You have been pouring your creative juices on a training deliverable for ages and taking feedback from reviewers to reach the finish line, but now… it's stalled out. Did your initial idea evolve or hit a wall? Where do you go next to jump start your design? Join the Instructional Design PDN for a session focused on removing your design blinders through practicing workshopping techniques and leveraging critical questions to reignite your design spark.
Time
Function
12:00-12:05pm
Arrival and introduction
12:05pm
Session start
12:50pm
Session wrap up
Respect for All
Fresh from keynoting at CultureCon 2025 in Madison, join Gregg Ward, the award-winning, bestselling author, speaker, thought leader and Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Respectful Leadership as he helps us learn about the surprising power and effectiveness of respect and how we can chart a new, more human-centered approach to our organizational culture challenges. Developing an Actively Respectful Culture™ is entirely possible in any organization and Gregg – a former NYC actor and master storyteller - shows us how. In this highly impactful and engaging session participants will learn how respect and disrespect are as much about feelings as they are rational, cognitive thought, and how a respectful work environment is no longer a nice-to-have, but a vital business imperative that drives key performance indicators in productivity, partnership and retention. Gregg, who has graciously offered to share this program with us in person on his way home to California, has delivered this engaging, powerful, and informative keynote to great acclaim at dozens of ATD, SHRM and ICF conferences and at corporate audiences all over the world, with many calling him, “the best keynote speaker they’ve ever heard.”
Speaker Bio
Gregg Ward is an electrifying keynote speaker, award-winning and bestselling author, and executive coach renowned for his transformative approach to self-respect and personal growth. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Respectful Leadership® and The Respect for All Foundation.
Gregg is the son of the famous sportswriter, Gene Ward, and as a child he was powerfully influenced by the sports legends of his day including Joe Namath, Arthur Ashe, Billie Jean King, and Muhammad Ali. Eventually, while working as an actor in New York, Gregg received an offer that changed his life – to pioneer a groundbreaking training program for the NYPD that leveraged his skills in live interactive theater and improvisation. Since then, he has delivered over 2,500 keynotes, seminars, and programs all over the world.
A writer like his dad, Gregg’s second book, the business fable The Respectful Leader was published by Wiley in 2016, was immediately named a Best Book of the Month by Amazon, went on to become a bestseller within a week, and was honored with a Gold Medal in the prestigious Axiom Business Book Awards competition. Gregg also worked as a freelance journalist on assignment throughout Europe for BBC Radio, The Times, Scotland on Sunday and The List Magazine. He’s most proud of having covered the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and during his keynotes, he passes around a piece of it that he recovered at the time.
Gregg’s recent and popular TEDx talk, Confessions of an Accidental Killer, shares his deeply personal journey of overcoming immense regret and discovering the power of self-respect. Gregg’s approach to cultural change and leadership has inspired thousands to break through limiting beliefs and step into their true power. Join Gregg for an inspiring, engaging, unforgettable and even funny talk and learning session!
Celebrate Summer with Your Talent Development Community!
Join your fellow talent development professionals for an evening of connection, conversation, and beverages at our Annual Summer Networking Social!
We’re gathering at The Vine Humboldt Beer Garden in Bay View—a perfect spot to enjoy a warm Milwaukee evening. Catch up with colleagues, make new connections, and unwind in a relaxed, outdoor setting.
Event organizers will be on site by 4:30pm on Wednesday, August 13th to begin a happy hour celebration. Last year, the conversation kept going until the sun went down!
All registrants will receive two complimentary drink tickets and a souvenir pint glass from the beer garden. Buffet-style food will be available starting around 5:00pm.
Registration closes one week in advance, on August 8th. We look forward to celebrating with you!
How Can L&D Stop Being Seen as Order-Takers?
Join this engaging session featuring Jess Almlie, author of the upcoming ATD Press book L&D Order Taker No More: Become a Strategic Business Partner, for a candid fireside chat that blends powerful insights from her book with real-world lessons for today’s talent development professionals.
We’ll explore the hidden barriers that often prevent talent development teams from operating as true strategic business partners and learn practical ways to reposition work with internal stakeholders. Expect honest reflection, fresh perspective, and actionable ideas to help you step beyond execution and into influence.
About Jess Almlie Jess Almlie is a former Vice President of Learning and a dynamic leader in the learning and development field. She is passionate about empowering L&D professionals to increase our impact by evolving from order takers to strategic business partners. With three decades of experience and a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives, Jess helps organizations solve talent challenges and improve performance. In addition to consulting and speaking, Jess hosts the podcast, L&D Must Change and is author of the book, L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner, to be published by ATD Press in September 2025.
About the Performance Improvement PDN
The SEWI-ATD Performance Improvement PDN is a collaborative group focused on practicing the skills of human performance improvement. We are talent development leaders, OD professionals, consultants, and other TD professionals who want to improve the performance towards our organization's goals.
8-8:15am
Pre-session coffee chat
8:15-9:15am
Official session
9:15-9:30am
Networking and follow-on conversation
Contact Usadmin@sewi-atd.orgPhone: 608-204-9815Association ManagersSeth TrickelHeather L. Dyer, CAE
