American Society for Training & Development - Twin Cities Chapter

It's Here - the Regional Conference
is Better Than Ever!
by Jane Neumiller-Bustad, Spectrum Editor, Director of Interactive Communications

Over the past several issues of the Spectrum we've highlighted many of the speakers, vendors and sponsors of this year's conference and this issue continues those introductions. On November 14 and 15 you have the opportunity to learn from more than 30 speakers and presenters, 2 keynote presentations, 8 pre-conference workshops (including 4 that focus on OD skills), and an Exhibit Hall full of the latest in training and development technology and support.

Click here for the full conference agenda.

Registrations have jumped well past the last two years' attendance, and at least one of the pre-conference workshops is sold out. But - we still have room for you! We would love to have you join us, and if you and several co-workers attend, group rates are still available. We also have room for several additional sponsors/vendors; you have an opportunity to showcase your products and services and help your fellow professionals do their jobs more efficiently.

Click here to register for the conference or for more details.

Many hours of hard work have gone into the planning process in order to bring you the very best learning opportunity in the Twin Cities. Our rigorous selection process means we have national and international-level presenters speaking, and the caliber of the conference is comparable to a national event. In addition, you have the opportunity to network and meet other practitioners, and learn from each other.

View more conference details here:

• Schedule at a Glance
• Session Descriptions
• Speaker Biographies
• Get More Details Here
• View Exhibitor Floor Plan

Our Learning Directors Network (LDN) meets quarterly, and in November they'll be meeting at the RiverCentre for David Vance's pre-conference workshop. If you are a senior member of the learning and development profession in the Twin Cities, we welcome your participation! Please contact Mary Karlsson for information about the November meeting.

Don't forget - we have other excellent learning opportunities as well! On November 7, Danny Brown will conduct a live webinar on "Learning Measurement Tools to Drive Decision Making."

We are also partnering with the Manufacturers Alliance to bring you an educational program on December 8, "Developing Decision Makers: How Can You Maximize Staff Potential?" Click here to jump to the end of the newsletter for more information and other learning sessions.

I'd like to send a special "thank you" to Denise Patrick-Johnson, who provided articles over the last several Spectrum issues highlighting our pre-conference and conference keynote speakers. If you are looking forward to learning more, based on what you've read over the past several months, Denise gets the credit!

Our conference and our chapter run on volunteer power, like Denise's contributions! We are running a volunteer drive in conjunction with the Conference. Click here to learn more about ways to build your skills while helping the chapter. Sign up to volunteer and be present at the conference... and you could win an iPad.

See you at the RiverCentre in St. Paul on November 14-15, and together we'll enjoy the learning!

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ASTD-TCC Volunteers Needed!

Sign up for a role and you could win a gift card or iPad!

Sign up for a 2011-2012 ASTD-TCC volunteer role between now and the end of the Regional Conference on November 15, 2011, and you could win one of five gift cards ($20, $10 or $5 value) or even an iPad! All current and new volunteers are eligible.

Choose from dozens of volunteer roles ranging from a few hours (e.g. Monthly Meeting Greeter, Facebook Page Manager) to longer-term leadership opportunities (e.g. Regional Conference Committee, Spectrum Editor). Meet fellow learning professionals, polish your skills, and help our chapter grow!

To sign up now, click here to review the opportunities. If you would like to volunteer for an opening, please e-mail volunteer@astd-tcc.org.

Or, you can sign up at the ASTD-TCC booth at the Regional Conference on Nov. 15. Drawings will be held at the end of the conference in the main ballroom (iPad winner must be present).

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New Benefit Added for
Registered Conference Attendees!

A FREE Leadership Assessment

Gary Cohen, our opening Keynote speaker, in partnership with 4ROI, specialists in assessment system development, offers a rare opportunity to take the Just Ask Leadership Assessment for FREE!

This assessment will uncover your leadership style and inform you how to leverage your ability to maximize your organization's potential. Gary Cohen will also be leading a breakout session at the conference to help you interpret your results.

