Keynote Speaker
Beth Ziesenis
Meet your new nerdy best friend . . . Beth Ziesenis: Author. Speaker. Nerd. Since her first Motorola RAZR flip phone, Beth has made a verb out of the word nerd. She’s here to help you filter through thousands of apps, gadgets, widgets, and doodads to find the perfect free and bargain technology tools for work and home. Although the only real trophy she ever won was for making perfect french fries at McDonald’s in high school, Beth has been featured on best speaker lists by several organizations who write best speaker lists. She has written a whole shelf of books on apps and has spoken to more than 100,000 attendees at events across the globe.
TK Rockstars
Brandon Carson
Brandon Carson is a visionary leader in learning and development with more than 20 years of experience. Currently serving as the VP of Learning, Leadership, and Cultural Experiences at Starbucks, Brandon oversees the design, delivery, and evaluation of learning solutions for more than 450,000 partners worldwide. He is also the founder of L&D Cares, a nonprofit offering no-cost coaching and mentoring to L&D professionals.
A published author and innovative thinker, Brandon has pioneered award-winning learning programs and large-scale organizational transformations for major companies in the technology, transportation, and retail sectors. His mission is to modernize and elevate L&D strategy to meet the needs and expectations of the digital age.
Josh Cavalier
Josh Cavalier has been creating learning solutions for corporations, government agencies, and higher education institutions for thirty years. He is an expert in learning and development and has applied his industry experience to using large language models and other generative artificial intelligence (AI) frameworks to improve human performance. Josh is passionate about sharing his knowledge. He has a popular YouTube channel and weekly live show, Brainpower, where he teaches you step-by-step how to use generative AI. He is a seasoned speaker who has presented at conferences such as ATD, TechKnowledge, DevLearn, Learning Solutions, NAB, and Adobe MAX. He was the keynote speaker at ATD Houston’s Virtual Technology Conference and Learning DevCamp this year.
Sarah Mercier
Sarah Mercier, MBA, CPACC, specializes in innovative learning technology and strategic implementation of learning solutions. She is an advocate for learner-centered design and is known for her ability to translate highly technical concepts and research to real-world practice. As CEO of Build Capable, she leads a team of training, design, and technology experts. Sarah is an author and the editor of Design for All Learners: Create Accessible and Inclusive Learning Experiences. She is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and business events on topics such as learning experience design, accessibility, xAPI, and learning ecosystems.
Hadiya Nuriddin
Hadiya Nuriddin brings more than two decades of expertise in learning strategy, instructional design, e-learning development, and facilitation. After an accomplished career in corporate learning, she founded her own firm, Duets Learning, where she has collaborated with a broad range of clients on diverse topics. Hadiya teaches learning and development courses through Duets Learning and also with the Association for Talent Development (ATD), The Learning Guild, and Training magazine. Her impact on the field has earned her accolades, including the Learning Guild’s Guild Master Award and ATD’s Talent Development Outstanding Professional Award. As a recognized thought leader, Hadiya frequently delivers keynotes at global conferences, authors articles on learning and development, and has published two books with ATD Press: StoryTraining (2018) and Quality Management in Learning and Development (2024).
Megan Torrance
Megan Torrance is the CEO & founder of TorranceLearning. Under her leadership, the firm has grown over two decades, serving Fortune 1000 companies, major research universities, global professional associations, and the federal government. TorranceLearning was named to the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch list in 2018. Megan’s strategic vision has enabled TorranceLearning to affect millions of workplace learners worldwide, reflecting her deep commitment to transformative corporate education. Megan’s influence extends industry wide. As the author of Agile for Instructional Designers, Data & Analytics for Instructional Designers, and Making Sense of xAPI, and the founder of the xAPI Learning Cohort, she has shaped the discourse in the field. She is a facilitator with eCornell’s Women’s Executive Leadership certificate, an instructor in Cornell’s Executive HR Master’s program, and an adjunct in Penn State’s Learning Design & Technology Master’s program. Megan has an MBA and a BS, both from Cornell University.
