April 17. 2008 10:15

So there I was, a geology graduate with a secondary certificate (gotten despite my stating since the age of 3 that I'd never be a teacher) and no job prospects. My home state and just cut funding for anything other than the three Rs and that included earth sciences, the only thing I was eligible to teach. I rambled around for a few years with various jobs and attempts at masters degrees and wound up in Connecticut in the MBA program an UCONN. That wasn't going well and I was of advanced years even for a graduate student when I met Mr. Right. He managed to secure me an "intern" position with Aetna in the ADPEP (Aetna Data Processing Education Program) where I first encountered Instructional Design (thanks to a great book from the Army no less) and in my first classroom with adult learners. The switch was flipped and I was hooked! I still had a way to go with time at Arthur Andersen & Co. (this goes way back folks) where I apprenticed under a Florida State doctoral graduate and spent time with Dick and Carey. Then it was off to work on my own and a move south to North Carolina. I joined ASTD National in 1989 and joined the Piedmont Chapter as well. I've been a national member ever since and have been involved in one leadership role or another with a chapter ever since as well. I've also been a member of three great chapters - Piedmont, Atlanta and now Charlotte. I discovered a passion for learning technologies and after five long years got my M.S in Instructional Tech from Boise State via their online program (started in 1993 and graduated in 1998 - almost before the advent of the current web!). I've been thrilled to be a member of both National and Chapters for these many years. Keep up the good work ASTD!

Dawn Adams Miller

April 18. 2008 01:54

I've had just about every job imaginable or WANTED to have every job imaginable. My first attempts at college were a disaster, but I finally found a fascinating calling in Criminal Justice, so I finally graduated with something. However, I never went into the field, because I met my wife shortly before graduation; I had thought being a police officer would be a perfect bachelor job, and look what goes and happens.

I soon moved in with my then-fiance (now-wife) in another city and became a supervisor at a major book retailer. Woo, slow down, I know, I'm a wild man. Soon after I worked in an inventory department for a large computer corporation, then became a travel agent in another of that company's departments. I left to go to school (again) to be a paramedic, which I was certified as, and worked for an ambulance service in that capacity. Soon after, my first child was on the way and the pay didn't cut it, so I went to work for a major airline on the ramp, then in flight operations and management.

Then, my second child was on the way, and that wasn't enough either, so I moved into the wonderful world of office temporaries, shuttling from job to job which included law firms, a funeral parlor management company, and several others.

All the while, never realizing I was actually good at something that was right under my nose - writing. The English language. Oh, I hated English in school, especially in college, because they had this silly little 'exit exam' in place back then. I didn't want to admit I actually liked Shakespeare, not even to myself, so it took a few years to gain appreciation for the entire world of words.

I had made several attempts to go back to school, all failures, because my heart just wasn't in it. In 1999, though, I went back to school on what was probably going to be yet another lost cause, to study IT work, and in suffering through those classes I had to take a "Technical Communication" class as a requirement.

It was like a light went on, finally. The school had a Professional Writing Bachelor's degree, so it was a nauseatingly simple solution to an issue that had plagued me for years (nauseating, because it had been there all along and I never could see it, this love of mine for writing, as if you couldn't tell from this long rant).

Since I had to work full-time, I could only go to school part-time, and with the stress of it all I took a semester off here and there, but finally graduated in 2005. At the time, I was employed as a technical writer, in a job that the company required a degreed person, but I did not have that degree yet.

The following year I moved on to the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, to work as a technical writer. The work wasn't the most exciting in the world, but the people are wonderful, and it's a far cry from the backstabbing corporate intrigue world when you're working at a non-profit company.

Last year they promoted me to Instructional Developer, and the wonderful world of Flash, Illustrator, and many other creative programs opened up to me, and I've found my calling.

Finally.

I'm not complaining about having to step on a few odd-sized rocks, some with sharp points on them, to cross the stream and get where I wanted to go...even though I had no idea where it was I wanted to go until more or less recently. In fact, I'm very happy to have had such a wide range of experience in many different jobs...not many people can say that about their job history, at least not without having been fired from a number of them (which I never was).

Now, I'm seriously considering an MBA program to move into a possible future in management, and it is through organizations like ASTD that I can learn the things I need to know about the world that I now love to make me the best I can possibly be at it.

Who knows what the future holds now, but at least I can say I'm headed in the direction I've always wanted to go in.

