will be able to:

1. Identify and understand facilitation techniques that foster choice, inclusion, and curiosity-driven participation by reflecting on

how language, activity structure, and environment shape natural engagement and willingness to step outside comfort zones.

2. Leverage Experiential Activities for Learning: Participants will experience and practice playful, interactive activities that promote

connection, and inclusion, and together explore how to translate these methods into professional development settings.

Meet the Speaker: