ATD San Diego upcoming events

ATD-SD Monthly Authors' Workshop (Sat, April 04, 2026)

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Date: Saturday, April 4th, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM PST

Location: Virtual (link shared in registration email)

This monthly 90-minute workshop, facilitated by ATD-SD Board member and author Gregg Ward, is designed to support all of the current and future authors in the chapter. It is practically-focused and designed to help members take their book ideas and turn them into a book in their hands. We help you no matter where you are in your author's journey. Even if you're just thinking about possibly writing a book, join us!

About the Facilitator:

Gregg Ward is a former journalist, playwright, magazine feature writer and OpEd contributor, and the author of three books, two independently published and one - the bestselling, award-winning business fable, "The Respectful Leader" - brought out by John Wiley and Sons in 2016. He's also coached over 10 authors to publication in the business and leadership categories through independent, small press, and big-name publishers. He believes that there's a book inside everyone, just waiting to be successfully shared with the world.

Trivia Night! (Thu, April 09, 2026)

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Join us for a fun and relaxed evening of connection at ATD San Diego’s Trivia Night, hosted by ATD-SD Learning Events Director, Max (who is also an expert Trivia Night facilitator)! This casual social event is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with fellow talent development professionals while putting your knowledge to the test. We’ll play a mix of general trivia along with a few talent development–themed questions—so whether you’re a trivia pro or just in it for the fun, there’s something for everyone!

Date: Thursday, April 9th, 6–8 PM

Location: Corner Pizza in Encinitas
1246 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024

Free of charge to ATD San Diego members and their family and friends.

Pizza and non-alcoholic drinks provided by ATD San Diego! Alcohol must be purchased separately. Come play with the ATD San Diego community in a laid-back and fun setting.

Get Good with Articulate Storyline (Thu, April 16, 2026)

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This Month's Topic: Screen Readers and Focus Order

As accessibility becomes more of an expectation for eLearning, screen readers and focus order become a primary way in which that eLearning is experienced by a significant audience segment. Learn how to do it right in this workshop, along with making it quicker and easier by using the AI now build into Storyline.

Guest Speaker: Joe Waddington

Joe has been a session leader at DevLearn and Articuland, and in over 20 years of experience in transferring knowledge, Joe has developed eLearning for four different state agencies in Washington state and now leads a community of practice for eLearning.

Meet Your Host: John Morley

John Morley has helped to improve job performance for clients and employers including Genentech, Hitachi Data Systems, Southern California Edison, Kaiser Permanente, and most of the Asian car companies. Author of the book Scriptwriting for High Impact videos, he has taught at Cal State Northridge, lectured at UCLA, and conducted workshops at a variety of professional organizations and conferences, including ADT Tech Knowledge.

An experienced coder, he has developed and managed numerous websites, and developed software used by clients including Saturday Night Live. An external consultant, he is available to help you on a project by emailing: John@IDforHire.biz.

Format

It's an open forum, so come prepared to click along, ask questions, share your own experiences with Storyline, or just sit back and take a look at what Storyline can do.

The workshop is for intermediate to advanced users, but if you are new to Storyline, this is still for you: It will show you what Storyline can do, give you a look under the hood to see how it works, and let you ask questions of practitioners who are using Storyline now.

Free Storyline Trial

To click along, you need access to Storyline. If you do not already have access, a free trial is available (once on the page, scroll toward the bottom). https://articulate.com/360/storyline

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO RELEASE

Note to registrants: This webinar may be recorded for chapter marketing purposes.By registering for this event, you are giving permission to San Diego ATD to make and use at their discretion photos and a video recording of this event that may include you or your property. Although you may choose to not have your face recorded by by not activating your camera, your name and voice may still be recorded.

Developing Professional Capability
CPTD & APTD Certified

ATD San Diego Chapter has been pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute to offer educational programs that can be used towards initial eligibility and recertification of the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials.
This program qualifies for a maximum of 1 point.

AI in Action: A Real-World L&D Panel Discussion (Thu, April 16, 2026)

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:00:00 GMT

AI is shaking up Learning and Development, but what does it really look like in action?