Michael Eckenfels

April 30. 2008 07:28

I remember -
- when I wanted to change jobs and move out of a non-profit organization into business, ASTD contacts and coaching at my local chapter helped me find a job that set me on the path to my career success.
- when I wanted to expand my horizons I volunteered to be the Chair of the Community Development Committee for the local chapter. We developed a training program for the Account Executives of the Des Moines United Way, helping them raise $3 million.
- when I was asked to become President of the Iowa Chapter and felt honored that they thought I had the leadership ability. We had a great team on the Board of Directors and increased membership and meeting attendance by 25%.
- when I need advice I still call my old friends from ASTD across the country.
- when the Iowa Chapter delegation attended the National Leadership Conferences in Crystal City and we danced all night.
- ASTD friends, past, present and future have been the key to my success and have the trip most enjoyable.

Cynthia Schoeppel

May 2. 2008 02:56

Actually, I have only been a member since 2003 but ASTD has been quite valuable to me as I developed my training business and in my work as a part-time college professor. I have yet to attend a conference but I have found T&D to be invaluable. And, I have just started on the CPLP which should be a wonderful complement to my Project Management Professional certification.

Bill Brantley

May 2. 2008 09:14

In the '80s and '90s, as I meandered in and out of ITVA, AECT, ISPI and various other agencies, I always paid close attention to the ASTD Job Board - one of the industry's first, and still one of the best placement services.

When I learned in 2005 of ASTD's plan to offer the CPLP certification, my first thought was "It's about time". My second thought was "Couldn't they have come up with a better acronym? One that doesn't spell 'ka-plop'"?

Now, as a Program Pioneer CPLP, and after two years of volunteering to rate other candidates and popularize the certification, I can say that the CPLP on my business card has not only helped me stay in the top salary range for instructional designers/training consultants, but has created an international community of practice that promises to be a valuable networking resource for years to come.

H. Jeffrey Rosen

May 3. 2008 14:43

It was 1987 and I was attending a regular ASTD Chapter meeting in Orlando, Florida. During dinner, a collegue and friend, Sandi Thomas introduced me to Priscilla Nelson. I can't honestly say we bacame fast friends, we actually remained acquaintances for more than a year. Actually, we did not even like each other. Then ASTD held an offsite team building got the board (I was treasurer, she was program chair). During the outdoor based activity, she decided I has a cute butt (true). Fast forward, we announced our engagement in 1989, at an ASTD meeting where we were co-speaking. ASTD has been an integral part of my life every since. I have gotten so much from being a member. It is not just the support of the international organization, it is the thousands of members throughout the world who represent the profession I chose for myself way back in 1982.

Ed Cohen

May 7. 2008 13:23

ASTD is such a part of my career and adult life (and social life) that I cannot even think about training without thinking of ASTD in the same sentence. But the memories...Region 7 leadership meetings in Dallas were incomplete without a trip to the Ft. Work stockyard district for two-stepping (ASTD = Ask Someone To Dance). Regional conferences in Oklahoma City, Shreveport, San Antonio, Houston, Alburqurque provided our members with a downsized but very fullfilling version of the national conference. Networking and more dancing in the evening followed long days of hard work where we learned everything we really needed to know about training.

Talk about teambuilding! The Region 7 chapter leaders were a solid team and together we helped each other build outstanding chapters in the late 80's and early 90's. No wonder we look back to the "good old days" and long to return there.

Today's ASTD members sniff and exchange knowing looks when we talk about how much fun we had, and how valuable the friendships were. They are all about going to a lunch meeting and rushing back to work; who has time to go out after an evening meeting? Times have changed.

And I remember the names...Ken Bratz and Ellen Dowling and Ronnie Norvell and Jim Wright. They were our region leaders and our friends. They eagerly traveled to our chapters to help us with programs and challenges.

Then there are the leadership opportunities. The Arkansas chapter has given me countless opportunities to lead and I have spent more years on the board than off during the past 20 years. My local chapter friends are among the closest and dearest in my life and we have shared many great experiences at Mt. Harbor and hanging out together at ICE.

ASTD has been much more than just a professional organization over the past 20 years for me. It has been and continues to be the place I go for networking, socializing, and continued development in my chosen career. Thanks for the opportunity to reminince!

