ROC ATD Exchange: Day One Done Right! (Wed, August 12, 2026)

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Join us for an open discussion on creating exceptional onboarding experiences that help new employees feel welcomed, connected, and set up for success. We'll explore:

The value of early engagement
Strategies for making a lasting first impression
The key moments that shape an employee's onboarding journey from pre-boarding and orientation through to integration, productivity, and long-term belonging.

Bring your recommendations, challenges, lessons learned, and best practices as we exchange ideas, share successes, and discuss opportunities to enhance the onboarding experience for every new hire.

Doors will open at 5 PM. Pizza and refreshments will be provided.

Together, let's discover what it takes to turn a first day into a great start.

High-Performing Organizations Start With a Strong Learning Culture (Thu, September 24, 2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Organizations that invest in how their people learn, not just what they learn, consistently outperform those that don't.* This hands-on workshop explores the science behind skill building, memory, and retention, giving participants a practical framework for designing training and knowledge systems that actually stick. Drawing on neuroscience research, we will examine why one-and-done training fails, what it takes to build genuine competence, and how a culture that values learning, practice, and the confidence to ask questions creates teams that are more capable, more autonomous, and more resilient.

Participants will leave with a working understanding of instructional design fundamentals, a high-level map of knowledge system options available to most organizations, and a set of practical tools they can apply immediately to a real training need within their own organization. Whether you are an HR professional, a manager, a trainer, or a subject matter expert who has been asked to build something and is not sure where to start, this workshop meets you where you are and gives you a foundation to move forward with confidence.

* Kern, R. (2023, September 21). Proving the ROI value of learning and development investments. Kern and Partners.

Meet Our Speaker!

Sarah Demaray is a Senior E-Learning and Training Strategist and the founder of CleverEd Solutions, a certified women-owned instructional design and knowledge systems consultancy. She specializes in transforming expert knowledge into clear, engaging, and results-driven learning experiences grounded in the science of how people learn. She has designed learning solutions across industries including aerospace, construction, and quality management, healthcare systems, corporate environments, and non-profit and social impact organizations.

Beyond course design, Sarah advises organizations on building the knowledge ecosystems that support learning long after the training ends, helping teams become more confident, more autonomous, and better equipped to find the right answers in the right places. With degrees in human development, curriculum development, and instructional technology, she brings a deeply learner-centered, human-first approach to every engagement.

Doors open at 5 PM for this program.

Association for Talent Development - Rochester Chapter Inc upcoming events

ROC ATD Exchange: Day One Done Right! (Wed, August 12, 2026)

High-Performing Organizations Start With a Strong Learning Culture (Thu, September 24, 2026)