Association for Talent Development - Rochester Chapter Inc upcoming events

ATD Mid-Atlantic Webinar Series: The Conversation Clinic - Elevating Your Work Conversations and Workshops (Wed, July 29, 2026)

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT

We’ve all seen work conversations fall apart or veer off course. There’s a rambunctious attendee. A meeting is going in circles with no sense of closure. No one is contributing. And we all intuitively know what gets lost when that happens -- momentum slows, tension heightens, and at worst, trust deteriorates. And yet, especially in everyday work, we treat this like an inevitability. I am here to offer an alternative: everyday work conversations CAN feel energized, action-inspiring, and efficient. I developed a framework after consistent feedback about my own facilitation style and sought to “bottle up” the most repeatable aspects of my approach. I am excited to share the model and exchange ideas with this audience on how to elevate conversations.

ATD being quite an advanced audience in this respect, this workshop is meant to add another tool to the toolbox to help members add more rigor to how they design meetings or conversations related to work. It is also why I am prioritizing a part of the session called “the clinic” -- I want the group to consult each other LIVE using the framework. The structure of the session will have 3 parts:

Part 1: Introduce the framework

Part 2: Practice with scenarios

Part 3: Part 3: 2-3 “Live cases”

This will be the “centerpiece” of the engagement and a chance for ATD members to learn from each other while supporting other members. For this part of the session, I would like 2-3 people to PRESUBMIT either 1.) A meeting or session they have COMING up that they would welcome support with, or 2.) A consequential conversation they had in the past that the group can just use as an example. Using the framework, the group will riff on core objectives (mission), potential exercises (mountains), and traps to avoid (methods).

This event is hosted by the ATD Metro DC Chapter.

About the Presenter

Kashay Sanders
Kashay Sanders, LLC

Kashay deeply believes in the transformative power of great conversations. She first learned to facilitate as a college student, leading groups in planning events meant to foster understanding across differences. Since then, she has gotten to refine and deploy this skillset across myriad environments--from a girls' empowerment social enterprise in India to a Fortune 100 company.

After 14 years, she has an informed point of view about what makes conversations great vs. counterproductive and is ready to transform workplaces by sharing these insights.

Kashay holds a B.A. in Women’s & Gender Studies from Dartmouth College and an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Regional Webinar Series

The ATD Metro DC Chapter is proud to participate in the ATD Mid-Atlantic Regional Webinar Series. This monthly series is offered by the ATD Mid-Atlantic Chapters —Regional Programs Consortium.

ATD Recertification Credits

ATD Mid-Atlantic Regional Webinar Programs are pre-approved through the ATD Greater Philadelphia Chapter by the ATD Certification Institute for continuing education credits. These credits are based on the ATD Capability Model may be applied towards recertification by Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credential holders.

This webinar supports 1.25 credits in the capabilities Collaboration & Leadership and Communication under the domain Building Personal Capability.

The presentation and materials will be shared after the event. This webinar will be recorded.

Online Event Recording Policy

By activating your webcam while attending this online event, you consent to be recorded. Your entry and webcam activation constitutes your consent to such recording for any purpose in connection with the event. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not activate your web camera during the event.

ROC ATD Exchange: Day One Done Right! (Wed, August 12, 2026)

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Join us for an open discussion on creating exceptional onboarding experiences that help new employees feel welcomed, connected, and set up for success. We'll explore:

The value of early engagement
Strategies for making a lasting first impression
The key moments that shape an employee's onboarding journey from pre-boarding and orientation through to integration, productivity, and long-term belonging.

Bring your recommendations, challenges, lessons learned, and best practices as we exchange ideas, share successes, and discuss opportunities to enhance the onboarding experience for every new hire.

Doors will open at 5 PM. Pizza and refreshments will be provided.

Together, let's discover what it takes to turn a first day into a great start.

High-Performing Organizations Start With a Strong Learning Culture (Thu, September 24, 2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Organizations that invest in how their people learn, not just what they learn, consistently outperform those that don't.* This hands-on workshop explores the science behind skill building, memory, and retention, giving participants a practical framework for designing training and knowledge systems that actually stick. Drawing on neuroscience research, we will examine why one-and-done training fails, what it takes to build genuine competence, and how a culture that values learning, practice, and the confidence to ask questions creates teams that are more capable, more autonomous, and more resilient.

Participants will leave with a working understanding of instructional design fundamentals, a high-level map of knowledge system options available to most organizations, and a set of practical tools they can apply immediately to a real training need within their own organization. Whether you are an HR professional, a manager, a trainer, or a subject matter expert who has been asked to build something and is not sure where to start, this workshop meets you where you are and gives you a foundation to move forward with confidence.

* Kern, R. (2023, September 21). Proving the ROI value of learning and development investments. Kern and Partners.

Meet Our Speaker!

Sarah Demaray is a Senior E-Learning and Training Strategist and the founder of CleverEd Solutions, a certified women-owned instructional design and knowledge systems consultancy. She specializes in transforming expert knowledge into clear, engaging, and results-driven learning experiences grounded in the science of how people learn. She has designed learning solutions across industries including aerospace, construction, and quality management, healthcare systems, corporate environments, and non-profit and social impact organizations.

Beyond course design, Sarah advises organizations on building the knowledge ecosystems that support learning long after the training ends, helping teams become more confident, more autonomous, and better equipped to find the right answers in the right places. With degrees in human development, curriculum development, and instructional technology, she brings a deeply learner-centered, human-first approach to every engagement.

Doors open at 5 PM for this program.