Registered conference attendees will receive this link to take the free assessment this week. If you are not yet registered, make sure you do so today to take advantage of this unique offer.

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Welcome to "Booth Bingo"!

We have many outstanding vendors and sponsors contributing to this year's Conference. To encourage you to visit with several of them, we're offering a "Booth Bingo" game! Pick up your Booth Bingo card when you check in for the conference. Visit vendor and sponsor booths in the Exhibit Hall and have at least 10 vendors sign your card. Once it's complete, sign and drop off your card for a chance to win one of our terrific prizes at the end of the day. Booth Bingo cards may be dropped off at the ASTD-TCC booth (#11/#12) in the exhibit hall.

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2011 Conference Presenters/Speakers

Take the Pain Out of Task Analysis for SMEs
by Deborah Laurel

If you rely on Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) when you design training programs, you know how time consuming and frustrating it can be for both of you to conduct a task analysis. In addition, after creating a comprehensive list of KSAs and analyzing them to determine what is essential, it is still possible to overlook key content. However, after this session, you will no longer need to put them through this misery. Why not? You will be able to replace the cumbersome task analysis process with one of two simple templates. You can use the first template to determine the key content for skill building training programs. You can use the second template to determine the key content for training programs that focus on changing attitudes. These templates will not only shave hours off of your design time, they will also ensure that your SMEs will stop avoiding your calls!

Deborah Spring Laurel has been a trainer and a consultant in the areas of workplace learning and performance improvement for mare than thirty years. She is nationally recognized as a quality trainer of training consultants and a specialist in technical curriculum design. She authored two Info-Lines: Conducting a Classroom Learning Audit (July 2007) and Jump-Start Your Learning Objectives (April 2008). She is also a contributing author for The Leadership Challenge Activities Book, by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner.

Deborah will be speaking in the morning on November 15.

Be the Ringmaster of Your Circus
By Jones Loflin

Reflect on the number of times in the past week have you said to yourself, "I have too much to do." Now ask yourself this question, "In the struggle to get it ALL done, what is NOT getting done?" In the session I will be providing at ASTD-TCC, I will share five strategies to help you better balance your time and energy on what is most important to you. This session is about solutions, not suggestions. And the best part about the mental blueprint I will be providing is that you will be able to recall the strategies as quickly as you can say the word "circus."

Jones will be speaking in the afternoon on November 15.

SuperStar Presentations: Building Skills and Confidence
By Gail Zack-Anderson, Applause, Inc.

Whether in the classroom, the boardroom, or in web-based training, we as workplace learning professionals need to manage our energy well, and to model the best delivery skills possible. If you have never taken time for a presentation skills class - or it has been years since your last one - this may be just the session you are looking for.

In this session, you will quickly be on your feet sharing your ideas and learning from your peers. You will have the chance to try out new skills, get feedback and even see yourself (privately) on video.

You will receive checklists for assessing your presentation skills and habits, and countless tips and suggestions you can use in your next training session or presentation. Join us to build SuperStar skills and confidence!

Gail Zack Anderson, President of Applause, Inc. leads workshops and provides individual coaching to help people create and deliver great presentations.

Gail will be teaching one of pre-conference workshops on November 14.

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Pre-Conference Highlight - Integrating OD with Strategic HR Roles and Functions with Dr. David Jamieson
by Denise Patrick-Johnson

The global organizational climate of today requires that human resource functions partner with company leaders and OD professionals in order to enact the changes needed to remain effective and competitive in the market. Dr. David Jamieson, a leading scholar and practitioner of OD and the Department Chair for St. Thomas' Organization Learning & Development Department, will give HR and OD professionals the opportunity to discuss and learn from each other what it means to build business partnerships and how best to do so at his ASTD-TCC Regional pre-conference session on Monday, November 14.

"Many companies won't be successful [today] if they cannot manage their human capital and create healthy organizations for people to work in," states Dr. Jamieson. His session focuses on equipping OD and HR professionals to best contribute to their company's success by:

• Understanding the value of the business partner role.
• Leveraging OD skills that can help HR leaders align and work with their companies.
• Knowing the current issues companies are facing where HR and OD can add high value.

