ATD Detroit upcoming events

Behavioral Science SIG Social Contagion: How Behaviors Spread (or Die) Inside Organizations, with Jay Johnson (Thursday, July 09, 2026)

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT

July Topic: Social Contagion: How Behaviors Spread (or Die) Inside Organizations

Location: Zoom Online Virtual Platform (link provided after registration)

Cost: Free for ATD Detroit and other local Chapter Members &

$10.00 for Guest

Description: Join us for Social Contagion: How Behaviors Spread (or Die) Inside Organizations. Culture change doesn’t fail because people do not understand the message. It fails because behavior spreads through imitation, social proof, and what gets rewarded long before any strategy deck ever lands. In this session, we will explore the behavioral science of social contagion and why certain habits go viral inside teams while others die quietly, even when everyone claims to support them.

You will learn how norms form through micro-behaviors, how informal influencers shape what becomes acceptable, and why the “real training” is often happening in meetings, side conversations, and moments of pressure, not in the classroom. Most importantly, you will walk away with practical ways to intentionally seed the behaviors you want, interrupt the ones you do not, and build environments where good habits spread faster than bad ones.

Come ready to identify what is currently contagious in your organization, and how to become more deliberate about what you are spreading.

Participants will be able to:

Identify the behavioral pathways through which norms spread (modeling, reinforcement, social proof, and identity signaling).
Spot early indicators that a behavior is becoming normalized, for better or worse.
Map the informal influencers and environments that drive contagion in their organization.
Design simple interventions to seed positive norms and reduce transmission of negative ones.

Jay's Bio

Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents.

For more information about the ID SIG or the upcoming Meet-up, contact SIG Organizer Jay Johnson at jay@behavioralelements.com

Note: SIGs are an exclusive member benefit for ATD Detroit and other local ATD chapter members.

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What's a SIG?

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are small groups of members who share an affinity for a particular aspect of Talent Development. Whether it's a specific approach, a certain skill, or a common role in the industry, a SIG helps bring chapter members together to share in an interest.

Anyone can start a SIG - all it takes is a shared interest and a meeting place! To learn more, contact the Chapter President, president@detroitatd.org.

ATD Detroit Baseball Night at UWM Field (Thursday, July 16, 2026)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT

You're Invited! ⚾

Join us for a night of networking and fun at UWM Field in Utica!
Bring your family and connect with fellow professionals in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.

Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026
Location: UWM Field, Utica

Gates Open: 6:00 PM
First Pitch: 7:05 PM

️ Your Ticket Includes:

Hot Dog
Bag of Chips
Pop or Water

Don’t miss out on a great evening of baseball, networking, and community fun. We look forward to seeing you there!

Career Boost Coffee Chat (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Career Boost Coffee Chat

Looking to refine your resume, build a standout portfolio, or boost your career prospects? Join us for our Career Boost Coffee Chat, a monthly virtual meetup designed for unemployed and underemployed members seeking expert feedback and guidance.

Topic:

When: Third Tuesday of each month at 8:00 AM
Where: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Cost: Free for ATD members (Detroit, Ann Arbor & West Michigan), $10 for future members

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and network with fellow professionals! Register now to secure your spot.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Behavioral Science SIG (Thursday, August 06, 2026)

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

January Topic: AI as a Behavioral Co-Trainer: Designing Human + Machine Learning Experiences

Location: Zoom Online Virtual Platform (link provided after registration)

Cost: Free for ATD Detroit and other local Chapter Members &

$10.00 for Guest

Description: Join us for AI as a Behavioral Co-Trainer: Designing Human + Machine Learning Experiences. AI is no longer just a content engine, it is a powerful shaper of behavior. In this session, we will explore how AI can act as a “behavioral co-trainer” for your learners and a “co-pilot” for you. From prompting reflection and spacing practice, to nudging follow-through and adapting difficulty, AI can quietly influence what people do before, during, and after your programs. At the same time, it can radically streamline how you design, develop, and deliver learning.

Instead of asking, “Will AI replace trainers?” we will focus on better questions:

What should AI handle incredibly well, and what must stay deeply human?
Where can AI automate micro-tasks so you can focus on high-value facilitation, relationships, and strategy?

Come ready to rethink AI not as a threat to your role, but as a behavioral amplifier and creative partner that can make your work faster, sharper, and more impactful, while keeping the human element exactly where it matters most.