Pat Sweeden

May 9. 2008 11:55

I was working towards my masters and thesis in Zoology in order to be a wildlife biologist. I had dreamed of that for years. And then I realized two things at once - it would not be fair to my husband and infant daughter to be out in the field all the time, and, I loved classroom teaching now that I was a graduate teaching assistant. So I finished my masters as non-thesis, and hung around Ohio State for a few more years as an instructional coordinator. The undergraduate Biology program where I worked was using Phoenix mainframe to deliver the CMI tests for the course. I made connections with the software company that owned the tool because I was responsible for creating and editing the test questions. When it became evident that I would not advance in my career at the university (because I did not have a PhD), I went looking in the corporate world. It was a natural progression to move to the company that owned Phoenix, and I was hired as an instructional developer. That was in 1985 and except for a few years in Technical Support, I have been an instructional designer and developer at a variety of companies since then. Four years ago I started using Lectora and Flash tools, and my world has not been the same since. In my current role, my responsibilities are strictly for developing e-learning. I don't recall how I was introduced to ASTD, but with every job change, I have immediately signed up again as a member. I can't imagine trying to do my job without ASTD.

Barb Davis

May 9. 2008 12:39

I remember my first day as a trainer. I was scheduled to teach 1 module of a 6 module course (3 days worth of classroom time). I did my presentation and thought that it went quite well. As I completed my presentation, I gave the class a break and went over to talk with my partner/mentor.

He congratulated me with the following words: "Congratulations, you just did the whole mornings presentation in 45 minutes, now what are you going to do?"

Needless to say, we reviewed the module I had just completed, and then moved on to the next one. We adjusted, but I learned to slow down after that. At least I didn't put anybody to sleep.

Joe Domino

May 10. 2008 12:48

I come from the "education realm." Professional development in that arena has a decidedly different look and feel, and honestly, I never cared much for it. So, when my company offered the opportunity to join other professional organizations, I selected ASTD. The benefits of membership has more than paid for itself and continues to allow me to stay ahead of the curve (and my PD colleagues!). I have learned more, used more ideas from, and continue to benefit from my ASTD membership.

David Hurst

May 11. 2008 20:53

My background is reservoir engineering. Now prospective Russian Vendors and technologies are in focus.I arrange and observe a lot of communication and interactions between my colleagues at corporation. Rather often these communication/ interactions are rather complicated, not balanced enough ,risky for personal ambitions and harmful to some extend.Certain D&I issues are one of the reason for this. So another subject for pragamtic interest and activities has resulted to me :development and use of new workable appoaches for betterment of corporate interpersonal / group business interactions and D&I optimization. These seem to be attractive areas and base for future business. I joined ASTD only this year and see it as an excelent forum to share with ideas, knowledges and practices. And as a good tool to develop personal skills. Hope to tell more in time.

Andrey Bruslov

May 12. 2008 08:52

I have been a subject matter expert for quite a few jobs. I had never had any direction on how to help other adults learn. It was ASTD that helped me arrange and focus my efforts. If it were not for ASTD, I would not be the trainer that I am today. Also, each time I get a new issue of T+D, I am refreshed and given new ideas on how to improve training for our learners. Thank you ASTD!!!!!!

Jennifer Skibbe

May 13. 2008 03:36

ASTD has been a focal point of my career development. Over the years I have particpated in conferences and learned about the most current isues and answers at seminars. Currently, I am in the PhD program at Capella University. ASTD plays a prominany role in its performance improvement curriculum. As a professional organization ASTD is there when I need to develop my performance.

John Galto

May 13. 2008 06:35

In the 1980's I accidentally found an ASTD student chapter on campus at Brigham Young University. I joined them on a field trip to a large company's training department and I was hooked. When I moved to Washington DC, the chapter was a great support and I've been involved in one way or another with ASTD ever since.

Dave Jennings, CAE, SPHR

May 13. 2008 12:57

In 1995 I was transitioning out of a fundraising career into... I didn't know what. A friend said to me, "You know a lot of software, and people are always asking you how to do things. Why don't you go into training?" I will be forever grateful to my friend for this piece of advice. I started out at the AT&T Professional Development Center, then went to work at CALC (Computer Applications Learning Center), and finally ended up at Pfizer. By 1999 I had earned an MCSE and was trying to get out of training and into more technical work - just when the tech jobs were drying up - so I took the Technical Trainer position at Pfizer. As it turns out, I'm glad I did! I've known about ASTD for years, but I am a new member of ASTD and ASTDNY (since October). I have been the Training Manager for Pfizer Learning Solutions for three years, and since our department has been rapidly changing lately, I thought it would be helpful to meet other training professionals. Our training team is small, so it's great to make training contacts outside of my company and to be able to "talk shop" with them. The ASTD seminars and SIG (special interest group) meetings I've attended have been very interesting and useful, and my favorite ASTD activity is the local chapter's "gather and share" get-togethers. They are a great way to meet other training professionals in a relaxed atmosphere.