Join ATD San Diego for an interactive evening exploring how AI is being used in the real world. We’ll kick things off with a lively panel discussion featuring Satu Salminen, AI Transformation and Talent Development Leader at ZoomInfo, and Chen Zhang, Chief Growth Officer at Rapport (joining us all the way from San Francisco!)

The panelists will share practical insights, lessons learned, and tips for L&D professionals ready to deep dive into the AI space. You’ll get a peek into real-life AI case studies and see Rapport’s AI-powered avatars in action.

The session will be moderated by Hana Zacay, ATD San Diego President-Elect & RiseBud Founder.

Guest Bio: Chen Zhang, Chief Growth Officer at Rapport
Chen Zhang is a GTM leader with 15+ years of experience building the engines behind major exits by Under Armour (MapMyFitness) and Expedia/Vrbo (HomeAway). As the former CEO and Co-Founder of Aquifer, she has a proven track record of helping global brands like Merck and Adidas use emerging technology to win new business and deepen client impact. Now serving as Chief Growth Officer at Rapport, Chen focuses on the practical execution and strategy required to scale AI solutions into consistent enterprise revenue.

Guest Bio: Satu Salminen

Satu Salminen leads AI HR Transformation at ZoomInfo. Before stepping to this role, she was leading the global Talent Management & Development function at ZoomInfo. Satu is also an advisory board member for the Corporate Learning Network, and an advisor to an AI coaching company Pinnacle. Satu has over 20 years of experience in the Learning & Development space, from onboarding to executive development. Before joining ZoomInfo, she led the L&D functions for GitLab, PureStorage and Polycom, and Manager Development for Meta/ Facebook. Earlier in her career, she was in various L&D roles at Nokia and Kone.

ATD-SD Monthly Authors' Workshop (Sat, May 02, 2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Date: Saturday, May 2nd, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM PST

Location: Virtual (link shared in registration email)

About the Facilitator:

Mentorship Program: Building Connections Through Play (Thu, May 07, 2026)

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:30:00 GMT

Date & Time: Thursday, May 7 2026 • 5:30 – 7:30 PM (PDT)
Location: San Diego Humane Society – Main Auditorium, 5500 Gaines St, San Diego, CA 92110
Registration: Mentorship cohort members only (free)

It’s time to up the bonding! This fun, fast‑paced game show invites mentors and mentees to learn surprising facts about one another. Through trivia and team challenges, you’ll forge deeper connections and discover shared interests. Expect prizes, laughter and new friendships.

In this session you will:

Participate in a professionally facilitated game show designed to encourage collaboration and friendly competition.
Share little‑known facts and stories about yourself to build trust and camaraderie.
Identify common interests that can enrich your mentoring conversations.

You will leave with:

A stronger sense of community within your cohort.
A deeper understanding of your partner’s experiences and aspirations.
Practical ideas for making mentorship meetings engaging and fun.

Host: John Grindle is founder of Grin Events, San Diego’s premier team‑building company. Grin Events is known for delivering fun, interactive in‑person and virtual team‑building experiences that spark connection and creativity. John’s contagious energy will ensure everyone leaves smiling.

https://grin.events/

Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. By registering, you acknowledge that photographs and/or videos may be taken at the event and used for chapter marketing purposes.

Note: Attendance at all onsite cohort gathering sessions is required for program completion. By attending, you acknowledge that photographs and/or videos may be taken at the event and used for chapter marketing purposes.

Recertification Credits: 1 ATD recertification point; SHRM/HRCI credit pending approval.

Change Management while building Resilience (Fri, May 22, 2026)

Fri, 22 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Date: Friday, May 22, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST

Location: Virtual (link shared in registration email)

Today’s session addresses a challenge leaders across every organization are facing: “Change Management while building Resilience”

Our speaker, Latisha B. Russell, is a recognized Emotional Wellbeing and Executive Coach with more than 20 years of corporate HR leadership experience. She has worked with organizations such as The Walt Disney Company, Bank of America, and Johns Hopkins, helping leaders navigate burnout, change, and high-pressure environments.