Jay's Bio

For more information about the ID SIG or the upcoming Meet-up, contact SIG Organizer Jay Johnson at jay@behavioralelements.com

Note: SIGs are an exclusive member benefit for ATD Detroit and other local ATD chapter members.

----

What's a SIG?

Anyone can start a SIG - all it takes is a shared interest and a meeting place! To learn more, contact the Chapter President, president@detroitatd.org.

4th Annual Networking Night! New Location! (Tuesday, August 11, 2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Join Us for ATD Detroit's Fourth Annual Networking Night!

Connect, collaborate, and grow with fellow talent development professionals at one of ATD Detroit's favorite events of the year! We're excited to welcome you to Lincoln Yard in Birmingham for an evening of networking, conversation, and community.

Whether you're looking to expand your professional network, exchange fresh ideas, reconnect with familiar faces, or simply enjoy time with others who share your passion for learning and development, this event is for you.

Your Registration Includes

Delicious appetizers and drinks
Meaningful conversations with fellow professionals
New connections and fresh inspiration
A chance to win one FREE pass to the MIATD26 Conference on October 12th!

Give Back While You Network

We're also collecting new school supplies to support organizations serving low-income students and families experiencing crisis. Every donated item earns you an entry into a raffle to win books from our curated learning collection—our way of saying thank you for making a difference.

Don't miss this opportunity to build your network, strengthen our talent development community, and support local students at the same time.

Register today, invite a colleague or friend, and join us for an unforgettable evening!

We can't wait to see you there!

Warm regards,

The ATD Detroit Board of Directors
Empowering Talent. Developing People. Strengthening Our Community.

Career Boost Coffee Chat (Tuesday, August 18, 2026)

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Career Boost Coffee Chat

Topic:

When: Third Tuesday of each month at 8:00 AM
Where: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Cost: Free for ATD members (Detroit, Ann Arbor & West Michigan), $10 for future members

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and network with fellow professionals! Register now to secure your spot.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Instructional Design SIG (Thursday, August 27, 2026)

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Hello ATD Detroit Members,

We’re excited to invite you to the Instructional Design Special Interest Group (SIG) session!

Date: Thursday August 27th, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
Location: Virtual (Zoom – link provided after registration)
Cost: Free for ATD Detroit and local ATD chapter members

This month's Topic: Career Development for ID's: from entering the field to expert

In this session, Laurie Zeller will share her career journey from sales to instructional design and the intentional steps she took to make the career move, followed by ideas gleaned from other ID's in the field on how to continue to develop as an instructional designer throughout your career. There will also be a group discussion time to share your favorite tips and ask for help from the group.

What’s a SIG?
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are small, member-driven communities focused on particular aspects of Talent Development. SIGs provide a space for members to dive deeper into shared interests, skills, and roles while building valuable connections.

For more information about the Instructional Design SIG, please contact:

Laurie Zeller – lauriezeller365@gmail.com
Misty Minna – Misty.minna@gmail.com
Julie Pochik - julieapochik@gmail.com

We hope to see you there!

Behavioral Science SIG (Thursday, September 03, 2026)

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

January Topic: AI as a Behavioral Co-Trainer: Designing Human + Machine Learning Experiences

Location: Zoom Online Virtual Platform (link provided after registration)

Cost: Free for ATD Detroit and other local Chapter Members &

$10.00 for Guest

Instead of asking, “Will AI replace trainers?” we will focus on better questions:

What should AI handle incredibly well, and what must stay deeply human?
Where can AI automate micro-tasks so you can focus on high-value facilitation, relationships, and strategy?

Jay's Bio

For more information about the ID SIG or the upcoming Meet-up, contact SIG Organizer Jay Johnson at jay@behavioralelements.com

Note: SIGs are an exclusive member benefit for ATD Detroit and other local ATD chapter members.

----

What's a SIG?

Anyone can start a SIG - all it takes is a shared interest and a meeting place! To learn more, contact the Chapter President, president@detroitatd.org.

Monthly Meeting: From Smile Sheets to Statistical Confidence (Tuesday, September 08, 2026)

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 21:30:00 GMT

From Smile Sheets to Statistical Confidence: Practical Strategies for Defensible Training Evaluation

Presented by Adrian Gianni

Most learning teams collect plenty of training data—but turning that data into meaningful, credible evidence of impact is often the real challenge.

