Architects of a
Reimagined Workplace

Artrell Williams is a learning and development leader, facilitator, and L&D entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience designing and delivering learning solutions across manufacturing, telecommunications, nonprofit, and community-based organizations. He is the Founder of Mukeva Learning Partners, where he helps organizations and individuals turn learning expertise into meaningful impact—inside and beyond traditional workplaces. Artrell’s work focuses on leadership development, learning strategy, knowledge transfer, and the creation of scalable learning assets. He is a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD), Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM), and a Gamification Master Craftsman. In addition to consulting and facilitation, Artrell creates content through workshops, speaking engagements, writing, and podcasting—exploring how L&D professionals can design their own work and build sustainable learning-driven careers.

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Becky Willis is a modern learning strategist, speaker, and author focusing on learning engagement and technology. As a founder and chief learning officer at Tractus Learning, she helps businesses design, develop, and improve learning solutions. Previously, she was the VP of Engagement at EdCast and led Learning Innovation & Strategy at HPE and HP, as well as other leadership positions in HR, Sales and Marketing. A thought leader in the field of learning platforms and strategy, Becky’s ATD book, 7 Steps to Better Learning Engagement Driving Business Results is available from ATD and Amazon.

Bryant Alexander Jr., PCC is a leadership coach, learning designer, and MBSR instructor who helps organizations design learning and performance systems that hold under pressure. He has designed and facilitated 200+ instructor-led learning experiences, integrating decision science, stress physiology, and evidence-based mindfulness to improve attention, judgment, and skill transfer. Bryant is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and a Prosci Change Management Practitioner, with a focus on practical learning design that supports sustainable performance.

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Biography coming soon.

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Devin C. Hughes isn’t your average Learning & Development speaker unless your average speaker has TED-worthy humor, a black belt in culture transformation, and a résumé spanning Disney to the Department of Defense. An award-winning speaker and author, Devin helps leaders move beyond checking the engagement box to actually igniting it (the good kind of fire). Known for turning stale workplaces into connected, high-performing cultures, he blends sharp insight, real talk, and just enough sarcasm to make big topics like belonging, civility, and communication stick. Named one of Peoplehum’s Top 200 Thought Leaders to Watch, Devin has worked with Fortune 100 companies, startups, and mission-driven organizations ready to build workplaces people don’t just tolerate—but truly want to be part of.

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Donovan is an experienced global business leader, an international executive coach, and a leadership and organizational development consultant. With over 15 years of experience in corporate strategy, talent management, leadership development, and executive coaching, Donovan has successfully worked with Fortune 500 companies and on transformation efforts in North America, Europe, and Asia across various industries, including healthcare, government, the food industry, and professional services. Currently, Donovan advises executives and leadership teams on their most critical business challenges.

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Biography coming soon.

Dr. Lawrence E. Henderson, Jr. is a Leadership and Professional Development Consultant, Doctor of Organizational Leadership, and founder of Business Operational Support Services (BOSS), LLC. His research on trust, autonomy, and employee engagement — spanning healthcare, technology, government, and higher education — established a direct link between leadership development and organizational performance. He is the author of client-facing work for leaders and staffs that focus on building capability, also that include BOSS Senior Executive Masterclass Series, a flagship program helping senior leaders replace control-based habits with capacity-building systems that drive trust, ownership, and results. Dr. Henderson brings a rare dual credibility: the empirical rigor of a researcher and the practical tools of a consultant who works inside organizations navigating real pressure. His work equips leaders at every level to let go of what is limiting their people.

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Biography coming soon.

Eileen Nebhut is the founder of Venus Rising and an executive presence advisor who helps high-performing leaders become clear, credible, and enterprise-ready in how they show up and lead. With a background in business development across energy efficiency, fintech, and CPG, she has built trusted partnerships across industries and geographies by leading with clarity, credibility, and intention. Eileen holds an Executive MBA from Georgia Tech and degrees from Vanderbilt University and Christie’s London, bringing a unique blend of business, psychology, and visual intelligence to her work. She also serves as an Advocate Member of OnBoard and Board Member of Girl Talk, Inc., advancing leadership confidence, voice, and presence.