By combining OD principles such as systems knowledge, diagnostic methods, facilitative skills, and data usage with HR areas such as talent management, compensation, and learning and development, HR professionals can change their roles to better align with the strategic objectives of the organization. This session also benefits OD consultants by giving them insights about how to better partner with the HR functions within the organizations they serve.

Dr. Jamieson will take participants through a series of activities to help HR and OD leaders assess where they are today and what they need to change. Together you find answers for questions such as:

• What are key areas where HR can partner?
• What can you do to change your role to be a more strategic partner?
• How can you apply strategic levels of thinking to talent management or other HR functions?
• How can learning and development help the organization grow, change, and meet company strategies?
• How can you look at problems through an organization systems lens?

Whether the business is a charity, government agency, or public or private company, HR and OD professionals need to understand the business in the same way the CEO understands the business. The more connected you are to the strategic business orientation, the better you are as a partner who can provide valuable services.

Dr. David Jamieson is Associate Professor & Department Chair, Organization Learning & Development, College of Applied Professional Studies at the University of St. Thomas. He is also President of the Jamieson Consulting Group, Inc., Practicum Director in the M.S. in Organization Development Program at American University/NTL and a Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Benedictine's Ph.D. in OD Program. He has 40 years of experience consulting to organizations on leadership, change, strategy, design and human resource issues. He is a Past National President of the American Society for Training and Development, Past Chair of the Management Consultation Division and Practice Theme Committee of the Academy of Management and currently serves as Education Liaison for the OD Network.

He is leading a pre-conference workshop on November 14.

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Pre-Conference Highlight - Igniting the Innovative Capacity of Individuals, Teams and the Organization
by Denise Patrick-Johnson

Dr. Jacqueline Byrd empowers people to take their creative ideas and drive them forward in the face of adversity. Dr. Byrd, an international consultant, author and speaker on the subjects of innovation, leadership and entrepreneurship and the creator of CreatrixTM, joins ASTD-TCC at the Regional Conference as a pre-session speaker. Her half-day session, "Igniting the Innovative Capacity of Individuals, Teams and the Organization," will help you assess and grow your innovative capacity and offer ideas for bringing innovation techniques to your team and organization.

Prior to her session, participants will have the opportunity to participate in the Creatrix assessment, which helps individuals identify where they are innovatively on the axes of creativity and risk taking. You then apply your understanding to determining what you can do differently as an individual, team member, and member of the larger organization in order to make a greater impact and add value.

Over the years, Dr. Byrd has interviewed a lot of innovators to figure out how they think. She enjoys sharing stories and insights to help you take the behavioral characteristics of innovators and apply them to your own situations. One commonality across these innovators is the idea that we each need to stay curious. If you do that, you start asking the follow-up questions and looking at your own and other people's thoughts and ideas from different angles.

By being open and curious, OD and HR professionals can align innovation strategically with the organization served in order to solve real problems facing leaders. As professionals, we can start this process by focusing first within one area, such as an initiative that creates efficiency, better customer service, or product development with the specific aim of working on innovative ideas that focus on the main objective needing accomplishment.

Dr. Byrd spends the session helping you learn and develop the innovation techniques needed to help solve those business problems. She also shares what you can build into the process to help people be more innovative and measure resulting changes. She will cover techniques useful for convincing management and teams of the value of innovation and which are designed to help co-workers and peers "get comfortable" being more creative and curious.

Dr. Byrd encourages you to come to the session open and ready to think about different ways of looking at problems and seeing the possibilities. Come with a challenge you are facing. Applying Dr. Byrd's insights and yours and the group's ideas will help you apply new ways of solving the challenge back at the office on Wednesday.

Dr. Jacqueline Byrd is an international consultant, author and speaker that has published on and addressed the subjects of innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship. She is the brain behind Creatrix, an assessment and process for driving innovation. She is also the author of The Innovation Equation and Building Tomorrow?s Business Through Innovative Leadership.

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Vendors and Sponsors - We Still Have Room for You!

