Upcoming events

Switch to Calendar View

• CPTD VIRTUAL STUDY GROUP (Sept 2025 forward)

  • Start
    September 09, 2025
  •  
  • End
    March 31, 2026
  •  
  • Schedule
    30 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual

  Register

  
  

  Having a support system as you prepare for the CPTD exam can have a big impact on your success and we're here for you! 

  Central Massachusetts ATD is hosting a study group for current CPTD candidates pursuing certification.

  Details

  • This will be a rolling 13-week schedule, where you can join anytime depending on your goal, and just continue.
  • The schedule will repeat every 13 weeks, so join whenever is best for you and your specific goals.
  • We meet on Tuesdays from 7 - 9 over Zoom.

  
  

  If you have any questions, you can email prodev@tdcentralmass.org.

  Cost: $50 USD for non-members and general public, $35 to Central Massachusetts ATD members and chapter affiliates

  What To Expect:
  The study group sessions are typically structured as follows:

  • 13 weekly sessions focused on the three capability areas
  • The virtual (Zoom) study group sessions are meant to supplement your independent study. The sessions provide a chance to reinforce knowledge through discussion, clarification of key points, shared resources, and key test taking strategies. Each study group session is moderated by one or more facilitators from the CMATD chapter
  • This group is a great way to keep accountable and also get encouragement!
  • Most sessions will count as 1 hour of Professional Development towards meeting the certification requirements (announced at the start of each session)
  • Certified CPTDs and experts in the capability areas may be scheduled as guest speakers during an individual study group session. 

  Study Materials:

  No study materials are provided specifically from this study group.  We are using the Talent Development Body of Knowledge (TDBok) as the group textbook and all members should have access.  TDBok is now free to all ATD national members. 

  Please Scroll to the Bottom to Register

  
  

  Show details
• Become a Business Acumen Superstar!

  • When
    November 06, 2025
  •  
    6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom - access will be provided upon registration

  Register

  
  

  Want to stand out in today’s fast-changing L&D landscape? It’s not just about creating great learning—it’s about understanding the business behind the learning. Business acumen is the skill that sets top-performing L&D pros apart. But here’s the problem: most professionals don’t know what they actually need to learn—and what they don’t.

  This session will provide clarity on both fronts. You’ll break down business acumen into five clear categories and discover exactly what kind of business knowledge matters most for L&D. No fluff, no finance degree required. You’ll uncover where to find key information inside your organization and create a personalized plan to grow your business acumen over time. If you're ready to stop guessing, start growing, and become the kind of L&D pro who brings real strategic value—this session is for you.

  • Break down business acumen into five clear, actionable categories every L&D pro should know

  • Understand what business information matters most—and what you can stop worrying about

  • Determine where to find critical business insights within your own organization, even without formal access

  • Build a realistic, personalized plan to grow your business acumen and amplify your impact

  
  

  Special Bonus:

  We are raffling off a copy of Jess'  book!  Join us to for a chance to win.

  
  

  Important Note: 90 minute session with no separate networking period.

  Jess Almlie is a seasoned leader and advocate for transforming the L&D profession. Throughout her 30 years of experience in the field, Jess continuously focused on improving the impact of L&D in the organizations where she worked.

  As a former Vice President of Learning, Jess led teams through complex initiatives, blending her expertise in learning strategy, performance consulting, and leadership development to deliver effective, business-aligned outcomes.

  In March 2023 Jess founded Almlie Consulting, a firm dedicated to upleveling the work of L&D to be more strategic, intentional, and measurable. As a learning and performance consultant, Jess works with both small and large organizations to create strategic learning blueprints. She also equips L&D leaders and teams with the tools and confidence to shift from reactive order takers to strategic business partners.

  Jess is a sought-after speaker and consultant, known for her practical insights, engaging storytelling, and ability to inspire action through small steps that add up to big changes. She believes that by aligning L&D strategies to business goals, organizations can foster growth and innovation while empowering their people to succeed.

  Jess holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from North Dakota State University where her thesis research focused on whether leadership can be learned in a classroom. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from Concordia College Moorhead.

  When she’s not working, Jess is usually spending time with family and friends, hiking, or binge-watching baking competitions.

  Jess is the author of the upcoming book, L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner, to be published by ATD Press in September 2025. You can also find Jess hosting her podcast, L&D Must Change, connect with her on LinkedIn, or learn more about her writing, consulting, and speaking at jessalmlie.com.

  Links to Learn More

  Website: https://www.jessalmlie.com/

  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessalmlie/

  Podcast, “L&D Must Change”: https://www.jessalmlie.com/podcast

  Blog, “L&D Must Change”: https://www.jessalmlie.com/blog

  Subscribe to Jess’s Newsletter, “L&D Must Change”: https://almlie-consulting.kit.com/87e0251322

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  Business Insight, Consulting & Business Partnering

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Central Massachusetts Chapter has been pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute to offer programs that can be used towards  initial eligibility and recertification of the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials. This program has been approved for a maximum of 1.5 points.
  

  Show details
• AI Hands-On Learning Lab WAYS of WORKING EDITION featuring Miro

  • When
    November 20, 2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  
  

  About the AI Learning Lab

  The AI Hands-On Learning Lab is a monthly, guided exploration of technology tools with a focus on their AI capabilities. Each session spotlights a specific software and provides learners the opportunity to delve into its distinct AI features through hands-on exploration. The lab will also foster discussions on how these tools can be effectively used across workplace contexts - from getting the job, reducing friction in your workflow processes, and leveling up your learning design. 

  We will rotate through focusing on an AI tool through one of these three specific lenses: 

  • Job Edition

  • Ways of Working Edition

  • Learning Content Edition.

  
  

  Our November AI Learning Lab Ways of Working Edition will be focused  Miro.

  
  

  About Miro
  

  Join Mary-Catherine Boehmer, PMP, CPTD, for an hour of hands-on engagement with MIRO AI. Miro makes collaboration, planning, and creative thinking faster and easier on digital whiteboards. Its AI features can summarize content, generate notes, create diagrams and mind maps from prompts, and turn your ideas into action. 

  
  

  
  

  

  Mary serves as the Vice President of Technology for ATD Central Mass. Currently an instructional designer at Boston Scientific, she holds an M.A. in Educational Technology Leadership from George Washington University and an additional M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages with a focus on adult learners from Teachers College, Columbia University. A technology evangelist and project management professional with extensive experience managing diverse learning and development projects in the northeast, as well as Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Germany, Mary’s interests encompass adult learning, educational technology, task authenticity, learning transfer, competency-based learning, and culturally responsive practices. Her favorite instructional design model is SAM (with Dick & Carey close behind). Mary is particularly passionate about adapting learning design, instruction, and technology to enhance cultural relevance for target audience as well as implementing small moves to address performance gaps.

  Capability Model - Technology Application, Lifelong Learning, Future Readiness

  
  

  Show details