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National University is a regionally accredited, veteran-founded nonprofit based in San Diego, CA. Our online division is supported by the Workforce & Community Education division. Organizations are constantly changing, challenging employees to develop new skills in order to adapt to the evolving workforce – which is why providing access to the necessary training and education is beneficial to both your staff and your business. National University Workforce and Community Education is rethinking the way we approach students and collaboration with industry partners to identify your needs and help you attract, educate, and retain great employees.

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Felicia Littlejohn, Ph.D., is a leadership development professional who partners with leaders and organizations to strengthen influence, develop strategic thinking, and achieve meaningful outcomes. She helps leaders through coaching, facilitated learning, and thoughtfully designed leadership development programs. Felicia is an ICF Certified Professional Coach, holds a Ph.D. in Engineering, an M.B.A. in Marketing, and an M.Ed. in Instructional Design, and is an active member of the ATD South Carolina Strategic Partnerships committee.

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Jacqueline Grant, MBA, PMP, is a Workforce Systems Architect, speaker, and founder of The Management Academy, LLC and TrainTheTrades, LLC. She specializes in workforce transformation, talent development strategy, employer alignment, and AI-informed workforce readiness. Jacqueline has led learning, leadership development, and organizational growth initiatives across corporate, nonprofit, government, and workforce ecosystems, including leadership roles with Reuters/Thomson Financial, YMCA, Girl Scouts of the USA, and PMI Atlanta, where she served as Vice President of Professional Growth. An accepted SHRM26 conference presenter, Jacqueline is also the author of Career Connection Formula™: How to Get Seen, Get Chosen, and Navigate AI-Driven Hiring Systems. She helps organizations bridge the gap between training completion and workplace performance through practical strategies that strengthen readiness, retention, hiring confidence, and organizational capability.

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Jazmin Webster is the Founder and Chief Learning Curator of The Quality Experience, LLC, where she helps individuals and organizations thrive through human-centered learning experiences. With 20+ years in Learning & Development, she is known for designing learning strategies that connect people, culture, and performance. An internationally published author and keynote speaker, Jazmin specializes in onboarding transformation, culture-building through learning, gamified learning experiences, leadership development, and workforce development strategy. She is passionate about helping professionals build confidence, connection, and habits that support long-term success. Jazmin has also served in multiple ATD chapter leadership roles, most recently as Immediate Past President for ATD St. Louis. Guided by her motto, “Be Better,” she believes continuous improvement begins with reflection, curiosity, and learning from every experience.

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Jennifer F. Williams is a global talent and leadership development executive with 15+ years of experience building leadership pipelines, accelerating succession readiness, and driving workforce performance across Fortune 500 organizations including Mastercard, Meta, and WarnerMedia. Known for translating business strategy into scalable talent solutions, she has expanded VP+ pipelines by 32%, achieved 92% post-promotion retention, and improved team effectiveness through targeted executive development. Jennifer combines data-driven insights with AI-enabled learning to advise senior leaders on capability building and organizational performance. She holds an M.S. in Instructional Technology from Georgia State University and a B.S. in Marketing from Hampton University.

Biography coming soon.

Joseph A. Chabot started his love of learning with a philosophy degree from Michigan State University. It was there he learned from Aristotle's teachings that in life and learning we move from experience (learning about something), to knowledge (knowing about something), to wisdom (being able to use that knowledge effectively, actually doing something). He often jokes sardonically that very few of us ever make it all the way to wisdom. That idea, that wisdom demands more than just knowing things, sent Joe on a journey to understand how people move from learning to actually doing.

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Juli Shulem, M.S., PCC, CPC is a Productivity Coach and Industrial-Organizational Psychologist with over 40 years of experience helping executives, business owners, and professionals improve organization, time management, and leadership effectiveness. She works extensively with professionals who have ADHD, guiding them to create structure, develop sustainable systems, and enhance follow-through in demanding environments. Juli’s global clientele includes leaders from Fortune 100 and 500 companies. She provides coaching on strategic skills such as communication, delegation, and conflict resolution, and she is a sought-after speaker known for delivering actionable, results-driven strategies. The author of three books on organization and productivity, Juli has contributed to national publications, written regular columns, and appeared on numerous podcasts. She is recognized for her practical approach that empowers individuals and teams to reduce overwhelm and achieve lasting success.