Julie Kinnett

May 15. 2008 09:22

It was 1986. I had built my career in the advertising/PR path managing all of those functions for some 7 years. But, being active in Toastmasters and serving as District 62 Governor in 1984-85, and having groused about our insurance agents' and employees' development, our CEO and Marketing VP said, "You da' man!"

My first question for key people in the human development field: What single educational organization would be the biggest help in starting a REAL Corporate Performance Improvement (that was my first controversial move --- unit's radical name change)unit from scratch? The resounding answer: ASTD!
I've been on board since. Some ASTD engendered skills aided me in becoming President of the international organization, Insurance and Financial Communicators Association (I continue to retain my Strategic Marketing communication responsibilities). Several years back I served as president of the South Central Michigan ASTD chapter.

Through the arduous and necessary personnel changes, then several talented CPI managers were promoted thanks to their high visibility, we've gained the high ground. A great CPI manager, Mary Ziegler, has been in harness for 5 years. Beth Lienhart joined us a couple of years ago. Agent development was switched to new department after significant development was achieved so that CPI could drive corporate people development which became central to the success of our first-ever corporate strategic plan launched in '07.

The CPI team combined Covey's 3 habits, Ken Blanchard, Kouzes & Posner along with some other concept sources including ASTD (of course!) to create 6 S.E.R.V.E. modules, each module requiring 4 hours in one weekly session for 5 consecutive weeks replete with homework focused on application. Module 1 is an introduction. The following modules are: Serve, Envision, Rejuvenate, Value, Empower. Most folks will require up to three years to complete the program. Thanks, ASTD! We couldn't have accomplished so much without you!!
Jack Stucko, Director
Strategic Marketing and Corporate Education
Farm Bureau Insurance-Michigan
Module

Jack Stucko

May 15. 2008 12:50

Quick story: I was asked by ASTD National to come to Alexandria to the headquarters for ASTD to participate in the CUT SCORE TEAM for a day in September 2006. That sounded ominous to me, but exciting. The goal of the group, explained, Jennifer Naughton, ASTD’s director of the CPLP program, was to discuss what the cut off score should be for the written test for the CPLP. For example, do I pass with 80% correct or 98% correct? By the way, we never got that answer; we just had a huge discussion and gave our opinions and feedback.

Anyway, there were about fifteen people seated around the table and I was toward the end as we went around introducing ourselves. Each person gave an impressive list of credentials; Ph.D, own my own business, professor at a university, Director of Human Resources in a large corporation; that was one person! Discussion ensued during the introductions, people told funny training “war” stories and we all “got it”, we all had “been there”. I realized that my credentials were very similar to those around the table, I found people who thought that helping people learn was their goal in life. I pondered the thought, took a deep breath and realized…”I found the mother ship!

Now, I joke with my boss each time I volunteer for any ASTD function that I am “going to the mother ship”. Yes, WLP professionals have their own language, we have our own culture, and we ARE now a profession! And I found a place where I truly belong!

Lori Ann Roth

May 19. 2008 06:32

Clearly, ASTD has been the foundation most responsible for any successes I've been lucky enough to experience. My first involvement was at the Chapter level with the Valley of the Sun (AZ) Chapter. Moving on, I've been able to serve ASTD in several other volunteer leadership positions.
Without ASTD, I doubt that our "Games Trainers Play" series (McGraw-Hill) would have ever happened. Having conducted fund-raising workshops for over 60 of our Chapters over the years has been a great learning activity for me-both personally and professionally.

Edward E. Scannell, CMP, CSP

May 19. 2008 07:20

Mr. Scannel, Your Games Trainers Play was the first big purchase I made when I joined the training profession back in 1980. It still sits on my shelf, dog-eared and held together with scotch tape. Of course it's accompanied by the other books in the series.

Dennis Higashiguchi

May 23. 2008 09:58

I joined this great company called InfoPro Learning Inc as a Business Manager, E-learning services. I was new to elearning and would ponder when my new colleagues would talk business. My reporting managers, EVP, Head of production designed a sweet little training program for me and I so happy to be able to understand the basics of the domain. I am sure with my continuous learning, I will learn more and I will be able to serve to exceed my client expectations.

regards,
Ben, biswaranjan.nayak@infoprocorp.com

Ben

May 31. 2008 06:26

ASTD has had an interesting impact on my life. I originally joined in Cleveland, Ohio, when I was employed as an instructional designer with a major CPA firm. At ASTD meetings I constantly met people who were training from their own companies and truly passionate about what they were doing. I also met Nancy Allen, a former president of the Cleveland ASTD who spoke with me on several occasions about what was possible in training.

