Join us as we kick off a brand-new season with the ATD Rhode Island Chapter! Your first drink is on us and appetizers will be served.

Come meet learning and development professionals from around the area, hear about our upcoming programs, and explore ways to get involved with the chapter. 

We'll also have a raffle with fun prizes to celebrate the start of the year - so bring your energy, curiosity, and a colleague or two. This is the perfect way to network, recharge, and start the season strong with the ATD RI community!

Skill development in a fluid work environment is a challenge for employers and employees. This session will focus on the specific skills needed for a specific job and how to obtain them. Participants will become familiar with examples of companies that have programs in place and their incentives for completion and successful delivery. 

Learning Objectives

• Participants will differentiate reskilling, upskilling, and rightskilling
• Participants will discuss and evaluate the responsibilities of continuing education by employers and employees
• Participants will delve into three contrasting industries by exploring the continuing education opportunities valued in each industry

About our Speaker

Ellen Weaver Paquette, NCC, CSSP, NCDA Fellow and FCD Master Trainer Preceptor has taught career development to graduate students in counseling for 35 years while teaching the US NCDA FCD credential to those in agencies, government, business and education in the United States and abroad. She has taught in Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey and the UAE establishing a fluidity of teaching and cross cultural sensitivity. She has been recognized for her contributions to NCDA in two prestigous awards, has served on the FCD original Advisory Council and on the NCDA Board of Directors.

Bite-Sized Learning is ATD Rhode Island's facilitated lunch and learn series. It is free to all ATD members. Join us, let's share and learn!

This month's topic: Habits of Lifelong Learning. Ready to talk about the future of learning?

Join fellow Talent Development pros for a casual, bite-sized conversation about keeping our teams skilled-up for the long haul. Inspired by this article from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), we'll discuss the shift away from traditional, one-time degree programs towards a more flexible, skills-based approach to learning. We will exchange ideas and best practices on how to effectively integrate short-form, online, and hybrid learning opportunities to meet the demands of today's rapidly changing workplace. 

Come ready to share your experiences and learn from your peers as we collectively tackle the challenge of closing the skills gap in areas like AI, cybersecurity, and change management. Leave with actionable takeaways to empower your workforce and position your organization as a true "learning destination."

M-Shaped learning professional - someone who brings not just one area of deep expertise, but multiple. You'll learn how to move beyond content creation and evolve into a well-rounded learning pro who's equipped to drive strategy, lead change, and solve real business problems. And one of the most important shifts? Learning how to embed yourself in the business. That means building relationships with revenue-driving teams, partnering with stakeholders, and aligning your learning efforts with what actually moves the business forward. Whether you're just getting started in L&D or you're an experienced professional looking to grow, this is your blueprint for staying relevant, in-demand, and future-ready.

Topics covered in this session include:

• Why T-shaped isn't enough anymore
• How to build your M Shape
• Why aligning with business goals, and embedding in revenue-generated areas, makes you indispensable
• Practical tips to expand your capabilities and your influence

About our Speaker

Cara North has spent her career helping organizations design and deliver learning that truly connects with people. Cara is currently Vice President of Product Management at JPMorgan Chase, where she previously led Digital Learning initiatives. Cara is also the founder of The Learning Camel, an independent consulting practice, and an Adjunct Professor in Boise State University's Organizational Performance & Workplace Learning master's program.

An active voice in the talent development field, Cara serves as a facilitator for ATD certificate programs covering topics such as instructional design, project management, learning technologies, and Articulate Storyline. She is the author of Learning Experience Design Essentials and is widely recognized for her ability to bridge strategy, technology, and human-centered design.