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Julia Arpag is the CEO & founder of tech recruitment company Aligned Recruitment. She built a 7-figure firm in less than 2 years through grit, determination, and expert hiring strategies. She has helped hundreds of leaders hire exceptional talent through her work as a recruitment leader, speaker, and executive coach. She lives in Atlanta GA with her 2 adorable sons, her delightful husband, and their 2 crazy dogs. She’s an expert in: Values-based leadership A-player hiring People-first culture Scaling fast AND smart Selling your services without selling your soul

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Kaleitha is an accomplished and passionate Learning& Development leader with 20 years of experience int he field. Her practice focuses on employee, career and leadership development through coaching, consulting, and facilitation. At Noetic Talent Consulting, we believe that every organization has its own unique challenges and opportunities. That's why we offer personalized services to help you achieve your specific talent development and leadership objectives. We take the time to get to know you and your organization, working closely with you to create customized solutions that meet your needs. From leadership coaching to teambuilding, change management to succession planning, and employee engagement, we are committed to partnering with you to drive organizational performance and success.

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Kamber Parker Bowden is the Founder and CEO of Generational Performance Solutions (GPS), a workforce strategy firm that helps organizations navigate generational change, strengthen leadership, and drive performance across today’s multigenerational teams. A keynote speaker, researcher, and author of The Generational Advantage, Kamber works with organizations across industries—including manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, automotive, and more—to translate generational insights into practical leadership strategies. Her work focuses on helping leaders improve communication, develop emerging talent, and build systems that keep pace with a rapidly evolving workforce. Through data-driven insights and practical frameworks, Kamber equips leaders with tools to strengthen trust, retention, and performance across generations.

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Biography coming soon.

Kiffin McCoy-Albert is an advocate for empowering learners, a proponent of asking "Is training the answer?", and has been called the "Queen of bucketing" for her natural inclination to categorize information, turning scattered pieces into a completed puzzle. With 20 years of experience in the corporate learning space spanning across multiple industries, including healthcare, logistics, education, and non-profit, Kiffin specializes in designing and implementing comprehensive Learning and Talent Development (L&TD) programs tailored to meet the unique needs and objectives of each organization. Kiffin believes strongly in building relationships within the professional community and continuing her own learning. She has a Master's Degree with a corporate training emphasis from Middle Tennessee State University, is a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) through the Association for Talent Development (ATD), and is a Past President of the ATD Nashville Chapter.

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Kimberly Brown is a globally recognized career and leadership strategist, bestselling author, and international keynote speaker. As the founder and CEO of Brown Leadership®, a premier learning and development firm, she helps mid-career and senior professionals amplify their brands, accelerate growth, and drive performance. Her bestselling book, Next Move, Best Move: Transitioning Into a Career You'll Love, has empowered thousands to take control of their careers with strategy and confidence. She also hosts the Your Next Move Podcast, where she shares actionable insights on career advancement. A trusted expert, Kimberly’s work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, CNBC, NPR, and more.

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LaQuin Taylor is a learning and development professional with over a decade of experience optimizing L&D functions across global organizations in the healthcare, restaurant and manufacturing industries. She is passionate about driving business performance by cultivating high-impact cultures of learning. With a strong focus on strategic development, process improvement and aligning learning initiatives with business goals, LaQuin helps organizations unlock the full potential of their people. She believes the business of learning is powered by people — advocating for teams to become strategic partners and unleash untapped opportunities. LaQuin holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and information sciences, a master’s degree in instructional design and development, and is a Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM). She is also committed to creating pathways for other L&D professionals to grow through mentorship, scholarship and community-building.

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Lauren is the founder of Harmonna, a consultancy that partners with organizations to transform culture and optimize human performance at scale. Drawing on her background in finance, leadership development, and elite athletics, she helps leadership teams identify and resolve the nervous system-level drivers of burnout, disengagement, and underperformance. Her trauma-informed, evidence-based approach enhances decision-making, cohesion, and resilience, creating conditions for sustained high performance without compromising wellbeing. Organizations turn to Lauren when they recognize that the cost of disconnection is too high, and that real change starts from within.

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Biography coming soon.

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The Youth Development Learning Development Team supports Boys & Girls Clubs in building strong cultures of learning that strengthen staff practices and drive positive youth outcomes. We help Clubs create environments where learning is valued, encouraged, and embedded into daily work in service of their mission and goals. Our work includes coaching and consultation on the systems and structures needed to sustain staff development and developing tools and resources that support key management practices like effective onboarding and continuous skill building. We also oversee a trainer certification program which is one of the drivers that helps Clubs build internal capacity to support ongoing staff learning.

