Meet our Leaders – 2025 |
| President
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| TreasurerStephanie SteirnStephanie is a senior instructional designer at Medical Mutual, where she has been for the past 18 years. She has done everything from facilitation to instructional design to launching and managing the curriculum development for our Medicare Advantage call center and the ancillary areas for the past nine years. Stephanie is incredibly proud to say that our MA call center now ranks in the top 10% in the country (She likes to say it’s all in the training). Stephanie has a Bachelor’s from Bowling Green in Sport management, so Cleveland is the right town to live in, since she’s a huge sports fan. Stephanie also has two Master’s from Cleveland State; one in Human Resources and Labor Relations and the other in Nonprofit Management. Stephanie has previously served as the President and Past President of the Cleveland Chapter of ATD, and the Director of Operations for the March of Dimes. This combination of both professional and volunteer oversight of financial responsibilities positions her to assist the CVATD as we continue to provide outstanding programming and remain fiscally strong for our members. Outside of the L&P world, Stephanie is a national fencing referee and enjoy dragon boat paddling on the Cuyahoga. She lives in Lyndhurst with her sister, Janice and their 8-pound terrier mix rescue, Elka. |
| SecretaryBrad BabcockBrad Babcock paid his way through C.S.U. designing hardware stores and Sherwin Williams paint stores. Shortly after graduation, a spinal injury left his father in a wheelchair. He took over his engine repair shop in the Florida Keys. He moved back to Cleveland when his father was able to live independently and went to work doing Jaguar restoration and race car work. Brad joined MTD doing technical support, moved into training, eventually managing the Training Department. He earned an MBA from Tiffin while in this position. After a regime change, he landed at PAC Machinery. They make automated packaging equipment. There, he wrote manuals, did packaging system set-up and repair, delivered training and technical support. Currently, Brad is a Technical Trainer at STERIS. They work to help improve the safety of medical procedures with sterilization equipment. He teach technicians to maintain, repair, and calibrate the equipment. Brad has served CVATD as President, Treasurer, and perennial Secretary, going back to 2003. CVATD has given him perspective and professional fellowship in what can be an isolated field. Brad lives in Lakewood with his wife Lynn and a moody cat named Velocette. In his spare time he plays with old sports cars, old motorcycles, and old sailboats. |
| Co-Director, MembershipAmy BrowneWith over 20 years of experience across multiple industries, Amy is a dynamic expert in Training and Development. She excels in facilitation and brings deep expertise in program management, project management, LMS administration, and instructional design. Amy is particularly passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and leadership training, where she aims to drive meaningful impact. Amy resides in Vermilion, OH, with her partner Ed and their dog Rip. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, boating, cooking, podcasts, and traveling. |
| Co-Director, MembershipAllana Bowman, APTDAllana Bowman is a seasoned Training and Development Specialist with over 13 years of experience in empowering individuals and organizations through strategic learning solutions. Currently at Pharmacy Data Management, Inc. (PDMI), she excels in designing and implementing programs that support employees' long-term development and align with organizational goals. Her expertise spans instructional design, coaching, needs analysis, e-learning, blended learning, and talent assessment, complemented by her strong skills in data analysis and change management. Certified by the Association for Talent Development (ATD) with an ATD Coaching Certificate and an Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credential, Allana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from The University of Akron. She is deeply committed to fostering a culture of learning and development, contributing fresh perspectives, and driving positive change. |
| Co-Director, ProgrammingRachel Crane, SHRM-SCP, M.Ed.Rachel began her career in education and behavioral science. What was meant to be a temporary role while pursuing graduate school turned into an 18-year career, including 13 years as a high school teacher and 5 years as a professional development facilitator and coach. During her time in education, Rachel achieved National Board Certification, earned her Master's degree in Educational Leadership, and contributed to her school district's rise to #8 in state rankings. She also helped launch the Beginning Educator Support Team, a 3-year coaching program for new teachers, and owned a side business providing behavior therapy to children with autism. After relocating to Ohio, Rachel made a career pivot into Learning & Development. As an