Visitors to the Miami ASTD Web site,

Our hopes for 2010 are that it will be the year for the economy to start walking the long path towards a complete recovery. As workplace learning and performance professionals, we need to be prepared for the challenges that the new economy is bringing to all of us. Many jobs in the training industry were lost during the last years and those who are still in transition, are facing the challenges of an altered job market.

According to the latest state of the industry report issued by ASTD National, companies have adopted a prudent, efficiency – oriented approach to training and development. Delivering efficient training that is focused on critical organizational needs and leave aside the nice-to-haves, seem to be the strategy of most Training departments to keep costs down and survive in their organizations. Building leadership skills through training methods with a creative, out-of-the-box, individual, self-paced approach are in highest demand than traditional approaches.

Social networking media, collaboration and user generated content tools such as Web 2.0, mini-blogs and Twitter are definitely shaping the new way of delivering training and making it both, effective and efficient. In a down economy companies are turning to the professional who knows how to use technology to cut cost and make sure the training does its job. Webinars and Podcasts appear ahead as a way of cutting travels to training and reach mass audiences that learn at their own pace. 

At the Miami Chapter we are aware of this new reality and the need to strengthen the way we are supporting our members to become more competitive in this ever-changing industry environment. We are looking to put together programs and value-added features for the benefit of all and to really support our members to successfully cope with these challenges and convert them into competitive advantages.

Joining National ASTD and the Miami chapter is the best strategy for all of those who want to get access to valuable resources and keep up with the trends of the Training industry nationwide and at the same time, want to know how those trends are shaping the local industry. Moreover, by joining a local chapter, professionals strengthen their network and become part of a vibrant community of professionals who collaborate with each other. Those of us who have been in transition know about the importance of a solid network and, as CSC’s CLO Holly Hunter put it in the recent issue of the T+D magazine; “…knowledge is not longer the power. The power is in your network and how you use it”.

I look forward to see you all at the Miami ASTD Chapter in 2010!

Regards,

 

Solymar Torres
2010 Chapter President
president@miamiastd.org