Join us for a facilitated panel discussion with key leaders about their perspective on the future of learning and how learning professionals can be prepared to meet the changing needs of their organizations.
Our panel features:
Jacqueline Sweeney, Director of Leadership & Organizational Development, Textron
Jackie Sweeney is the Director of Leadership and Organizational Development for Textron Inc. Her responsibilities include; supporting the professional development of employees across the enterprise through the Textron University programs, oversight of the Leadership Development Program to support our talent strategy, development of senior executives through best in class leadership programs, and management of talent technologies for recruiting, performance, and training.
Jackie has over 20 years experience in Human Resources, focusing primarily on learning and development, and began her career at Textron as a Senior Analyst with responsibility for the Textron University learning system. She subsequently held positions at Textron Systems as a Learning & Development manager and at Textron, Inc. as Manager of Learning Technologies before moving into her current role as Director at the end of 2014.
Jackie holds a Masters of Science in Leadership Studies with a concentration in Human Resources from Northeastern University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Karen Freedman – VP of Enterprise Learning, FM Global
Karen serves our chapter as President Elect and works to create awareness of our chapter and building relationships with key organizations and individuals.
Karen is Vice President and manager of enterprise learning at FM Global, one of the world's largest commercial property insurers. Karen is responsible for the education and training of 5,500 employees and thousands of clients worldwide. As FM Global's youngest female vice president, Karen has transformed the company's entire approach to learning since 2005, both for employees as well as clients. Her innovative learning approaches for clients has recently earned her Risk & Insurance magazine's 2010 Risk Innovator award for the insurance industry - an award that recognizes those who demonstrate innovation and develop creative, out of the ordinary solutions for risk mitigation. Karen was also named to Providence Business News Forty under 40 class of 2010, which recognizes forty business and community leaders under the age of 40.
FM Global's learning management system, which was approved and implemented under Karen's leadership, was highlighted in the 2010 release of Joel Kurtzman's latest business book: Common Purpose: How Great Leaders Get Organizations to Achieve the Extraordinary. Karen joined FM Global in 1996 as an associate training specialist.
Jeffrey Gagnon, Assistant Vice President, Director of Training and Development, Amica Mutual Insurance Company
Jeff has spent his entire professional career with Amica Mutual Insurance Company. He began his career in 1989 as an associate claims adjuster and worked in various roles within the claims department including assistant manager, where he was charged with the day-to-day operations of the 72 person claims department.
Jeff currently leads a twenty-five person training, development and recruiting team that supports the entire organization’s training and development needs in addition to the recruiting for their Future Leaders Program. Jeff is an active member of the Human Capital Institute (HCI), the National Association of Colleges and Employees (NACE), and the CPCU society. Jeff is also on the board of the Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-violence in Rhode Island.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Michelle O'Brien, chapter president and Associate Director of Human Resources, Community College of Rhode Island
Elected as President in March 2015, Michelle oversees the leadership of the Board of Directors and the operations of the Bay Colonies Chapter. Michelle has previously served our chapter as Vice President of Communication as well as Vice President of Volunteers.
Michelle is an accomplished HR professional with over twenty years' experience in higher education and workforce development. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Human Resources at the Community College of Rhode Island, Adjunct Professor for CCRI's Business Department, and Faculty for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. In addition to ATD Bay Colonies, Michelle serves on the board of the Center for Innovative Teaching Learning & Assessment at CCRI and as board member of the RI Higher Education Training Consortium. Michelle is certified to deliver Achieve Global and MBTI training.
Michelle earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island.
She resides in Cumberland with her husband, Jamie O’Brien.
