Chapter Connections

James Oakley began the commitment to create a Transitioning Special Interest Group as soon as he joined the chapter last year.  In that time he has patiently attended various events while also planning the structure and strategy for the SIG.  He has helped other SIGs by attending their events as well. Together James and Kesha have created a new exciting SIG for ATD Orange County. 

Both Kesha and James have been an excellent example of what building a community is all about. Thank you both for volunteering and helping to bring new interest to ATD Orange County. 

Both members since 2025

Thanks to our host partner Hyundai Motor America for generously providing meeting space for several events throughout the year. The easy location has hosted several important networking and learning events for the professional community of ATD Orange County. 

We look forward to continuing the partnership with meeting space.

Julie Stahl co-led the Total Trainer University Delivering Training and Creating Training programs this year. Her enthusiasm and willingness to take on every task—large or small—in coordinating these foundational workshop series were truly impressive.

From scheduling meeting rooms and speakers to organizing the revision of presentation and participant materials, Julie kept every detail on track, ensuring a high-quality experience for all participants.

Member since 2024

Steven Tran attended Total Trainer University last year and decided to volunteer for the next series.

After graduating from Total Trainer University, Steven Tran joined the TTU team to help prepare for Creating Training. He participated in planning meetings, suggested updates to the website, contacted speakers and revised materials to enhance their design and usability.  He has worked alongside Julie Stahl and Lynn Nissen to continue to provide this important program to our ATD Community.

Steven also went the extra mile, donating participant materials and even sharing Matcha Kit Kats from his trip to Japan with the class. Steven’s teamwork, initiative, and commitment greatly contributed to the success of the program, and lucky for us he has volunteered to continue with Total Trainer next year as a planning team member.

Alisa was instrumental in reviving our Young Professionals SIG. Meeting with prior leadership, creating a strategy, marketing, recruitment and kick off, as well as subsequent events.

Alisa also drew in potential members with her university and outside of ATD-Orange County connections.  Her positive and enthusiastic social media efforts have created a lasting impression and has drawn interest to the young professionals SIG.  She successfully coordinated networking sessions, a panel interview, and continues to volunteer her time and efforts when possible.

The Young Professional SIG also serves our partner chapters ATD-LA, ATD-SD and more. 

Member since 2025

The vision for the Training and Technology Special Interest Group (TTSIG) was born in the aisles of the DevLearn 2024 Expo. While many discuss ideas, Safoura Seddighin is a leader who executes them. She not only embraced the vision outlined that day but translated it into action, coordinating discussions exploring the intersection of training and technology.

The Training and Technology SIG launched the year with leading experts in learning science and then kick-stared our 'Summer of AI' series with a discussion on designing with AI as a collaborative partner.

While she's planning additional sessions addressing AI in L&D, Safoura continues to seek further ways to explore the intersection of technology in training going into 2026!

Member since 2025

At ATD-OC, we often say that leadership is a journey, not a destination. But what does that journey actually look like? We asked our Chapter Leaders to reflect on their tenure and identify the experiences that helped them grow—and how serving on the board prepared them for the workplace. We wanted to hear about their successes, the pivots they had to make, and the lessons that stuck.

Here's what our Chapter President had to share:

One significant success was the networking event that Jodianne facilitated at the beginning of the year. James and I also attended to share the value of ATD National and the chapter. From this one event, several leaders have secured their commitment to volunteering with the chapter. This was an example of how community building starts with connecting, and in small, simple ways.

The Black Friday sale is here, and so is a unique offer to join ATD Orange County.

Through December 5, SAVE 20% on an new annual individual chapter membership or company membership.*

ATD Orange County is home base for SoCal professionals passionate about elevating workplace learning, performance, and impact.

For more than 50 years, ATD-OC has been the go-to community for talent development practitioners of all experience levels. We bring the best of global insights to our local members through hands-on workshops, practical learning experiences, and programs built around ATD’s proven talent development competencies.

When you sign up for ATD-OC, you join:

• A collaborative network that’s deeply committed to helping you grow.
• Events and resources are designed to help you sharpen your skills, apply fresh ideas, and make a real difference in your organization.
• Build a network of L&D professionals to help support your growth.