instructional designer and consultant at Radcom, she leverages her expertise to enhance learning experiences. Additionally, Rachel is the founder of Thrive by Design Consulting. Drawing on her diverse background in education, training, coaching, and behavior analysis, Rachel's mission is to empower individuals and organizations to THRIVE through improved performance and personal growth. Rachel holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Mass Communication and a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Applied Behavior Analysis. She has also completed graduate coursework and certifications in Organizational Psychology, Human Resource Management, and Performance Thinking©. Committed to continuous growth and better serving her clients, Rachel is currently pursuing coaching certification through Case Western Reserve University. In her free time, Rachel enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling, and spending time with her husband and four sons. She actively volunteers with her local Boy Scout troop and the Great Trail Council, driven by a passion for helping others grow and succeed. |
| Co-Director, ProgrammingJanet Kendall WhiteJanet is the Founder and CEO of Berkshire Group, Inc., a certified WBE, and WOSB company and an award-winning Authorized Partner with Wiley & Sons, Inc. for Everything DiSC® and The Five Behaviors™. She is a sought-after speaker locally and internationally on a variety of leadership and organization topics. Janet has a natural passion to grow, expand and explore. Grow individuals, teams, and organizations. Expand capacity, thinking, and vision. Explore possibilities for change, improvement, and influence. Janet enjoys cycling, hiking, and adventure, especially with her daughter. |
| Co-Director, Marketing & CommunicationJennifer GrimesJennifer Grimes – a Learning Experience Designer, Graphic Designer, and Educator – launched Nektar Design in 2007, where she combines her love of graphic design and adult learning to create transformative learning experiences. Jen serves as Adjunct Faculty in the Graphic Design department of the Cleveland Institute of Art. Prior to founding Nektar Design, Jen was Senior Art Director at the marketing firm Arras Group (Cleveland, Ohio), and Senior Designer at the Washington Hospital Center (Washington, D.C.) in the Public Affairs & Marketing department. She is always on the lookout for new ways to make her next training courses better than the last. Jen lives on the westside of Cleveland with her two wonderful boys, Ben and Nate. She loves chilling with her boys and their cats, Harvey and Zappa, practicing yoga, reading, and cooking in her free time. |
| Co-Director, Marketing & CommunicationDerek HasselbuschDerek Hasselbusch is a Senior Instructional Designer in Global Sales L&D for Dell Technologies and has been at Dell for 13 years, joining them directly after graduating from Ohio University. His main responsibilities are to design training on the latest technologies (PC's, Servers, Storage, AI, etc.) to train the salesforce on the latest strategy, product messaging, and sales skills through workshops, webinars, eLearnings and video trainings. He also leads a team to upskill our Instructional Designers on topics to help them improve their design skills such as Video editing, Adobe tools, utilizing AI tools to speed development, storytelling and more. On the side, Derek has a photography business where he does family photoshoots, senior pictures, headshots, fitness photography and more. In his spare time, he likes to cook, hike, workout, and go to coffee shops with his wife and two daughters. |
| Co-Director, TechnologyCindy DiLauro, CPTD, PHRCindy is the Manager, Training and Development at Crown Cork and Seal in Massillon. Her responsibilities include leadership development, new hire orientation, and managing the process of training team members on the production floor. Cindy has her Bachelors in Education along with PHR and CPTD certifications. Cindy loves to learn from other learning professionals and loves interacting with CVATD. Cindy is married to her husband, Todd, and they have two adult children. Her family recently expanded to include her first grandson. She also has two rescue dogs, Cooper and Skippy. |
| Immediate Past President & Co-Director, TechnologyAmy Salapski, BCC, BLMCAmy is the Founder and Managing Partner of Cambium Development Group, where she expertly delivers coaching, instructional design, facilitation, and talent development consulting services to individuals, groups, and organizations seeking growth. Before launching CDG, she led organizational development at Dealer Tire, managing comprehensive leadership and professional development initiatives, high-potential programs, and internal coaching strategies. Her efforts significantly enhanced talent assessment, succession planning, and employee engagement across the company. Amy lives in Reminderville, Ohio, with her husband, Mark, where they enjoy hiking, cycling, and taking their son and daughter-in-law out on their pontoon boat. |
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