Theme:  Let CFTEA Be The Solution

Wednesday, September 13 & Thursday, September 14, 2023

North Conway Grand Hotel
72 Common Ct
North Conway, NH  03860

Simplified Conference Registration Link:
>>>> Register here. <<<<

Registration Deadline:  Monday July 31, 2023

An opportunity to share best practices, engage with peers, and find solutions!

Join CFTEA’s 26th annual leadership conference for a day and a half of development, collaborating with learning and development peers and board/career growth. So many new options as educators leverage technology and do more with less have made this an important event. This event is an investment in training and discussions related to the future of learning and development. How can CFTEA be a solution to your organization’s employee retention and development?

What are people saying about last year’s attendance?

“The conference was very interesting, inviting, and open for participation.”

“The speakers were very informative and engaging.”

“As someone new to training, the conference went above my expectations and I can’t wait to get back and implement everything!”

“The interaction with everyone was perfect.”

Why are we attending in September? Lodging prices have continued to increase and the end of October/beginning of November weather impacts have resulted in a poor attendee experience. By mid-September, school has started and the tour buses have not started their fall runs at this time. The resort is located an hour and a half from the Portland, Maine International Airport.

Located in the heart of the White Mountains, New Hampshire, the North Conway Grand Hotel is the finest resort in North Conway.  Summer or winter, you can enjoy an unforgettable visit without leaving the hotel grounds as shopping is located directly at Settlers Green Outlet Malls. Looking for additional information as a first time attender to the conference? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page. It is a great place to bring the family and enjoy beyond our conference.

Wake up to mountain views in our renovated rooms and suites, with charming New England inspired décor, custom designed furniture and marble baths. Enjoy regional cuisine and craft cocktails in the Mountainside Restaurant and Tavern. Relax by our heated indoor and outdoor pools and lounge on the sun deck with the jaw-dropping scenery. Renew your senses in our spa, recharge in the fitness center, enjoy a family picnic by the pond or shopping at Settlers Green next door.

Please Note:  Customers Should Review Government Travel Guidance To Confirm Eligibility And Requirements For Travel. Due To COVID-19, Some Hotel Facilities Or Services May Not Be Available During Your Stay.  Attendees are responsible for travel expenses.

Now that is Extra! All registered attendees will be provided access one week before the conference to three! solution-focused recorded webinars for learning and development professionals:

1. Irresistible Virtual Training (includes handout)

Learning online is now commonplace. We know how to use the platform features, but unfortunately, engaging attendees to participate, to come on camera, and to unmute can be like “herding cats,” as the saying goes. The features of the platform are not what engages people, it is how we use them that makes an impact. Establishing a comfortable, safe, and technically sound online learning environment is essential. Meaningful and relevant activities are the secret. Like tasty treats and fresh catnip, attendees will be unable to resist actively participating in your virtual training when you use these learning activities and a “never fail” debrief strategy to involve them! Invite participants to take charge of their learning and experience virtual training like they’ve never seen before. Walk away with:

• 3-6 ready to use virtual learning activity examples, including one that uses escape game strategy for exploratory learning
• 1 “never fail” debrief strategy to reflect on, validate, and encourage learning
• 1 job aid to assist you to make your own virtual learning activities
• An understanding of the psychology behind virtual training design and delivery strategies that truly engage

2. Transforming What Your SMEs Know To What Your Learners Need (includes handouts)

Have you ever had this conversation with an SME (subject-matter expert)?

• SME: “This needs to be in the course.”
• You: “I’m not sure it does.”
• SME: “Yes, they definitely need to know it.”
• You: “But I’m not sure it will help them.”
• SME: “Well then at least need to be aware of it.”
• You: “Hmpfh.”

Your learners have needs, and your SMEs have knowledge and experience. But do those two things always line up? When creating learning content, SMEs with the best intentions can end up creating content that’s long on information, short on practical application, and wrapped up in a bullet-point PowerPoint bow. The next thing you know, your learners are going to YouTube to find what they need instead.

