ATD Central Iowa upcoming events

ATD-CI Monthly Board Meeting (Monday, October 19, 2026)

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

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.

All SIG: The Power of Community Leadership: Cultivating Collective Impact through Lead DSM (Friday, October 23, 2026)

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:30:00 GMT

»»» BIGGER. BETTER. BOLDER. «««

ALL SIG

Power of Community Leadership:

Lead DSM’s Amy Jennings

Friday, October 23rd
from 8:30–10:00 am

Location: Virtual | Zoom

FREE for members AND non-members

Every thriving community relies on leaders who step up to drive meaningful change. Amy Jennings, executive director of Lead DSM, will share how the organization develops, connects, inspires, and challenges community champions across Central Iowa. Attendees will get an inside look at Lead DSM’s premier leadership programs, exploring how they equip participants with the tools, connections, and systemic understanding required to tackle complex local challenges. Whether you are looking to invest in your own leadership journey or build a pipeline of community-minded talent within your organization, this session will demonstrate how collective leadership transforms our region.

This is a quarterly All-SIG meeting that is open to both members and non-members at no cost. Please contact Thom at 515-745-4303 if additional info is needed.

Making the Most of ATD-CI Membership (Wednesday, November 11, 2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Wednesday, November 11, 2026 || 12:00–12:45 PM || Zoom

New member? Longtime member? Just exploring?

Whether you're brand-new, have been a member for years, or are simply curious about what we offer, this free session is for you.

Join our Membership Committee for a guided look at the opportunities available through ATD Central Iowa and discover how to make the most of our community.

DISCOVER WAYS TO

LEARN

Explore educational events, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), and professional development opportunities.

GROW

Discover membership benefits, career-building resources, and opportunities to get involved.

CONNECT

Meet fellow talent development professionals and find opportunities to build meaningful relationships.

We'll also explore membership options, show you how to find events and resources on our website, and answer your questions.

You're welcome here.

Leave knowing your next step to learn, grow, or connect with ATD Central Iowa.

FREE TO ATTEND | Virtual via Zoom

Spark the Experience: Leading with Energy, Empathy & Presence (Friday, November 13, 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 15:00:00 GMT

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.

Coffee Connect (Wednesday, November 18, 2026)

Wed, 18 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

IN-PERSON NETWORKING EVENT

Wednesday, November 18, 2026

7:30 - 9:00 AM

Smokey Row Coffee | Des Moines

What's your go-to resource?

A book, podcast, blog, website, or favorite tool? Come ready to share something valuable with fellow talent development professionals.

WHAT TO EXPECT

7:30 AM Coffee, treats & conversation
8:00 AM Rotating resource share

Space is limited. Save your seat!

Private room reserved at Smokey Row

Building Comfort Zones for Engagement (Friday, December 11, 2026)

Fri, 11 Dec 2026 15:00:00 GMT

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:

Janie Jeffries, MA, TRS, CCM (she/her/ally) is a Lead Facilitator of the Stowe Heights Challenge Course, a program of Community Youth Concepts (CYC) in Des Moines, Iowa. With a Master’s in Therapeutic Recreation and over 20 years of experience in Experiential Education and facilitation, Janie brings deep expertise in designing programs that foster meaningful connection and engagement. Her work is grounded in the belief that intentional, experience-based learning builds bridges—to ourselves, to one another, and to the environments we navigate. Inspired by mentors who nurtured curiosity and compassion, Janie designs learning experiences that are authentic, inclusive, and rooted in human behavior, decision-making, and growth.

ATD-CI Monthly Board Meeting (Monday, December 21, 2026)

Mon, 21 Dec 2026 18:00:00 GMT

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.