There are additional sponsorships and vendor spots available in the Exhibit Hall. Please contact Lynae at 612-722-6767 to arrange your spot!

Vendor Demos

We've set aside specific times for our vendors to showcase their offerings with live demos in the Exhibit Area! This is your chance to sit for a few minutes and watch a more detailed, hands-on presentation of some amazing technology tools.

A number of vendors have provided descriptions of their sessions below.

Vendor Showcase!

Red Wing Shoes and Celemi - Using the Apples and Oranges® to Build the Business Acumen of Leaders and Retail Managers

Discover how Red Wing Shoes utilized Celemi's Apples and Oranges Retail simulation to quickly and permanently increase the business acumen and financial literacy competencies of their leaders and store managers in a fun and engaging way.

Working together with Red Wing Shoes, Celemi created a game-board-based, "hands on," interactive, competitive simulation linking the simulation to Red Wing Shoes key performance indicators to drive greater financial and operational success at the store level.

To learn is to discover - find out why Red Wing Shoes and more than 3.2 million participants in over 70 countries have participated in a Celemi simulation.

Celemi will be at Booth 36 in the Exhibit Hall.

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Netbriefings

Looking to engage with your prospects and customers? Try Proclaim Messenger! It is the most effective way to increase sales and personally engage with prospects. This patented tool helps salespeople nurture their pipeline using video messages to augment face-to-face selling. Come get a free trial and learn how you can use this technology to turn cold leads into fast closes!

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FastTEST Web

FastTEST Web, a product jointly owned and operated by Assessment Systems Corporation, experts in psychometrics and assessment software, and 4ROI will also be available for viewing at booth #24.

FastTEST Web offers a complete solution for developing, managing, and analyzing exams including:

• Collaborative question banking and workflow tracking;
• Secure-lockdown online test delivery;
• FastTEST Web's powerful assessment engine can be customized for your organization;
• Advanced psychometrics, including IRT and adaptive testing;
• Detailed psychometric analysis to improve reliability and validity of your test.

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Atomic Training

Stop by Atomic Training's booth to receive your free 3-month subscription to their Atomic All Access Package. This comprehensive professional development resource includes on-demand training on more than 140 common software applications. Atomic Training has the essential training needed to develop and increase technology skills, proficiency, and productivity.

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Thank You to our Sponsors and Exhibitors

Sponsors:

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Keynote and Vendor Spotlight

Allen Interactions - Michael Allen, e-Learning Industry Expert, to Keynote, New e-Learning Authoring and Publishing Platform to be Showcased, and More!

Allen Interactions, a Twin Cities based provider of custom e-learning and blended learning solutions, is looking forward to the upcoming ASTD Twin Cities Regional Conference. Michael Allen, well-known for pioneering multimedia learning technologies, interactive instructional paradigms, and rapid-prototyping processes, will provide the closing keynote. In addition, Allen Interactions will be exhibiting at the conference, presenting two breakout sessions, and one demo session. Read on to learn more about these sessions and about Allen Interactions.

"Forget What You Know About Instructional Design and Do Something Interesting," Michael Allen - Closing Keynote

"I hope to get the audience to rethink the principles they follow religiously, which may be better off in the wastebasket," states Michael Allen, Chairman and CEO of Allen Interactions. "I plan to provide clever and useful tips and tricks of how to engage learners and produce very impactful learning materials and experiences that are meaningful, memorable, and motivational - within the constraints of time, budget, technology, and people to satisfy."

Putting it into Practice - Sales through the Generation Lens, November 15, 9:10 am

Lisa Stortz, strategic relationship manager at Allen Interactions, and Debra Arbit, CEO of Bridgeworks, will share how your company's sales efforts may be affected by generational differences and how you can increase sales by understanding what makes each generation tick - and buy!

ZebraZapps: There's Nothing Else Like It, November 15, 10:35 am

Allen Interactions' co-founder and solutions architect, Scott Colehour, along with ZebraZapps product marketing manager, Christopher Allen, will demonstrate ZebraZapps, a revolutionary e-learning authoring and publishing platform. Christopher and Scott will build interactive e-learning in a fraction of the usual time. Neither of them are programmers, and they are not using templates. There's nothing else like it - you have to see it to believe it!