Latisha brings a rare combination of business credibility and human insight, grounded in her experience as a former senior HR leader, certified DiSC facilitator, and author of The Naked Truth.

SPEAKER: Latisha B. Russell | Emotional Wellbeing & Executive Coach | Speaker

Latisha B. Russell is a recognized Emotional Wellbeing and Leadership Strategist who helps high-achieving leaders sustain performance without sacrificing themselves. With over 20 years of corporate HR leadership and executive coaching experience, she has supported organizations including The Walt Disney Company, Bank of America, Johns Hopkins, Capital One, and the Federal Aviation Administration through leadership burnout, organizational change, and high-pressure transformation.

Before stepping onto stage, Latisha held various senior HR leadership roles. She later led restructuring and engagement initiatives that generated significant bottom-line impact across multiple organizations.

Today, as Founder of Latisha B. Russell LLC and Co-Founder of Russell Craigwell Consulting, Latisha works with executives and leadership teams navigating visibility, uncertainty, and sustained demand. Through her signature frameworks, including SHIFT and Mental Toughness Without Burnout, she equips leaders to protect capacity, lead with clarity, and build emotionally intelligent cultures that last.

A former adjunct professor, certified DiSC facilitator, and author of The Naked Truth, Latisha brings both professional rigor and lived experience to every engagement, reminding leaders that effective leadership begins with humanity.

Mentorship Program: Leveraging Strengths to Succeed (Thu, June 04, 2026)

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:30:00 GMT

Date & Time: Thursday, June 4 2026 • 5:30 – 7:30 PM (PDT)
Location: San Diego Humane Society – Main Auditorium, 5500 Gaines St, San Diego, CA 92110
Registration: Mentorship cohort only (free)

Great mentors understand and leverage their strengths. During this CliftonStrengths workshop, you’ll identify your top talents, explore how to honor them and learn to communicate them effectively. A 30‑minute interactive exercise will help you pinpoint your top five strengths, followed by group discussion on applying them in mentorship and career development.

In this session you will:

Complete a strengths‑based assessment to uncover your natural talents.
Discuss ways to honor and develop your unique strengths and those of your mentee.
Practice articulating your strengths and how they contribute to professional success.

You will leave with:

An individualized strengths profile and action plan.
Techniques for leveraging strengths to overcome challenges and stay engaged.
Inspiration from a quote about focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses.

Speaker: Reuben Poon is a CliftonStrengths consultant and coach who has used his own experience navigating Asperger’s syndrome to harness strengths and empower others. Through workshops and coaching, Reuben has helped individuals and teams at organizations with $10M+ payrolls identify and leverage their unique talents. His empathetic approach transforms self‑awareness into action.

https://www.reubenpoon.com/

Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. By registering, you acknowledge that photographs and/or videos may be taken at the event and used for chapter marketing purposes.

Recertification Credits: 1 ATD recertification point; SHRM/HRCI credit pending approval.

Mentorship Program: Graduation & Celebration (Thu, July 02, 2026)

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:30:00 GMT

Date & Time: Thursday, July 2 2026 • 5:30 – 7:30 PM (PDT)
Location: San Diego Humane Society – Main Auditorium, 5500 Gaines St, San Diego, CA 92110
Registration: Mentorship cohort only (free)

Our final gathering celebrates your achievements and invites you to pay it forward. A panel of past mentors and mentees will share stories of how mentorship has impacted their careers, offering practical ways to continue giving back. We’ll explore opportunities to volunteer with the chapter, serve on committees and become future mentors.

In this session you will:

Hear success stories from graduates of prior cohorts and learn how mentorship changed their trajectories.
Discuss the ripple effect of mentorship and how to create your own legacy.
Celebrate your cohort’s journey with certificates and networking.

You will leave with:

A renewed commitment to cultivating the next generation of talent.
Concrete ideas for volunteering and serving within ATD San Diego.
A deeper appreciation for the impact of mentorship and the power of paying it forward.

Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. By registering, you acknowledge that photographs and/or videos may be taken at the event and used for chapter marketing purposes.

Recertification Credits: 1 ATD recertification point; SHRM/HRCI credit pending approval.