ATD Houston upcoming events

ATD Houston Virtual Technology Conference (April 16, 2026)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:30:00 GMT

The Future of Learning Moves Fast. Don’t Get Left Behind.

Warning: Early Bird pricing ends April 1st—and the price hike is no joke!

The L&D landscape shifts overnight. What worked yesterday is likely obsolete today. The ATD Houston Virtual Technology Conference is your fast track to the front lines of talent development. This isn't just another webinar—it’s a high-impact, strategic download from the visionaries currently redefining our industry.

Why You Need to Be There:

Global Visionaries, Zero Travel: Access world-class insights from international leaders like Dr. Keith Keating and Johann Laville without the flight, hotel, or premium price tag.
Practical Blueprints: We’re moving beyond theory. Walk away with "day-one" strategies for AI integration, instructional design, and learning operations.
The "Vault" Advantage: Life is busy. Your registration includes permanent access to all session recordings and materials so you can learn at your own pace.
Community & Prizes: Connect with a network of forward-thinkers and enter for a chance to win high-value sponsor raffles

Don’t wait for the price to jump. Secure your spot now before Early Bird pricing vanishes on April 1st. Unlike the date, this is not a prank—grab your pass today and lead the charge into the future of learning.

Morning Keynote: Hidden Value – Revealing the Impact of L&D Dr. Keith Keating | Chief Learning Officer, BDO The author of The Trusted Learning Advisor and Hidden Value joins us from Toronto to discuss how human talent remains the cornerstone of organizational success in a tech-driven world.

Afternoon Keynote: The Imperative for TD to Lead Technology Selection Johann Laville | Chief Learning Officer, Merck & Co., Inc. With over 20 years of global leadership, Johann will explore why Talent Development must take the lead in technology selection, moving beyond the traditional boundaries of HR and IT.

The Full Schedule (All times in CST)

Session details: 2026 Virtual Technology Conference

Name	Session	CST
Dr. Keith Keating	Keynote: Hidden Value: Revealing the Impact of L&D	8:45-9:45
Johann Laville	Keynote: The Imperative for TD to Lead Technology Selection: Moving Beyond HR and IT	4:00-4:45
Myra Roldan	The ASK Framework for AI	10:00-10:45
Allyncia Williams	Fix the Flow	11:00-11:45
Vince Han	Managing Your AI Agent: Why Learning Content Still Needs Human Leadership	1:00-1:45
Jeff Batt	Unlocking Custom Learning Experiences Using AI: No Coding Required	2:00-2:45
Diane Elkins	Show, Don’t Tell: Get Maximum Instructional Value From Your Visuals	3:00-3:45

APTD/CPTD Certification

This program is eligible for APTD and CPTD recertification points from the ATD Certification Institute. Visit https://www.td.org/ci-recertification for more details about the APTD and CPTD recertification policies.

SHRM PDCs

ATD Houston is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. This program is valid for PDCs for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.

VIRTUAL PRODUCER AND Conference Sponsor

www.elsie.co

SIG Technology: Best Practices (April 24, 2026)

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMT

The landscape of Artificial Intelligence is evolving at a breakneck pace. To help our community stay ahead, the ATD Houston Technology SIG is dedicating monthly meetings to an ongoing exploration of AI Best Practices.

Join us on the last Friday of every month at noon for a collaborative deep dive into the practical application of AI in Talent Development. These sessions are designed as a consistent touchpoint for L&D professionals to share what’s working, troubleshoot challenges, and discover the latest tools.

Monthly Focus Areas

While the specific agenda will evolve alongside the technology, our recurring discussions will typically cover:

Strategic Implementation: Identifying high-impact use cases for AI in L&D.
Tool Selection: Criteria for choosing the right AI stack for your needs.
Ethics & Governance: Navigating data privacy, copyright, and bias.
Prompt Engineering: Practical techniques to improve Generative AI outputs.
Future Trends: Emerging AI technologies in workforce development.

Join the Conversation

Whether you are an AI novice or a power user, your perspective is valuable. This is your space to ask questions and learn from peers.

Help Shape the Agenda

We tailor each session based on member needs. Please submit your specific questions or suggested topics in advance to: presidentemeritus@tdhouston.org

Speaker: Debbie Richards is a leading voice in the application of Artificial Intelligence for Talent Development. As an AI Strategy Consultant at Undesto.AI and President of Creative Interactive Ideas, she guides enterprise organizations through the complex landscape of AI adoption. With over three decades of experience as a learning architect, Debbie specializes in creating clear roadmaps that help teams integrate AI tools into their learning operations, resulting in measurable improvements in engagement and performance. Currently serving as the Chief Learning Advisor at Cognota, Debbie drives innovation by combining learning operations with cutting-edge technology.

She is a premier facilitator for the Association for Talent Development (ATD), where she trains professionals on practical AI implementation. She teaches several key industry courses, including the AI for Instructional Design Workshop, AI for Talent Development Workshop, Applying AI in Learning and Development Certificate, and Using AI Assistants to Power Productivity.

Debbie’s influence extends globally through international speaking engagements and her work as an author of ATD’s "Seeing the Possibilities With Augmented Reality" and "Preparing Your Organization for New Technologies." New TD at Work Guide for Feb 2026 - Become a Strategic Learning Architect With AI.

SIG Technology: Best Practices (May 29, 2026)