Demo Session: ZebraZapps, 1:15 - 1:30 pm

About Allen Interactions

Since 1993, Allen Interactions, an internationally acclaimed performance improvement provider, has designed and developed custom e-learning and blended learning solutions addressing many different content areas for varying audiences (employees, channel partners, and customers) of many leading organizations. With locations in the Midwest and the East and West Coasts, we have deep experience and expertise in instructional design, technology, creativity, process, and project management that allow us to continually create learning solutions that result in real business results.

In addition to our service offerings, in 2011 Allen Interactions will launch a revolutionary authoring and publishing platform, ZebraZapps, allowing developers and non-programmers to create rich interactive media applications easily and quickly, as well as share, publish, and sell reusable objects (Gadgets) or entire applications (Zapps).

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Manufacturing Alliance - December 8 Meeting

Developing Decision Makers: How can you maximize staff potential?

We want to keep our current employees engaged, challenged and focused on the right goals. If your training program lacks expected outcomes for high-potential employees, you may be missing opportunities to get the most from your development budget. Unfocused and unrelated classes won't get you there. Hear from our presenters how thoughtful planning and customized paths will reap the highest benefit to both your company and your staff.

Presenters:

• Lifetouch: Darci Tanberg, HR Director
• EJ Ajax and Sons: Erick Ajax, Vice President
• Thomson Reuters: Todd Roth, Director of Manufacturing

Moderated by:
Mike Bauman, HR Leader and Instructor

Date & Time:
Thursday, December 8, 2011
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
(Networking: 7:15 - 7:30 a.m.)

Location:
Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park Campus (See www.mfrall.com for directions.)

Reservations:
Online at www.mfrall.com by Tuesday, December 6. Click on Training and Education, then Educational Programs.
Pre-registration requested!

Fees:

• Members: Complimentary*
• Non-Members: $30
• *Members may bring up to four individuals at no cost to monthly educational programs.

Beverages & rolls provided

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ASTD-TCC Live Webinar: Learning Measurement Tools to Drive Decision Making

November 7, 2011
12:30pm - 1:30pm CST
Click Here to Register

Cost: Members - $10; Nonmembers - $20

Presenter: Danny Brown, KnowledgeAdvisors

Danny Brown spent several years as the learning analytics leader within a multi-billion dollar telecomm company. Learn his first-hand experiences in driving and sustaining both a measurement and evaluation strategy. He will provide examples of practical, scalable and repeatable measurement tools, technologies and approaches. Danny will also discuss areas where measurement challenges may lie and ways to be more business relevant in your own organization.

Learning results:

• Learning measurement strategy
• Example of a practical, scalable and repeatable Smart Sheet Evaluation
• Distinguish among six different measurement approaches
• Understand where measurement challenges may lie
• Examples to become more business relevant in your organization

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Upcoming ASTD-TCC Events

We are committed to planning and delivering quality programs with knowledgable and engaging presenters who will provide you with tools, tips and techniques you can apply to your career and company.

Don't miss these upcoming events:

We welcome your event listings!

Every month, ASTD-TCC sponsors monthly meetings, special interest group meetings, educational seminars and special events for members and nonmembers alike. In addition, our partner organizations, i.e. MCDA, sponsor events of interest to our members.

We also accept calendar listings for your organization's workshops and seminars. Please click here to view our submission guidelines, costs and convenient online submission form.

ASTD-TCC is the go-to resource to drive business results through learning, performance and development. Be a part of it!

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Thanks to our new and renewing members for your support of ASTD-TCC.

New & Renewing Members

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What would you like to read?
If you have ideas for articles or information that could be shared in Spectrum, feel free to contact the 2011 editor Jane Neumiller-Bustad at janen@astd-tcc.org.

Spectrum is a subscription-based email publication from the American Society for Training & Development's Twin Cities Chapter to its members.