In this session, you’ll learn five key strategies for working more effectively with subject-matter experts to create content that sticks. You’ll gain practical insights, tips, and resources for making the most of your SME’s expertise and for harnessing that power in a productive and helpful way. You’ll walk away better able to move your online content from simply conveying information to helping your learners solve the real problems they face every day.

You will learn to:

• Change the focus of your efforts from the SME’s expertise to the learner’s needs
• Negotiate out “nice-to-know” information
• Help SMEs break down what they’ve learned over the years in a way that’s helpful to others
• Use one simple question to determine what content should be included and what should be cut

3. Do’s and Don’ts of Learning Experience Design

Content often isn’t enough when it comes to improving human performance. It is critical that your learning experiences take into account content and the context which can be unlocked using learning experience design. Join us to learn more about tools and approaches that can help you design effective learning experiences.

In this session you’ll walk away with:

• Process to implement learning experience design in your own development
• Examples of learning experience design wins and fails
• Ideas to support people after the content is delivered

Come in on Tuesday or stay longer for our hotel conference rate of $xxx a night plus taxes/fees. Just put your preference in the notes section of the registration to secure your room.

Questions?  Contact Executive Director, Andrew Lederer at [email protected].

2023 Conference Schedule

	Let CFTEA Be The Solution Wednesday, September 13, 2023
9:30am—10:00am	Check In | Grab your gift bag and drop off door prizes with Tammy Perkins. (Take Stairs or Elevator down from the Lobby to the Conference Area)
10:00am – 10:15am	Welcome by Executive Director, Andrew Lederer. (Mt Jefferson)
10:15am – 10:45am	Group Icebreaker with Laura Pilon (Androscoggin Bank) and Arielle Darling.(Androscoggin Bank) Non-painful and super fun!
10:45am – 11:45am	How To Be an All-Star CFTEA Representative with Katrina Randlett (NH Mutual Bancorp) Learn best practices on championing professional development within your organization, customizing CFTEA to your needs, engaging employees, and more! Katrina Randlett is a board member. She shares how an engaged CFTEA champion within an organization can be a critical resource to support organizational and employee career development goals. Katrina will share tips that have helped her succeed in her role and engage multiple organizations within her mutual corporation.
11:45am – 1:00pm	Buffet Lunch (TBA)
1:00pm – 2:00pm	How Can CFTEA Be Your Solution? facilitated by Nancy Hines and Emily Frechette Are you leveraging all that CFTEA has to offer at your organization? Let’s brainstorm and  identify mutually beneficial CFTEA Solutions that you can incorporate into your Training Plan.
2:00pm – 2:15pm	Afternoon Break
2:15pm – 3:00pm	Leveraging the Power of In-House Courses with Mike Moloney and Mary Swift Bring the power of CFTEA to your doorstep.  Did you know you can offer many CFTEA classes at your workplace, on your schedule, and with your own instructors?    Discover how to create a robust program of in-house courses that will engage employees and help them to grow in their career.  Learn about recruiting and retaining instructors who will bring the material to life.  Offering in house classes can help your employees achieve their goals, network with their coworkers, and save you money.  It’s a win for CFTEA, and a win for you!   Mary Swift has been coordinating the CFTEA classes at Kennebunk Savings for the last 3 years, and has built a vibrant and ever-growing curriculum of classes and instructors.  She will share her tips and tricks!
3:00pm – 3:15pm	Afternoon Break
3:15pm—4:15pm	CFTEA Hands On Clinic with Andrew Lederer Bring your laptop or smartphone for hands on activities related to common CFTEA course and award questions. Work in table groups to find answers to these hands-on activities. Plus, start the storytelling process. How to communicate with management, managers, employees, potential community partners, and the public.
6:00pm – 7:00pm	Dinner and Awards (TBA)
7:00pm-8:00pm	Entertainment: Big Screen Game Shows (TBA) