ATD Research Triangle Area upcoming events

Social Learning @ Edit Beer Co. (07 Oct 2026)

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Social Learning @ Edit Beer Co.

Connect. Learn. Share.

Join fellow talent development professionals for an informal gathering focused on conversation, networking, and community. Bring your questions, ideas, successes, and challenges, or simply come to meet others who are passionate about learning and development. Every conversation is an opportunity for social learning.

Member Engagement Night (October Monthly Event) (15 Oct 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Member Engagement Night

You know that feeling when someone mentions an event, a connection, a resource, and you think... wait, why didn't I know about that?

This is your chance to not be that person.

Join ATD-RTA for a fun, interactive evening and learn about the great things happening in the chapter!. New faces, longtime members, the ATD-curious, all welcome. Here's what's on the table:

Real conversations with local talent development pros
The inside scoop on upcoming programs, exciting SIGs, social events, opportunities to volunteer, and top-notch professional development resources you might not have discovered yet
A clear next step, matched to what you actually want out of this community

Bring a friend. Dinner's covered. Seats are limited, so register now.

For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to us at admin@tdrta.org.

Passing the Scan, Failing the User: AI and Accessibility - Learning Trends & Innovations SIG (Virtual) (20 Oct 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Passing the Scan, Failing the User: AI and Accessibility - Learning Trends & Innovations SIG (Virtual)

AI can generate content, format a slide, and confidently tell you a document passes WCAG 2.2 AA… right before it gets the accessibility wrong. This session was inspired by eight hours of vibe coding a single accessible one-pager: what AI got right, where it quietly broke reading order and heading structure, and why a perfect automated accessibility score isn't the same as what works for real people.

In this session, we will discuss how to bring intentional, human-centered accessibility practices into AI-assisted workflows, using AI to support learning and development without letting it decide what "accessible enough" means. You'll leave with a practical way to evaluate AI-generated content, know when to trust automated checkers (and when not to), and keep people at the center of your design decisions.

Learning Objectives / Takeaways

1. Identify risks of using AI and vibe coding to support accessibility and inclusion, including bias, error, and false confidence in "passing" results.

2. Evaluate and correct AI-generated content for reading order, heading structure, and semantic accuracy.

3. Generate and verify alt text and image descriptions using popular AI-supported tools and models.

4. Discover how AI-powered tools can help you create closed captions and transcripts.

5. Build a workflow that combines automated accessibility checkers with real assistive technology testing.

Sarah Mercier, MBA, CPACC, is CEO of Build Capable and a learning technology strategist. She translates complex technical concepts and research into real-world practice grounded in human-centered design. Sarah is the editor of Design for All Learners and an international speaker on accessibility, the ethics of AI, data strategy, and learning ecosystems.

ATD Capability Model:

Personal: Compliance & Ethical Behavior, Lifelong Learning

Professional: Instructional Design, Technology Application

Organizational: Future Readiness

Evaluating What Matters: Using Qualitative Evidence (and AI) to Prove Learning Impact (November Monthly Event-Virtual) (12 Nov 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Evaluating What Matters: Using Qualitative Evidence (and AI) to Prove Learning Impact

Learning teams are being asked to prove impact, yet one of the richest—and most underutilized—sources of evaluation evidence is qualitative data: learner reflections, open-text survey responses, focus groups, peer feedback, and manager observations. Too often, these inputs are treated as “anecdotal,” summarized loosely, or ignored altogether because teams lack time, tools, or a repeatable method to analyze them. The result is a familiar gap: dashboards show activity and satisfaction (completions, NPS, ratings), but they rarely explain why a program worked, what changed in behavior, or what should be improved next.

In this interactive session, participants will learn a practical workflow to convert qualitative data into credible impact evidence and decision-ready recommendations. You will practice a lightweight coding approach to surface patterns (drivers, barriers, enablers, and behavior-change indicators), then connect those themes to quantitative measures and business outcomes to strengthen conclusions. Participants will also learn how to use generative AI responsibly to accelerate qualitative analysis—such as first-pass theme extraction, clustering, and draft synthesis—while applying human validation steps to reduce bias, protect confidentiality, and ensure defensible findings.

Through case examples and hands-on activities, participants will leave with tools and templates to elevate learner voice into actionable impact insights—what to continue, scale, redesign, or stop—supported by evidence leaders can trust.

Learning Outcomes (measurable)

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

- Explain why qualitative evidence is frequently underutilized in impact evaluation and how it strengthens causal interpretation (the “why” behind results).

- Select high-value qualitative sources and design prompts that produce evaluation-ready evidence (not vague opinions).

- Apply a streamlined coding/theming method to identify drivers, barriers, and indicators of behavior change.

- Use generative AI for rapid first-pass qualitative analysis (theme extraction, clustering, synthesis) and validateoutputs using a human-in-the-loop checklist.

- Integrate qualitative themes with quantitative measures to draft a one-page, decision-ready Impact Brief with clear recommendations.

Practical Takeaways (what participants leave with)

- The repeatable workflow: Collect → Code → Connect → Communicate

- A prompt bank for open-text surveys, reflections, and focus groups

- A “human-in-the-loop” validation checklist for AI-assisted analysis (accuracy, bias, confidentiality, traceability)

- An executive-ready Impact Brief template (findings → evidence → implications → recommendations)

Christopher Massaro is a learning and organizational development professional with more than 25 years of experience designing, facilitating, and evaluating training programs that support leadership effectiveness, organizational performance, and learner growth.

He serves as a Senior Talent Development Consultant at UNC Health, where he supports leadership development, organizational development, competency-based learning, and enterprise learning initiatives. His work focuses on helping leaders and teams translate learning into practical behavior change, stronger performance, and measurable impact.

Christopher also serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Southern Maine, where he has taught leadership studies and social science research methods. This background informs his practical approach to learning analytics, evaluation, and evidence-based program design.

ATD Capability Model:

Personal: Collaboration & Leadership, Lifelong Learning

Professional: Evaluating Impact

Organizational: Data & Analytics

Year in Review: Trends That Shaped L&D - Learning Trends & Innovations SIG (Virtual) (17 Nov 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Learning Trends & Innovations SIG (Virtual): Year in Review: Trends That Shaped L&D

Presenter TBD

ATD Capability Model:

Personal: n/a

Professional: Instructional Design, Technology Application

Organizational: Talent Strategy & Management, Future Readiness

Member Appreciation Dinner (10 Dec 2026)

Thu, 10 Dec 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Member Appreciation Dinner

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we’re celebrating YOU!

Join the ATD Research Triangle Area Chapter for an unforgettable evening of gratitude, connection, and celebration as we close out 2025 together. Expect delicious catered food, signature drinks, surprise member gifts, and the chance to win incredible prizes throughout the night!

We’ll take a moment to honor the achievements and milestones that made this year shine, recognizing the members, volunteers, and partners who helped make 2025 one to remember.

Whether you’ve been part of our chapter for years or are just getting to know us, this event is the perfect way to connect, celebrate, and be inspired for the year ahead!

Event Details:

Networking & Drinks: 6:30 – 7:00 PM

Program & Celebration: 7:00 – 8:30 PM

Come for the community, stay for the memories; and let’s toast to another amazing year of learning, growth, and impact together!

ATD Capability Model:

Personal: Communication; Collaboration & Leadership; Cultural Awareness & Inclusion

Professional: Career & Leadership Development

Organizational: Business Insight

For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to us at admin@tdrta.org.