Member Spotlight

Each month we take a moment to recognize a Chapter Member and share a little bit about them.  We hope you find their stories engaging!

June 2024

Name:  Melissa Starks

Position and Employer:  Learning & Knowledge Specialist at World Class Industries.

How long have you been with your employer and/or in your position?  2.5 years.

How long have you been a member of ATD Hawkeye Chapter?  5 years.

What is a typical workday like for you?  My typical workday varies depending on the projects I'm working on. I typically start my day reviewing emails to prioritize my day, along with reviewing any upcoming training or workshops scheduled. I then move on to updating trainings, collaborating with SMEs or working on my quarterly priorities and end my day following up with team members on emails, asking for feedback on projects or activities I facilitated that day, and adjusting trainings based on feedback.

What do you enjoy most about ATD Hawkeye Chapter?  Collaborating with members.

Name a professional challenge you have experienced and share how ATD Hawkeye has helped you overcome it. I spearheaded the development of training modules tailored for our operations floor team members, aimed at enhancing their skill set within their current roles. The objective was to introduce a new position that would effectively mitigate the daily firefighting challenges faced by our supervisors. Recognizing the potential difficultly in maintaining engagement among team members during training, I proactively sought out solutions. Attending a "Train the Trainer" session proved invaluable, equipping me with a wealth of effective tools and techniques to seamlessly integrate into our training sessions, ensuring sustained engagement and knowledge retention among participants.

What piece of advice related to talent and development has made a significant impact on you and your work?  Don't be afraid to challenge your SMEs on what outcome they desire to achieve. Sometimes you don't need to reinvent the wheel; you may only need to change a step or two.

What is your favorite part of the learning and development field?  Being able to connect with the whole company.

What are your greatest strengths, and what are your current development goals? My greatest strength is listening. My current development goal is to continue the development of our leaders.

What are your hobbies or favorite things to do with your team? My favorite things are to hang out with family, go biking in the summer, play sand volleyball, and take my dog for walks.

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