Colette De Nardo

For a long time, I've had the privilege of serving ATD South Florida, and I've always been in a supporting role behind the scenes. So when I was approached about leading the organization, my first thought was, 'Wait, me?!'. I was introduced to ATD South Florida by a previous Director and encouraged to obtain the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) certification. But in all seriousness, I realized it was a perfect opportunity to give back to a community that has given me so much. I still remember attending my first meeting over 10 years ago and being welcomed by our Past President, Alyssa Chuck, and I'm incredibly grateful for the long-lasting friendships and mentorships that grew from that very first event. My goal now is to pay that forward and empower others to feel confident, capable, and ready to take the next step in their career, no matter what it is.

Our members are at the very heart of everything we do. My top priority is to make sure ATD South Florida is a true home for talent development professionals—a place where you feel you belong, can connect with peers, and find the resources you need to succeed. To achieve this, we're building our strategy around four key pillars: Community and Member Engagement, which focuses on providing valuable events and programming; Digital Innovation, to enhance our online presence and reach; Strategic Partnerships, to expand our national and local network; and finally, Strong Governance, to ensure our board is working transparently and effectively to serve our members. My challenge to the board is simple: to make sure every decision we make brings us closer to our members.

Barb built an incredible foundation, and I'm so grateful for her hard work and vision. Last year we launched amazing initiatives like our strategic partnerships, submitting best practices to ATD National, and empowering the board to drive engagement. Our plan this year is to build on this momentum by continuing to foster member engagement. We're rolling out some exciting new initiatives this term, including:

• A new AI Work Group to help our community stay on the cutting edge of technology.
• A dedicated focus on increasing student membership to build the next generation of talent development leaders.
• And a brand-new virtual Podcast Club to dive into the latest trends and insights from the world of L&D.

We are here to serve our membership, and we believe these new opportunities will provide even more value and community for everyone.

This is a fantastic question, and it's truly at the heart of our mission. First, we're launching our 'Feel Good Friday' campaign on social media, where we'll ask members to share their wins from the week. We want to celebrate the great work our community is doing and create a space for positive encouragement. This is more than just a campaign; it's about strengthening our relationship with our members and ensuring our programming aligns with their goals. Second, we have several committees, including our Champions of Learning event committee and our Mentorship Program. These groups will give our members a voice and a platform to share their talents, because the best ideas often come from our community. We want to empower our members to step up and lead in ways that are meaningful to them. In short, there is always a place for you here, and we can't wait to see what you bring to the table.

I'm most excited about the incredible team I get to serve alongside. We have a dream team of returning and new board members, and that combination is truly exciting. It’s a testament to our shared mission that the majority of our Vice Presidents and Directors have chosen to return for another term—some even stepping into new roles to grow and stretch their skills. This continuity provides a strong foundation and institutional knowledge. At the same time, our new Vice Presidents and Directors bring fresh energy, innovative ideas, and diverse perspectives that will challenge us to think bigger and be better. This combination of experience and fresh perspective will empower us to serve our members and achieve our goals with even more creativity and impact. I'm so excited to see what we can accomplish together!