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Maggie is a dynamic speaker who uses humor, storytelling, and practical research to make learning fun, provocative, and engaging. Over the past 15 years, she has helped leaders and organizations better understand leadership truths and inspired people to look at things differently. Prior to joining the TalentSmartEQ team, she spent over 10 years at the Center for Creative Leadership in various roles as a facilitator, consultant, coach and designer of leadership development solutions. Maggie is an adjunct professor at the California School of Professional Psychology and her forthcoming book, Friction: How Tension, Emotions, and Change Reveal Better Leaders helps leaders better understand the benefits of emotional friction and the importance of thinking of leadership as a series of experiments. Maggie received a Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology and a B.A. in psychology from University of California, Berkeley.

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Dr. Mari Sifo is a systems-trained cultural strategist and two-time public company CHRO. As CEO of Talent Management Consultants, she helps organizations build organizational capability, competency, and future readiness by reimagining talent strategy. As EVP and CHRO at Host Hotels & Resorts, she integrated people strategy and talent development into board-level conversations, proving that human-centered capability development and enterprise performance are inseparable. Dr. Sifo holds a PhD in Strategy from Kennesaw State University, has held executive responsibility across six continents, and is a sought-after speaker on organizational transformation and future-ready talent strategy.

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Meagan West is the founder of Westward Strategies, where she helps leaders strengthen culture, communication, and leadership through speaking, coaching, consulting, and training. With more than 20 years of experience in HR and organizational leadership, she brings practical insights and relatable storytelling to every audience. When she’s not working with clients, you’ll likely find her chasing sunshine, exploring new places, or encouraging others to rediscover the courage to be real.

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Megan Torrance is the CEO and founder of TorranceLearning, where she leads a team of learning experience designers & engineers in reimagining workplace learning. Her firm has served Fortune 1000 companies, major research universities, global professional associations, and federal agencies for over two decades. Megan brings a strategic vision that helps TorranceLearning bridge vision with execution—delivering innovative, data-informed, and learner-centered solutions. Megan is the author of Agile for Instructional Designers, Data & Analytics for Instructional Designers, Making Sense of xAPI and The AI Implementation Guide for L&D.

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Nicole Ghosten is a leadership development and change management professional with more than 20 years of experience helping leaders and teams navigate transformation with clarity, confidence, and purpose. She is the founder of NLG Leadership Solutions LLC, where she helps organizations develop leaders who move people and business outcomes forward. Nicole is a certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach, Trainer, and Speaker, a certified DISC consultant, and Past President of ATD Greater Atlanta.

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Patrice Williams-Lindo is a Workforce Futurist, Ethical AI Strategist, and CEO of Career Nomad™, known for challenging how organizations misread talent, misdiagnose performance, and misplace leadership accountability. With 20+ years of experience across Accenture, KPMG, and Deloitte, she brings a direct, non-echo chamber lens to workforce transformation in the age of AI. Featured in InformationWeek, Business Insider, and CNBC, her work focuses on one critical question: who gets seen, trusted, and chosen—and why. She equips leaders with practical systems to translate talent into visibility, decisions, and measurable impact.

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Rachel Watts, Ph.D., is co-founder of the Empowered People Leaders (EPL) program. Her research explores the intersections of adult learning, leadership, and organizational development. With a blend of academic rigor and practical insight, she turns complex ideas into clear, actionable practices for leaders. Rachel ensures EPL's work is rooted in evidence and discovery to help leaders not only understand what works but also why it works, enabling them to lead with purpose and confidence.

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Dr. Ramien R. Pierre is Chief Learning Officer at Break the Norm Leadership and an accomplished workforce development, leadership development and instructional design expert. With more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in talent development and behavior design. A seasoned speaker and facilitator, he has presented sessions at ACE and ATD International Conference & EXPO on designing learning programs that shift mindsets, drive results and challenge conventional learning models.

