2025 Keynote Speaker
Julie Dirksen is the author of the classics Design for How People Learn, and the newly released, Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change. As a learning strategy consultant, she specializes in integrating behavioral science into learning interventions with the aim of helping organizations create training that truly drives change.
With an MS in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University, Julie has also served as an adjunct faculty member at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and holds the distinction of Learning Guild Guildmaster. | Session Description
2025 Session Speakers
Doug Adams has been an instructional designer for both classroom and online environments for over 30 years. For the last 12 years, he’s been developing elearning with Articulate software, predominantly Storyline and Rise. | Session Description
Amanda Archer is currently the Director of Learning Experience at Advocate Health. She has been at Advocate Health for eight years, where she has led teams in learning experience, learning technology, and leadership development. Amanda has been in the learning space for over 18 years, starting as a facilitator and instructional designer and then a learning leader. | Session Description
Josh Cavalier, a 30-year L&D veteran, founded JoshCavalier.ai, guiding organizations in AI-driven learning. He demystifies AI on YouTube's Brainpower channel and speaks at major conferences. His upcoming book, Applying AI in Learning & Development, offers practical AI integration strategies. Cavalier empowers the L&D community as an educator and innovator. | Session Description
Tim Crowe is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in instructional design, project management and operations. His expertise in designing and delivering innovative learning solutions and simulations has helped him deliver the results in any assignment he is given. | Session Description
Kali Dimaris is a senior instructional designer at Morningstar, where she defines customer-facing learning for financial software. Previously, Kali spent years with NIIT and Infopro, consulting on analysis, design, and development for a range of client industries. Kali founded The ID Salon, a monthly meet-up of women sharing best practices, discussing trends, and crowd-sourcing solutions to real-world ID challenges. | Session Description
Lauren Hamm has been an instructional designer for online education for the past 13 years. She’s been using Articulate software to build courses for 11 of those years. | Session Description
Tory Hord is a Learning and Development Consultant based in Kansas City with a diverse background in instructional design, eLearning development, and graphic design. She has worked with organizations ranging from small startups to Fortune 500 companies. Tory is passionate about helping organizations achieve their goals through effective learning and development initiatives. | Session Description
Kimberly Kouame is the learning and resources manager in the learning and development team at Rotary International. She is responsible for overseeing Rotary’s learning management system, the development of online courses, and facilitator guides. She is leading an organizational initiative to make more evidence-based decisions. Kim is a member of ATD and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD). | Session Description
Elizabeth Kuhlmann is a senior trainer at Yukon Learning. She loves to make learning simple and enjoyable, both in the classroom as a trainer and when developing courses. She’s an enthusiastic accessibility advocate and is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies. | Session Description
Matt Kurtin is the Senior Director of Technology and Visual Design at Innovative Learning Group. With nearly 30 years of experience, he advises organizations on technology strategies that drive learning and performance improvement. Using a consultative approach, Matt combines the latest digital advancements with practical, results-focused solutions for clients. | Session Description
Jim Larkin is an instructional designer with over 15 years of experience creating e-learning experiences that fuse branched scenarios and instructional story design. A former teacher, Jim started integrating technology into the English classroom. He moved to developing e-learning in several different industries and is now with Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC). In his spare time, he is a comedy improviser in Chicago. | Session Description
James Manning is a technical trainer with 25+ years in industrial and manufacturing settings. A Navy veteran with degrees in workforce education and business, he specializes in industrial automation training at Miller Welding. He integrates emerging tech like AI, AR, and virtual platforms to enhance learning, communication, and customer experience—helping teams stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. | Session Description
Sarah Phillips is a Learning and Development Consultant and based out of Chicago, Illinois. With over ten years of experience in, Sarah is passionate about helping organizations meet their goals through training initiatives. She earned a Master of Arts in Training and Development from Roosevelt University and holds certifications in Diversity & Inclusion and Project Management. | Session Description
Ron Price has 40 years of experience in organizational effectiveness, leadership coaching, instructional design, spiritual development, and experiential learning. After joining Yukon Learning in 2008, Ron began working closely with the Articulate team to design and develop the certified training programs for the Articulate suite of tools. Ron enjoys facilitating training sessions and designing e-Learning solutions for Yukon Learning customers. | Session Description
Kristina Rogers is the CEO of Letters and Marques, bringing nearly a decade of expertise in designing impactful eLearning solutions for the aviation, technology, finance, and healthcare industries. With a deep passion for instructional design and communication, she specializes in creating engaging, effective learning experiences that drive performance and innovation. | Session Description
Amanda Roseboom is a Senior Instructional Designer with over 10 years of experience, starting in non-profits in 2014 and specializing in contact center and customer experience training for the past 6 years. With an MBA and expertise in leadership development, she is passionate about creating engaging learning experiences that drive organizational growth and continuous learning. | Session Description
Jazmin Webster is a life-long learner. For nearly 20 years, Jazmin has designed training programs, developed training strategies for global execution, and been an essential partner in driving organizational strategy. Jazmin's motto: "Be better." There is always a way to improve if you stay positive and reflect on what lessons can be learned from every situation. | Session Description