In this interactive session, you'll learn how to move beyond smile sheets and satisfaction scores to practical evaluation strategies that demonstrate the true value of learning. Through real-world examples, Adrian will show how to strengthen Level 3 behavior measurement, connect learning results to organizational outcomes, and communicate findings with greater confidence.

The best part? These approaches don't require an advanced background in statistics. You'll discover practical methods you can begin using immediately with the data your organization already collects.

Throughout the session, participants will engage in guided reflection, structured discussion, and live walkthroughs to evaluate their current measurement approach and identify opportunities for immediate improvement.

Learning Objectives

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

Identify common gaps that weaken the credibility of training evaluation.
Apply practical methods to strengthen Level 3 behavior measurement.
Describe strategies for connecting learning data to organizational outcomes.

Event Schedule

5:30–6:00 p.m. – Networking

6:00–6:15 p.m. – Welcome & Chapter Announcements

6:15–7:30 p.m. – Featured Presentation

About Adrian Gianni

Adrian Gianni is a training evaluation consultant and adjunct psychology professor specializing in practical, defensible measurement strategies for learning and development teams. He is the creator of Evaluation Trakker, an applied evaluation ecosystem designed to help organizations strengthen Level 3 behavior measurement, connect learning initiatives to business outcomes, and communicate results with greater confidence.

With experience teaching research methods and statistics at the university level, Adrian is passionate about translating complex analytics into practical, real-world workflows that learning professionals can confidently implement using data they already have.

We look forward to seeing you!

ATD Detroit

Advancing the talent development profession throughout Southeast Michigan.

www.atddetroit.org

Connect with us:
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Career Boost Coffee Chat (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Career Boost Coffee Chat

Topic:

When: Third Tuesday of each month at 8:00 AM
Where: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Cost: Free for ATD members (Detroit, Ann Arbor & West Michigan), $10 for future members

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and network with fellow professionals! Register now to secure your spot.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Leadership and Organizational SIG: Developing Leaders at All Levels (Tuesday, September 22, 2026)

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Hello ATD Detroit Members,

We’re excited to invite you to the Quarterly Leadership & Organizational Development Special Interest Group (SIG) session!

Date: September 22, 2026
⏰ Time: 4 pm -6pm PM ET
Location: DTE Office Hybrid (Zoom – link provided after registration)
Cost: Free for ATD Detroit and local ATD chapter members

Topic: Developing Leaders at all levels: Focus on leadership pipelines, coaching, and succession strategies.

Register here:

What’s a SIG?
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are small, member-driven communities focused on particular aspects of Talent Development. SIGs provide a space for members to explore their shared interests, skills, and roles, while fostering valuable connections.

For more information about the Leadership and Organizational Development SIG, please contact:

Olacoy Lawyer - olacoylawyer@gmail.com

We hope to see you there!

Instructional Design SIG (Thursday, September 24, 2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Hello ATD Detroit Members,

We’re excited to invite you to the Instructional Design Special Interest Group (SIG) session!

Date: Thursday, September 24th, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
Location: Virtual (Zoom – link provided after registration)
Cost: Free for ATD Detroit and local ATD chapter members

This month's Topic: Career Development for ID's: from entering the field to expert

For more information about the Instructional Design SIG, please contact:

Laurie Zeller – lauriezeller365@gmail.com
Misty Minna – Misty.minna@gmail.com
Julie Pochik - julieapochik@gmail.com

We hope to see you there!

Behavioral Science SIG (Thursday, October 08, 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

January Topic: AI as a Behavioral Co-Trainer: Designing Human + Machine Learning Experiences

Location: Zoom Online Virtual Platform (link provided after registration)

Cost: Free for ATD Detroit and other local Chapter Members &

$10.00 for Guest

Instead of asking, “Will AI replace trainers?” we will focus on better questions:

What should AI handle incredibly well, and what must stay deeply human?
Where can AI automate micro-tasks so you can focus on high-value facilitation, relationships, and strategy?

Jay's Bio

For more information about the ID SIG or the upcoming Meet-up, contact SIG Organizer Jay Johnson at jay@behavioralelements.com

Note: SIGs are an exclusive member benefit for ATD Detroit and other local ATD chapter members.

----

What's a SIG?