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Kizzy Garrick: Kizzy holds a B.B.A. in Operations Management and dual M.S. degrees in Organizational Leadership and Communication. She began her learning career as a facilitator and content designer, which led naturally into instructional design. She enjoys creating impactful learning experiences and bringing creativity to company events. James Crowley: James is a Learning & Development Specialist who designs learning experiences that help people build skills, overcome barriers, and grow with confidence. Guided by empathy and a strong investment in learner success, he creates supportive environments where people feel capable and inspired. Detra Allen: Detra is a former high school educator with seven years of classroom experience. Now in instructional design, she uses her background in Communications and a master’s in Instructional Technology to turn complex ideas into clear, engaging learning experiences that build confidence and support practical application.

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Biography coming soon.

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Sarah Mercier, MBA, CPACC, is CEO of Build Capable, where she leads a team that champions research-based, accessible, data-driven digital learning. Known for translating complex technical concepts into real-world applications, Sarah specializes in innovative learning technology and strategic implementation. She brings together cross-functional teams to support a wide range of organizations, from community nonprofits to global enterprises. A published author and editor, her work includes Design for All Learners: Create Accessible and Inclusive Learning Experiences, ATD’s Trends in Learning Technology, TD Magazine, and more. Sarah is an international facilitator for the Association for Talent Development, past president of ATD Atlanta, and speaker on instructional design and learning technology strategy.

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Leaders don’t need more ideas, they need the clarity and courage to act on what matters most. As an executive and team coach, former agency leader and CMO, and TEDx speaker, Teresa Caro helps organizations move from insight to impact. Her keynotes combine powerful storytelling, behavioral science, and decades of real-world leadership to deliver what most talks miss: change that sticks. Each presentation shifts how leaders think, feel, and act, connecting vision to measurable outcomes across productivity, engagement, innovation, and retention. Because when leaders stop second-guessing priorities, build teams that thrive independently, and lead with creative courage, organizations don’t just perform better, they transform together.

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Theresa M. Ward spent more than a decade in the financial technology space, thriving in roles from sales to brand management to product innovation. While serving in those various positions, Theresa was often asked to build and lead the training for that role. So after fully embracing her superpower as a facilitator and educator, Theresa founded Fiery Feather in 2017, where she now conducts workshops on critical meta-skills such as self-awareness, persuasive communication, and navigating change. As her content is highly relevant to teams in every industry, Theresa has coached and trained over 5,000 individuals across Non-profits, Tech startups, Restaurant chains, Healthcare, and more. She recently delivered her first TEDx Talk in The Netherlands, on the power of embracing mistakes to optimize personal and professional growth. When not on stage, she can be found fly fishing with her fiancé, practicing yoga, or reading with her senior dogs by her side.

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Tony Ballard is a global human capital and talent transformation leader with a distinguished 20+ year career spanning the U.S. Air Force, the financial services industry, and academia, where he currently serves as an adjunct professor. With deep expertise in organizational development, he has designed and implemented enterprise-wide learning strategies, scaled mentorship programs that support over 200,000 employees, and influenced HR policies impacting a global workforce of more than 697,000. As the founder of an independent consulting practice, Tony provides one-on-one career readiness services to service members during their transition from military to civilian careers. He also partners with companies to design military veteran programs and serves as a keynote speaker, advocating for the inclusion of veterans in the civilian workforce. Tony is an adjunct professor and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration (Management) at Kennesaw State University.

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Venudhar Bhatt is a senior learning transformation professional specializing in corporate learning and technology-enabled solutions. With decades of experience, he has supported global organizations in designing impactful learning strategies and scalable capability-building ecosystems. He works at the intersection of AI and L&D, helping organizations identify skill gaps, personalize learning, and measure business impact. Known for bridging business and learning strategy, he brings a systems-thinking approach to building future-ready workforce capabilities across industries.

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Wendy Gates Corbett, CPTD is an organizational culture consultant, belonging researcher, and keynote speaker who partners with organizations to strengthen their workplace culture through practical, behavior-based approaches to belonging. She is also an adjunct professor of leadership and management in Duke University’s graduate engineering programs. Wendy is a respected leader in the training industry and has served as a leader within ATD for almost 30 years. She is a past member of the international board of directors for ATD and served as the SME for inclusion in ATD’s most recent review of its Body of Knowledge. Wendy’s programs are grounded in her research and bestselling book, The Energy of Belonging, Her work equips employees at all levels with actionable tools they can apply immediately to build healthier, more human workplaces.

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