When I moved to Georgia several years later, I met Nancy again at an Atlanta ASTD meeting. I was quite surprised to see her their and learn that she had moved there too.

As an independent business owner, coach, and trainer, I find that ASTD not only has helped me grow over the last decade, but it has also provided opportunities to speak and address my fellow coaches and trainers at the International Conference, both in Atlanta in 2007 and San Diego in 2008. I am in San Diego as I write this, awaiting my opportunity to present my workshop on "Approaching Your Job Search from Your Heart."

Thank you, ASTD, for giving me opportunities I probably never would have dreamed of!

Peggy Titus-Hall

June 5. 2008 09:23

I'm new to ASTD. Like, TODAY new. A colleague turned me on to this site and I'm so glad she did. I've long been conflicted over the ability to sell vs. a love of training. A couple of years ago in my chosen field, I was asked to take over corporate eLearning-- and that's all she wrote. How long had this been going on, I wondered. I'm very fortunate to be with a company like Premiere Global where I have access to not just one but four of the top web platforms out there. Combine that with an organization like ASTD, well, look out!!

Lisa Leighton

June 10. 2008 16:55

So, it was the 1980s and the bank where I worked needed a trainer. Someone realized that I like to talk and decided it should be me. <grin> And I've never looked back!

As an SME-turned-trainer, I did not get any formal instructional design or delivery training initially and just sort of 'felt' my way through. When I discovered this was not just a job but a calling, I sought out opportunities to improve my skills, and my research (pre-Internet) led me to ASTD. What a wonderful thing - other crazy folks who shared my passion for helping people. Woo hoo!

Over 20 years later and I am honored to serve on the board of our local Cascadia chapter. I earned my CPLP designation last year and have recently co-facilitated our chapter's first CPLP study group. What a pleasure it has been, helping others prepare for our industry's indicator of expertise.

I hope to give another 20 years to this noble line of work. And in the distant future I would have my headstone read: "She helped people do their best."

Bless you, trainers...every one.

Shari

Shari Ward

June 19. 2008 09:35

I've been a member of ASTD since 2006 and have really enjoyed all aspects of the association, and especially ICE! I became a member because my main responsibility for our health care system is education on Compliance. Being a Compliance professional, I was more of an SME who happened to do training. But, I wanted more for our training -- wanted it to be meaningful and memorable and, well, effective! I have learned so much from ASTD and our training efforts have improved in so many ways. Now, we're on to measuring the effects of our training and it's very exciting for us. I have gained quite a bit from ASTD and look forward to furthering my professional growth by participating at the local level. ASTD - it's a great choice!

Carrie Harding

June 29. 2008 18:58

I learned about ASTD while visiting the United states in May 2008.We have learned more from the ASTD and would want to help others in our continent to be professionals of World Class standards through the ASTD programs.
I am a Principal Director-Africa for three organizations, that are heavily involved in the Sub-Sahara-Africa.
We are a Non Profit Organization, that lays emphasis on Scientific,Technological,Educational,
Health and Cultural Programs.We engage various professionals in the Africa Continent with
the rest of the World on the following but not limited to:

* E-knowledge
* E-Entrepreneurial
* Technology Transfer
* Media Consultancy
* Trainings and Conference Facilitation's
* Exchange programs( Faculty, Students and Corporates)
* Volunteers ( Recruitment,Training & Placements)

We would require the ASTD Membership- FOR WORKPLACE LEARNING PROFESSIONALS
a Donation in Kind.We support all your programs in the Region the Community of World Class
professionals.

We conduct our Trainings free in enhancing and Building Capacity for individuals and Corporate
organizations.

Zephaniah O.Onchonga
Principal Director-Africa,
EXCHANGED LIFE GLOBAL MEDIA
[Leadership Training & Resource]
URBAN YOUTH KENYA NETWORK
[Scientific,Technological,Educational,Health & Cultural Exchange Prog's]
VOLUNTEERS NETWORK-AFRICA
[Recruitment,Training & Placements]
P.O.Box 48283,00100
NAIROBI-KENYA.
Tel:254-733-373-245

Zephaniah O.Onchonga