We’re building the future of learning and development—one where innovation, resilience, and human potential thrive. And we want you to be part of it.

Unlock your growth. Strengthen your impact. Join ATD-OC today.

Your Black Friday offer expires at Midnight on December 5.

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*available for new annual memberships only.

Arlene Carranza stepped into the role of Program Manager this year, managing three of our Learning Events: one as a panel moderator, and two as host of lunch and learn webinars.  For our October event, she led the pilot of a new program format—Inside the Design—an interview-style session with an L&D practitioner in which we explore the process and mindset behind bringing a program, workshop, or book from idea to completion.

Arlene not only adapted the prepared interview questions to make them her own, she also applied active listening to respond thoughtfully to our guest’s insights. Throughout the interview, Arlene offered meaningful follow-up questions that encouraged deeper reflection. Through her warmth, curiosity, and professionalism, she created an online environment where both guests and participants felt comfortable sharing personal experiences.

Because “Inside the Design” is meant to be informal and personal, Arlene’s skillful facilitation was essential to bringing the concept to life. 100% of surveyed members found the session valuable, and 96.7% reported the event as engaging. Her leadership in this inaugural session has been a true win for the Chapter, laying the foundation for us to launch Inside the Design as a key recurring program series throughout 2026.

We know that one in five employees globally is experiencing loneliness at work. We see it in our sessions—the hesitant voices in breakout rooms, the careful silence when we ask for volunteers, the way people disappear the moment the virtual session ends.

And here's what's striking: We're the ones who gather people. We create the rooms (physical and virtual) where colleagues actually interact. That puts us in a unique position—not to solve this crisis alone, but to be part of the solution.

Photo by Kamil Kalkan on Unsplash

What We're Wrestling With

There's pressure to "get through the content," to justify every minute of training time with measurable outcomes. Social connection can feel like a luxury we can't afford—nice to have, but not essential.

But what if we have it backwards? What if connection isn't fluff that takes time away from learning—it's the foundation that makes learning possible?

One Technique Worth Exploring Together

We've been experimenting with something we're calling Connection Before Content. It's not groundbreaking. You might already be doing some version of this. But we'd love to share what we've learned and hear what's working for you.

This isn't a standard icebreaker. (We've all suffered through those "fun fact" rounds that make introverts want to exit the Zoom.) It's a deliberate bridge between people's lived experience and the topic you're about to teach.

Here's How It Works

The Setup:

• Divide people into groups of three (not pairs, not four—there's something about three that gets everyone talking)
• Ask a question that connects their real life to your training topic
• • If you're teaching project management: "What's one project—work or personal—that you were genuinely excited about?"
  • If you're covering feedback skills: "Tell me about a time someone gave you feedback that actually changed how you work."

The Reflection:

• Bring everyone back together
• Ask one simple question: "What struck you about those conversations?"
• Let the shared themes emerge naturally

For Virtual Sessions:

• Use breakout rooms, still in threes
• Post the question in chat AND broadcast it to breakout rooms (we learned this the hard way)
• Have people share reflections in chat or on a virtual whiteboard so everyone can see the patterns

Why We Think This Matters

When people feel safe enough to share something real before you dive into content, something shifts. They're not just attending training, they're showing up as whole people. And that psychological safety doesn't evaporate when the session ends. It ripples outward.

But here's the thing: We know a blog post isn't enough. Just like an email isn't enough to train someone on a new skill, reading about connection isn't the same as practicing it.

Let's Practice This Together

We're gathering on November 19 to go deeper into this conversation. We'll be discussing practical methods to address workplace loneliness through enhanced connection—and yes, we're going to start with this triad activity so you can experience it firsthand and decide if it's worth adapting for your context.

This won't be a presentation where facilitator Steven van Cohen tells you what to do. It's a working session where you will:

• Discover why communication is not connection

• Explain how pro-social behaviors foster connection and a culture of belonging

• Apply connection-focused strategies to enhance engagement and retention within your own learning programs.

Learn more about "Fully Connected"

Because here's what we believe: L&D professionals aren't just information couriers. We're connection architects. And none of us has to figure this out alone.