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THE EVENT OF THE YEAR!
Champions of Learning Awards Dinner 2026
Leading without Limits
Celebrate the leaders, teams, and programs shaping the future of workplace learning.
April 24, 2026 | 4:00 – 8:00 PM
BRiC Campus Conference Center | Boca Raton, FL
Happy Hour • Dinner • Keynote • Panel • Awards
Early Bird: $79 through March 15
Regular Price: $109 (March 16 - April 18)
Late Price: $139 (April 19 - walk-up)
(Same price for Members & Non-Members. Guests & spouses welcome.)
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
WHY ATTEND
Champions of Learning is ATD South Florida’s signature annual celebration — bringing together HR, L&D, Talent, Coaching, and Organizational Development professionals for an evening of recognition, connection, and inspiration.
For more than 25 years, this event has honored bold thinkers, courageous leaders, and best-in- class learning initiatives that move organizations forward.
This year’s theme — Leading Without Limits — recognizes those who challenge convention, break silos, and design learning experiences that create real impact.
If you care about learning.
If you care about leadership.
If you care about people.
This night is for you.
WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE
✔ Networking Happy Hour
✔ Three-course Dinner
✔ Inspiring Keynote with Liane Davey
✔ Panel of ATD South Florida Past Presidents
✔ Best-in-Class L&D Initiative Award
✔ People’s Choice Award
Expect great conversations, meaningful connections, and a room full of people who believe in the power of learning.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: LIANE DAVEY
Liane has never climbed Mount Everest (and never will). So far, she’s never been in space. She doesn’t even have an Olympic gold medal (although she did win the grade 9 Phys Ed award). But the prize for solving the most difficult team challenges is named after her (no, not really, but someday it probably will be).
For the past 25 years, Liane has researched and advised teams on how to achieve high performance. Known as the “teamwork doctor,” she’s worked with teams from the frontlines to the boardroom, across a variety of industries, and around the globe from Boston to Bangkok. In working with hundreds of teams, including 26 Global Fortune 500 companies (and counting), she has developed a unique perspective on the challenges that teams face – and how to solve them.
Beyond her work in the boardroom, Liane is a New York Times Bestselling author of You First: Inspire Your Team to Grow Up, Get Along, and Get Stuff Done and The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get Your Team and Organization Back on Track. She is also a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review and has been sought by several media outlets, including CNN, NPR, USA Today, The Globe & Mail and Forbes, for her expertise on increasing productivity, enhancing engagement, developing leaders, and as one client put it, “dealing with the damn drama!”
As a keynote speaker, Liane has spoken for audiences as big as 2000 and as intimate as 20. Regardless of the size, she delivers the perfect combination of education and entertainment that leaders and teams need to get unstuck and make an impact on their organizations. She gets even the most serious audiences laughing by telling it like it is—including stories about many of the unbelievable situations she’s experienced working with (and on) teams. (And, by the way, she’s not afraid to admit that she learned most of these lessons the hard way). In between the laughter and stories, she provides a proven model and framework, along with the latest research, so that attendees walk away with the tools to start making their teams better from the moment they leave the room.
Liane’s clients include Amazon, Walmart, TD Bank, RBC, AMD, Google, Bayer, KPMG, Aviva, Maple Leaf Foods, and SONY Interactive Entertainment. Liane has experience and expertise across a wide range of industries, but with each client, she customizes her keynotes so that your audience feels like she “gets” you and has been working with your organization for years.
PAST PRESIDENT PANEL
Four former ATD South Florida Presidents come together on one stage to answer the burning questions every learning leader is asking:
- What was it like taking the lead for South Florida?
- What was your most inspiring moment as President?
- What are you most proud of from your term?
- What would you do differently if starting today?
- What role does AI play in our daily work?
Real talk. Real stories. Real wisdom.
AWARDS THAT MATTER
Best-in-Class Learning & Development Initiative Award
Recognizing an outstanding program that demonstrates measurable impact and innovation.
People’s Choice Award
Chosen by attendees — celebrating the program that captures hearts and minds.
Come cheer on South Florida’s L&D rockstars.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- HR Professionals
- Learning & Development Leaders
- Talent & OD Leaders
- Coaches & Consultants
- People Managers
- Anyone passionate about developing people
Bring a colleague.
Bring a guest.
Bring your curiosity.
Early Bird (through March 15): $79
Regular: $109 (March 16 - April 18)
Late/Onsite: $139 (April 19 - April 24)
Same price for Members and Non-Members.
Guests and spouses welcome.
TESTIMONIAL
“Champions of Learning is the one event each year I never miss. It’s inspiring, energizing, and reminds me why I love this profession. Make new friends, reconnect with old ones. Whatever you do, don't miss this opportunity to find your tribe.”
— Past Attendee
Share Your Success!
Every year the Association for Talent Development South Florida Chapter invites local organizations to share a successful project or initiative that has positively impacted employees, customers, and/or business results. Your participation in this effort is essential to maintaining a thriving Talent Development community.
More About Champions of Learning!
3 Reasons to Submit 1. Recognize and celebrate the successes of your L&D team! 2. Receive kudos from your organizational leaders. 3. Pay it forward, inspire others. | Join The Party!
| What's the Eval Criteria? Best practices are evaluated on the following criterion:
Judges' scores and ratings are not shared. |
- The top three submissions will be recognized with gold, silver, and bronze awards at the Champions of Growth Event on March 20th at the Sonesta in Ft. Lauderdale.
- All submissions will receive recognition at the Champions of Growth Event.
- Submitters are given the opportunity to share a 5 minute showcase of their best practice at the event.
- Showcases are intended to brief, creative, and engaging.
Showcase your Initiative at our Champions of Learning DinnerWe invite organizations submitting a best practice to share their initiative at our annual Champions of Learning event. Each organization is invited to give a brief showcase.
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What do past winners say?
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Hotwire Communications Past Bronze Award Winner |
AutoNation Past Gold Award Winner |
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"After making significant changes to our onboarding program my first year on the job, it was a perfect opportunity to submit our project for the Champions of Learning contest. My entire HR team members were ecstatic we won and we received numerous accolades from our executive leaders. This project and resulting award has helped both my career and my department grow in respect from others. We are so pleased to have had the honor of participating in this amazing event." - Michelle Knight, Senior Director of Talent and Learning |
"Perhaps most rewarding about receiving a Champions of Learning Award is knowing that peers in the training business recognize your team’s talent. As a learning leader, you can also leverage such recognition to build the value of the training function within your organization. The C-suite loves to talk up such accomplishments to their stakeholders!" - Steve Parkins, Previous Director of Learning and Development at AutoNation |