Educator Transition to Learning & Development Informational Panel

Are you a current or former educator interested in a career in Learning and Development, Instructional Design, or Training Delivery? This is the event for you! We're bringing together L&D professionals to share transition experiences and knowledge of L&D careers. 

Topics we will address and share content for:

• Networking
• Resume tips, job platforms, job titles
• Skill building and development tools
• Pay and benefit expectations
• Culture shift

Date: December 8, 2022

Time: 4:00 - 5:30 pm

Location: Virtual ZOOM (Registration required)

Cost:

ATD CI Members and Regional Chapter Members: Free

Non-Members: $10

About Our Panelists

Panel Moderator: Nicci Schmitt is the 2022 ATD Central Iowa President. She is currently a Learning and Development Consultant at Nationwide Insurance. She has been with Nationwide for 16 years. Prior to her time at Nationwide she was a Special Education Teacher for 4 years. To move closer to the metro for her husband's job at Nationwide she applied for various teaching roles and an entry level role at Nationwide. After receiving an offer for an entry level processing role at Nationwide she decided to give it a chance knowing there may be eventual opportunities in training. She spent 2.5 years in a Commercial Processing role, 7 years in Training Delivery roles, and currently 6.5 years in Instruction Design roles.

Adam Rich is currently a Learning and Development Manager at Athene USA, where he’s responsible for helping build, deploy and facilitate strategic organizational learning solutions including workshops and courses for employees across the enterprise. With over 10 years of experience in learning and development, including training design, facilitation and leadership, Adam is excited to share his experiences to help you find success as an L&D professional!

 Stacy Oselette is currently the Training Coordinator with Tero International, a corporate training company who offers professional workshops and executive coaching services. Her primary focus is supporting the trainers behind-the-scenes with many of the communication logistics. She assists with conducting participant pre- and post-workshop communication, scheduling and tracking assessments, preparing materials for training sessions, and documenting trainers' expenses. She has been in this role since September 2022. Previously, Stacy was an elementary educator for 15 years, teaching 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. She decided she wanted to try something new, and found it very difficult to know where to start. She is hoping to help other educators who want to leave the classroom and begin a new career.

 Ngozi Igbokwe is a Senior Learning and Development Manager with Bright Horizons. In this role, she leads a team of learning and development professionals who design training for DEI, leadership, and more. Prior to her role as a Senior L&D manager, she was a Human Resources Manager with Drake University Head Start. Ngozi has had the pleasure of hiring and interviewing several candidates and understands what is needed to help you land the job! 

 Sara Giesler is a Learning and Development Manager at Principal Financial Group. She joined Principal in September 2017 and has spent the past several years building and developing L&D teams in both the retirement and insurance business units.

Prior to Principal Sara spent 14 years with Nationwide Insurance with many roles supporting Sales through Learning and Development. Sara’s L&D roles included training facilitation, instructional design, leadership, and consulting.

During the panel discussion, Sara will share her experiences with networking and what to expect when you join a corporate learning and development team.

Sara received her degree from the University of Northern Iowa and master’s from Drake University. She currently lives in Urbandale, Iowa with her husband, Chris Tarbox and their adopted lab/shepherd mix Bennie. 

 Michelle Cole is the Senior Training and Development Consultant with Merchants Bonding Company in West Des Moines. At Merchants, Michelle’s primary role is to lead training and development for leadership at all levels of the company from emerging leaders to executive leadership.  Additionally, she supports many layers of HR management through succession planning, assisting managers in writing training plans for new associates, 360 assessment coaching, and overseeing the performance management system. Michelle just completed 18 years in education as an elementary school principal for four years, a Facilitator of Curriculum and Professional Learning for five years, and a teacher for nine years (both special education and general education). In July 2022, she transitioned into the corporate world, and understands first hand how overwhelming that process can feel from where to start to finalizing the decision. Her goal is to share her experience with others, in hopes that it empowers people with tools and knowledge to use on their own career journeys.