Anyone can start a SIG - all it takes is a shared interest and a meeting place! To learn more, contact the Chapter President, president@detroitatd.org.

2026 MI ATD Regional Conference (Monday, October 12, 2026)

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

2026 MI ATD Regional Conference

Monday Oct 12th, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Washtenaw Community College

Ann Arbor, MI

Join Michigan’s talent development community for a full day focused on Change in L&D.

MIATD26 brings together workplace learning professionals from across Michigan and neighboring regions to explore how we lead through change, uncertainty, and transformation in practical and human-centered ways.

Hosted collaboratively by Ann Arbor ATD and ATD Detroit, with additional support from West Michigan ATD, partners and volunteers, MIATD26 continues to build connection, shared learning, and professional community across the region.

Why Attend MIATD26?

Whether you lead learning programs, design training, support organizational change, coach leaders, or help teams adapt to what’s next, MIATD26 is designed to give you practical ideas, fresh perspective, and meaningful professional connection.

At MIATD26, you’ll have the opportunity to:

Explore timely conversations around change, AI, leadership, and workforce transformation
Connect with L&D, HR, OD, and talent professionals from across the region
Learn practical strategies you can bring back to your organization
Hear from speakers and practitioners navigating real workplace challenges
Build relationships across Michigan’s ATD community and beyond

This Year’s Programming Will Center Around:

Organizational transformation
Human-centered leadership
AI and workforce evolution
Resilience and adaptability
Strategic influence and communication

A Full-Day Experience Built for Learning, Connection, and Momentum MIATD26 will include a keynote experience, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, sponsor and exhibitor connections, and space to exchange ideas with peers who are facing many of the same questions and pressures.

The day is designed to be practical, energizing, and community-centered, helping attendees leave with new ideas, useful connections, and renewed confidence for the future of work and learning.

Who Should Attend?
This event is designed for:

Learning & Development professionals
Talent Development leaders
Instructional Designers
HR and Organizational Development professionals
Training managers and facilitators
Consultants and coaches
Workplace learning strategists
Emerging and established leaders

Register at https://a2atd.org/event-6646301

MI ATD Chapter Members: Advanced Registration $150 by Sun. Aug 16th, Regular Registration $185
Student Members of MI ATD Chapters: $100
Non-Members: $225
MI ATD Conference Volunteer / Workers: $100

Please register by Oct. 5, 2026.

All attendees (including guests) must register in advance so we can make facility and food arrangements.

Expected attendance: approximately 80–100 workplace learning professionals from across Michigan and neighboring regions.

Register early to save your spot. Space is limited, and advanced registration is available through Sunday, August 16, 2026.

Location Details:

Washtenaw Community College - Morris Lawrence Building

4800 E Huron River Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Presenter Information and Agenda Coming Soon:

Programming is currently being finalized. Keynote, speaker, sponsor, and agenda details will be announced as they are confirmed. Early registration is now open for those who want to reserve their spot.

Interested in sponsoring MIATD26? Sponsorship opportunities are available for organizations interested in supporting the talent development community across Michigan. Details are coming soon.

Career Boost Coffee Chat (Tuesday, October 20, 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Career Boost Coffee Chat

Topic:

When: Third Tuesday of each month at 8:00 AM
Where: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Cost: Free for ATD members (Detroit, Ann Arbor & West Michigan), $10 for future members

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and network with fellow professionals! Register now to secure your spot.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Instructional Design SIG (Thursday, October 29, 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Hello ATD Detroit Members,

We’re excited to invite you to the Instructional Design Special Interest Group (SIG) session!

Date: Thursday, October 29th, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
Location: Virtual (Zoom – link provided after registration)
Cost: Free for ATD Detroit and local ATD chapter members

This month's Topic: Career Development for ID's: from entering the field to expert

For more information about the Instructional Design SIG, please contact:

Laurie Zeller – lauriezeller365@gmail.com
Misty Minna – Misty.minna@gmail.com
Julie Pochik - julieapochik@gmail.com

We hope to see you there!

Career Boost Coffee Chat (Tuesday, November 17, 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Career Boost Coffee Chat

Topic:

When: Third Tuesday of each month at 8:00 AM
Where: Zoom (link provided upon registration)
Cost: Free for ATD members (Detroit, Ann Arbor & West Michigan), $10 for future members

Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and network with fellow professionals! Register now to secure your spot.

We look forward to seeing you there!