As Learning Experience Designers, we focus on helping participants engage with the content in meaningful ways. That often means discussing goals, ideas, and strategies with others in the room. These conversations become an organic way to connect with people who share similar interests.  While it’s not usually one of our stated goals to help participants make friends, it’s always fun to see them exchanging contact information or connecting on LinkedIn at the end of a workshop.

This idea of connection recently came to life for me. This year, as Past President of ATD Orange County, I also volunteered to manage the two Total Trainer University workshop series: Creating Training and Delivering Training. During our Creating Training workshops last year, I met participant Julie Stahl, Practice Operations Training Specialist at Hoag Hospital. I was immediately impressed by Julie’s enthusiasm for all things learning and development. It felt like I had found a kindred spirit. After the series ended, I asked if she’d like to join me in managing the Delivering Training series that followed. She agreed—and in the process of volunteering together, we’ve also become friends.

Now, with the next Creating Training series starting in October, Julie and I are teaming up again—this time alongside Steven Tran, another Total Trainer University graduate who shares our passion for creating and delivering training. Together, we asked ourselves: How could we add even more value to the professional development experience? Our answer: more connection, more community. That’s why we hosted our first-ever Total Trainer University Reunion.

Graduates from 2019 through 2025 joined in, and together we discovered just how much we had in common: our Total Trainer experiences, our professional goals, and even life milestones. We kept the event light and fun, celebrating promotions, new jobs, engagements, and babies on the way. It was such a success that we’re already planning to hold an in-person reunion next year. If you’re a past Total Trainer University graduate of either Creating Training or Delivering Training, we’d love for you to join us!

And if you’re considering attending Creating Training—or sending someone from your team—I hope you do. The series offers not only skill development, but also fresh insight into the learning and development challenges organizations face and how they overcome them. As an in-person program, it’s also a chance to grow your professional network and connect with others who share the drive to learn and improve. And if you’re lucky, you might even make a friend.

The next Creating Training series begins October 4th—registration is now open! Don’t just build your skills—join a community where learning, growth, and connection happen.