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What Members Say

  • 04/13/2011 2:41 PM | Denise Ross (Administrator)
    ASTD-LA has had a huge impact on my professional career.

    Years ago I went from an internal Training & OD Director for a Fortune 500 to an external consultant specializing in teams, performance, and leadership.  When I made the shift, I thought ASTD-LA would be a direct source for new clients.   But, it doesn’t work that way!  What I experienced was the opportunity to collaborate with some of the finest professionals in the Learning & Development field.  I have been part of dozens of ad hoc, collegial teams tailored to the needs of specific clients -- colleagues have brought me in on projects and I’ve been able to call them in for my clients.  By working with others on Boards and Committees, I had been able to ‘preview’ others’ skills, and ‘audition’ my own skills for them.

    ASTD-LA has not been a direct source of clients – serving as a source of colleagues, it has been even better!

    Harry was the recipient of ASTD-LA'S Life Member Award in 1998 for exceptional contributions to the training field and ASTD-LA.
  • 04/13/2011 2:40 PM | Denise Ross (Administrator)
    When my mentor heard that I got a promotion to be a corporate trainer, she immediately suggested ASTD. “You’ll love the people. It will feel like you’ve come home.”  What wonderful conversations I had at my first chapter meeting. I attended the Train the Trainer course with Mike Sanders and was riveted by the experience and came away with oodles of tools that made me look oh-so-professional in my new position.
     
    When I opened my own consulting business, I started calling fellow ASTD “externals” to network and get bright ideas. One kind person suggested SkillPath Seminars to me. I hadn’t yet heard of them. Over two years later, SkillPath remains my bread and butter client. I’ve been able to work in six countries and in groups of over 300 people. And now I can relish this moment and realize that my life changed dramatically based on one conversation with an ASTD member! Now I feel like a peacock flaunting its feathers when I tell people I’m on the Board. It sounds so fancy and serious. As it turns out, it’s growing me in ways I never would have been able to guess. I’m making new friends and getting noticed for my own unique contributions.
     
    Thanks ASTD-LA for the support I’ve received on the adventure so far.
  • 04/13/2011 2:39 PM | Denise Ross (Administrator)
    As I was transitioning to training and development, I did half a dozen informational interviews. Five of those people told me I "had" to join ASTD. So I did. Almost immediately I saw that I could serve myself best by serving the Chapter. I rarely talked about what I was looking for (perhaps because I wasn't too sure myself yet!), but I worked elbow to elbow with the Chapter leaders, wanting to demonstrate that I was responsible and willing. And it worked! Within the first five years of starting my company in 1992, 95% of my business was coming through my ASTD network. Many of those connections have continued to today.
  • 04/13/2011 2:39 PM | Denise Ross (Administrator)
    The original reason I was attracted to ASTD-LA in 2006 was to exchange ideas (and “shamelessly share” information) for training courses. I had just been hired to lead the learning and development function for an industry leading company which manufactures and sells scientific instruments worldwide with over 550 employees scattered around the globe.
     
    I find the people associated with ASTD-LA energizing to be around, and there’s plenty of information to exchange. I personally capitalize on the great relationships I’ve developed over the past few years as well as on all of the workshops and programs to keep me current. My job requires me to get down into the “muck” on many issues, and it would be easy to become stagnant in my skills and awareness of trends in our industry. Being involved with ASTD-LA allows me to keep my skills and awareness current – and to associate (“vent”) with like-minded learning professionals. Becoming a member of the board to support fellow members has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. A great deal more work is involved than what I remember signing up for (thanks a lot Lawrence!), and it is truly a great learning experience. Learning to influence and lead while working with fellow volunteers in a non-profit situation is truly an eye-opening experience. With ASTD-LA, it really seems that the more involved we get, then the more we get out of it.
  • 04/13/2011 2:37 PM | Denise Ross (Administrator)
    I am the entire training department for a 145-person credit union. Previously, I had worked for much larger organizations where I could brainstorm with others in my department to learn and grow. Now I have to look outside for information and creative ideas. I learn so much from the other members; it’s like having a team of motivational speakers at my fingertips who give me the latest and greatest tips to make me a more effective trainer/designer. (And the classes and meetings have been wonderful, both in terms of information given and people met.) ASTD-LA rocks!

ATD-Los Angeles Chapter
9852 W. Katella Ave. #187
Anaheim, CA 92804
office@atdla.org
562-908-3020
Chapter Code: CH8028

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