ATD Chicagoland Chapter upcoming events

How to... build a mentor program (September 30, 2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Build a High-Impact Mentoring Program That Drives Results

Looking to create a mentoring program that develops talent, strengthens engagement, and builds future leaders? Join us for this one-hour webinar and learn how to design, launch, and sustain a mentoring program that delivers measurable value for your organization.

Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to improve an existing initiative, you'll gain practical strategies, proven best practices, and ready-to-use tools to help you succeed.

In this webinar, you'll learn how to:

Define clear goals and outcomes for your mentoring program
Design a program structure that fits your organization's culture and needs
Recruit, match, and prepare mentors and mentees for success
Establish expectations, resources, and support throughout the mentoring journey

You'll leave with a practical framework and actionable next steps to confidently build a mentoring program that fosters growth, strengthens your workforce, and supports organizational success.

Speaker:

Joining us from ATD - Austin, Chan McDermott.

Chan McDermott has had a long career in Texas state government, primarily in Health and Human Services (HHS). Her career focus has been on leadership and workforce development, public health, maternal child health, health education and community mobilization. Chan’s most recent role was as the workforce development coordinator at a largestate agency.

Chan has developed and implemented small-scale and large-scale mentoring programs. She has also provided technical assistance and support to a non-profit organization’s mentoring program which includes 1:1 mentoring and peer mentoring.

Talent Truths: Ask Me Anything with Katrina Kennedy (October 28, 2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Join ATD Chicagoland for a one-hour Ask Me Anything with Katrina Kennedy. This session will spotlight what is shaping the world of talent development today, from leadership development and workforce strategy to emerging trends and innovation.

Then, the conversation opens to you. Bring your questions, challenges, and curiosities for an honest, unscripted discussion with a leader who is actively doing the work.

About Katrina Kennedy

Katrina, known as the "trainer's trainer,” is a facilitator, speaker, and author with 25+ years in learning and development. Author of the book, Learning That Lasts, she has helped thousands of subject matter experts design and deliver engaging learning experiences in a variety of industries.

How to... Build Resilience for Change (November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

With digital transformation, AI and more, change is hitting teams harder than ever— and as a td practitioner, you're the one trying to steady the ship while everyone else is trying to find their footing. This session is about helping the people around you build real resilience, not just push through. We'll cover why change triggers resistance, how to spot stress points before they turn into burnout or disengagement, and practical ways to coach your stakeholders toward a more proactive, grounded mindset. Walk away with tools you can start using with your stakeholders right away!

Learning Outcomes:

Recognize change resistance in others — understand what drives it and identify the individual stressors your stakeholders may be experiencing.
Coach reframing and stability habits that help leaders and stakeholders stay grounded and manage their own change response more effectively.
Guide your impacted stakeholders from reactive to proactive — and build accountability practices that reinforce resilient behaviors

We're excited to hear from our speaker, Michelle Yanahan:

Michelle Yanahan, Principal and Owner of ChangeFit 360, is a change management thought leader with proven expertise in executing change programs that enhance and grow organizational change management as a strategic business competency.

Michelle has 25 +years of experience in leadership roles in operations, change and project management office (PMO) development.

Michelle holds a Masters in Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University as well as CCMP and Prosci ADKAR change management certifications.

ChangeFit 360 has been recognized by ACMP, ATD, SHRM and ICF as a qualified education provider in support of their professional certifications and is proud to hold a >90% customer satisfaction rate for the past 5 years running.