ATD Greater Cleveland upcoming events

Transitioning to Learning & Development: A Panel Discussion (May 07, 2026)

Thu, 07 May 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Navigating Your Learning & Development (L&D) Career Transition

Hear from professionals who have moved from teaching or other fields into instructional design, curriculum development and corporate training facilitation. We’ll discuss how they made the transition, what they wish they’d known, and what education or credentials helped. Bring your questions and get honest answers.

This session ties to the ATD Capability Model in the following areas:

Career and Leadership Development
Lifelong Learning

Program Details

Date	Thursday, May 7, 2026
Time	6:00pm – 7:00pm - Session
Location	Virtual Zoom Meeting
Cost	Current ATD Greater Cleveland Chapter Members: $10 Current Members of any Ohio ATD Chapter: $10 Non-Members & Guests: $15

Presenters: Robyn Needham, Heather Bambam and Barbara Hueter

Robyn Needham is a former elementary school educator (kindergarten and theatre arts) who transitioned into corporate Learning & Development. Now in her second year as Program Manager of Career & Growth at Mazzella Companies, she designs virtual instructor-led and eLearning programs, provides internal career coaching, and builds early-career pipelines through a rotational program and partnerships with local high schools and colleges.

Robyn currently serves as VP of Programs and Services for the Association of Talent Development (ATD) Greater Cleveland chapter and is certified in Adult Learning Theory through ATD.

Heather Bambam is an accomplished education professional with 17 years of experience spanning K–12, higher education, non-profit, and corporate settings. As President & CEO of BAM Education Solutions, LLC, she brings deep expertise in curriculum development, team leadership, and project management — with a proven track record of driving program growth, quality, and accessibility at organizations including the Great Lakes Science Center, Nature Masterminds, and Drink Local Drink Tap.

Heather holds a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Cleveland State University and a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Kent State University, with K–12 endorsements in Technology and Reading. A lifelong learner and advocate for equitable education, she has served on the Women in Leadership Advisory Board at Ashland University and believes that, "Education should be an individualized, sustainable, and accessible experience for all." Learn more at bameducationsolutions.org.

Barbara Hueter is a Learning & Development leader with a talent for making complex work feel clear, doable, and even fun. She began her career as a high school Spanish teacher in Chicago and Montgomery County, MD, where she built strong instructional skills and a deep respect for the many ways people learn. Her move into adult learning grew naturally out of her work with the Montgomery County Education Association, where she helped teachers develop as leaders and led engagement efforts. Today, Barbara designs practical, people‑centered learning experiences that meet real performance needs. She’s also fluent in the tools that keep modern L&D running — from LMS platforms to e- authoring tools — and uses them to support learning that works for both people and business.

Please contact programs@atdgreatercleveland.org with event / registration questions.

New and Prospective Member Welcome (May 13, 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

New and Prospective Member Welcome

New to ATD Greater Cleveland (ATD GC) or curious about what our chapter offers within Northeast Ohio? Whether you a new member or considering membership, please join us for a free welcome and orientation so that you can take advantage of everything that our local chapter has to offer. The session is facilitated by ATD GC board members and we will chat about member benefits, our in-person and virtual events, ways that you can get involved, and the opportunities to connect with others in the community. Please join us!

This session ties to the ATD Capability Model in the following areas:

Building Professional Capability
Networking and Partnering

Program Details

Date	Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time	12:00pm – 12:45pm - Session
Location	Virtual Zoom Meeting
Cost	This event is FREE!

Presenter: Megan Last

Megan Last, CPTD, BCP, is a senior manager with over 20 years of experience in learning and organizational development. Her primary focus is on talent development, organizational development, and onboarding. As a certified professional in training and development (CPTD) through the Association for Talent Development (ATD), Megan is involved in the design and delivery of information and has experience designing curriculum enterprise wide, both online and in-person. Megan is a certified Training Generalist from Langevin Learning Services (the world’s largest train-the-trainer company). In addition, Megan is a Birkman Certified Professional (BCP) who specializes in individual performance and group dynamics training. The Birkman Method is a psychological instrument that measures social expectations, self‐concepts, interests, and stress behavior through a single assessment; it is useful to both organizations and individuals for selection and development of employees.

Please contact programs@atdgreatercleveland.org with event / registration questions.

ATD Greater Cleveland Social Hour - Meet & Greet (June 18, 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:30:00 GMT

ATD Greater Cleveland Social Hour

Join us for some time to have a chat, share a snack, spin a prize wheel, and make new local connections among learning and development professionals.

We will supply the appetizers, bring yourself, and join us for drinks and some great conversations. We look forward to connecting with you!

Registration is FREE for members and non-members. Please register so we know how many to accommodate in our space.

Event Details

Date	Thursday, June 18, 2026
Time	5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location	The Oak Barrel 5975 Canal Road Valley View, OH 44125
Cost	Registration: FREE for members and non-members Appetizers are on us!

Please contact programs@atdgreatercleveland.org with event / registration questions.

From Trainer to L&D Leader: Coaching, Feedback and Influence Skills (September 17, 2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Transitioning into L&D Leadership Roles

Stepping into L&D leadership requires a shift from delivering content to driving results through others. Certified (CPCC) coach Candice Gouge will show you how to navigate this transition by mastering the "soft" skills that define a Director-level professional. You’ll explore how to flex your communication style for different personality types, use proven frameworks to pitch ideas to leadership with confidence, and lead meetings that actually get results. Through practical coaching scenarios and feedback models, you’ll leave with a toolkit for influencing stakeholders and leading your team with greater clarity and impact.

This session ties to the ATD Capability Model in the following areas:

Building Professional Capability
Networking and Partnering

Program Details

Date	Thursday, September 17, 2026
Time	5:30pm – 6:30pm - Session
Location	Virtual Zoom Meeting
Cost	Current ATD Greater Cleveland Chapter Members: $10 Current Members of any Ohio ATD Chapter: $10 Non-Members & Guests: $15

Presenter: Candice Gouge

As a certified coach and L&D expert, Candice Gouge thrives on helping teams and leaders bridge the gap between strategy and execution. She specializes in creating strong organizational structures that allow learning functions to scale and succeed on a global level. Candice’s philosophy is simple: leadership is about driving excellence through others.

Please contact programs@atdgreatercleveland.org with event questions.

ATD Greater Cleveland Holiday Meet & Greet (December 03, 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 22:00:00 GMT

ATD Greater Cleveland Holiday Social Hour

Join us for some time to have a chat, share a snack, spin a prize wheel, and make new local connections among learning and development professionals.

We will supply the appetizers, bring yourself, and join us for drinks and some great conversations. We look forward to connecting with you!

Registration is FREE for members and non-members. Please register so we know how many to accommodate in our space. Questions? Please email programs@atdgreatercleveland.org.

Event Details

Date	Thursday, December 3, 2026
Time	5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location	The Hooley Pub & Kitchen 10310 Cascade Crossing Brooklyn, OH 44144
Cost	Registration: FREE for members and non-members Appetizers are on us!