Serving talent development professionals in Greater Akron-Canton and surrounding areas.
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Dear Members,
As we approach the summer, I want you to think about the importance of your network. Are you tapping into it fully? I posted a LinkedIn post a month or so ago, encouraging anyone in our CVATD network to connect with me. I would love to connect with all of you and not just digitally. As our real world slowly seeps more and more into the digital world of social media, it’s easy to never really connect with the people around you, people who can create positive change in your life, people you can provide positive change. CVATD is a great resource for professionals. Every one of them whom I get the chance to meet is open to supporting those around them, whether help is asked for or not. Seek each other out. Plan actual or virtual coffee dates. Make plans. Forge friendships. I guarantee you won’t regret it.
Treasurer, Stephanie Steirn, Co-Director of Membership, Allana Bowman, and I got the chance to meet up in Washington, D.C., recently to attend the 24-hour whirlwind known as the ATD Chapter Leaders Conference. While there, we were able to connect with leaders beyond NE Ohio, learn from them, and hopefully forge some lasting bonds. I know we all have so many ideas swimming in our heads that only a fraction will make it to the light of day. One thing is certain, we returned home from D.C. energized and enthusiastic. We plan on using that new knowledge and those new connections to improve of chapter for you and for us, so that we can keep breathing new life into this already vibrant community.
One of the big takeaways I took is that a board of eleven can only do so much. If you have ever considered volunteering to help out CVATD, please reach out to me at CVATDpresident@gmail.com. No one is asking for a huge time investment, but if you love what this community provides you, consider giving back. We have small ways for even the busiest of talent development professionals to contribute (and in turn, perhaps learn something new and useful). I can tell you that serving CVATD has been one of the most satisfying, eye-opening, rewarding, and supportive experiences I have ever had. I might have done it originally on a whim, but joining this group and this board is one of the best decisions I've ever made. Why? Because I got involved, I made connections, and I gained allies where I was never expecting to find them. I highly recommend diving in.
Together in learning,
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CVATD president, Kate Graham (left) with CVATD Treasurer, Stephanie Steirn (right) together at the ATD25 Chapter Leaders Conference. |
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IN-PERSON NETWORKING EVENT
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I scream! You scream! We all scream for in-person networking! Thursday, July 10
5:30–7:30pm
Sal’s Gelato
Join us for a "delightful" evening of networking and ice cream at CVATD's Ice Cream Social! Mingle with fellow learning and development professionals in a relaxed enjoyable atmosphere. Not a member yet? This event is the perfect opportunity to meet our members and get the "scoop" on our chapter. We're known for our friendly and welcoming atmosphere, so even if you arrive as a stranger, you'll leave as a friend. We'll gather at Sal's Gelato in Akron's Merriman Valley. Alongside their delicious gelato selection, Sal's offers a variety of baked goods, chocolates, as well as a selection of coffee and tea.
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Click on the images below to learn more about these upcoming events:
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ATD intensive
AI in Learning and Development Virtual Three-Day Event
July 10, 17, & 24, 2025
ATD Intensive is a virtual, cohort-based experience designed for L&D professionals who want to build real skills with AI—not just talk about it. Across three themed days, you’ll explore tools and workflows, experiment with AI-powered learning design, and define your role in leading AI transformation at work.
Expect interactive sessions, customized resources, and a hands-on Hackathon where you’ll collaborate and practice applying what you’ve learned in real time. Leave with practical strategies, new connections, and the confidence to lead AI-powered change in your organization. |
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Save the date for our next CVATD book club this fall!Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, Location TBD
Enjoy the warm summer months with a great book — Radical Candor by Kim Scott.
In Radical Candor, Kim Scott introduces a transformative approach to leadership and communication that encourages leaders to care personally while challenging directly. Drawing on her experience at companies like Google and Apple, Scott outlines how giving honest, constructive feedback fosters a culture of trust, growth, and innovation.
By balancing empathy with clear, candid conversations, Radical Candor empowers leaders to build strong relationships with their teams, improve performance, and create an environment where people feel both supported and challenged. This book is an essential read for anyone looking to lead with integrity and inspire positive change in their workplace.
Grab the book and register today! |
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New Members:
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Nick Androw*
Stephen Molchan Robert Winn
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* Denotes ATD Power Members
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Nick Androw
Nick Androw is a Training & Technical Coaching Supervisor at DRB Systems, LLC. He's an innovative learning & performance professional with a history of continuous recognition and advancement in responsibilities and talent development. Nick is skilled in leading needs analyses and improvement, combining experience with best-in-class tools and processes. He organizes teams through interpersonal and group facilitation and executes on organizational goals. Nick collaborates with team members to leverage each other's talents, as well as aligning resources, processes, and metrics to ensure successful outcomes.
What made you decide to join CVATD?
I joined CVATD to learn from it and its members and to take these learnings back to improve my organization's L&D teams.
What is your favorite summer pastime or tradition?
My favorite summer pastime is going fishing. I frequent Nimisila Reservoir.
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Thank you to all of our sponsors. We appreciate your partnership! |
ADVOCATE SPONSOR
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SUPPORTER SPONSOR
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IN-KIND SPONSOR
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The Cuyahoga Valley Chapter of ATD provides a variety of opportunities for businesses to reach Talent Development professionals from the Akron/Canton (and beyond) region of Ohio. Through our sponsorship program, we aim to create "Win-Win-Win" solutions for our sponsors, chapter, and membership.
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ABOUTThe Cuyahoga Valley Association of Talent Development (CVATD) is a professional organization that can help you meet other professionals in your area of expertise, develop skills through a full calendar of learning activities and expand leadership skills through volunteer opportunities. |
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MEMBER BENEFITSCVATD offers our members upskilling webinars, in-person and online workshops, Lunch and Learn events, as well as Special Interest Group meetings. Visit our website at cvatd.org for program information and to access Members-Only content, like our membership directory, virtual meeting recordings and program handouts. |
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2025 Officers and Board of Directors
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President:
Kate Graham Past President:
Amy Salapski
Secretary:
Brad Babcock
Treasurer:
Stephanie Steirn Programming:
Rachel Crane
Janet Kendall White
Membership:
Allana Bowman
Amy Browne
Marketing and Communications:
Derek Hasselbusch
Jennifer Grimes
Technology:
Cindy DiLauro
Amy Salapski
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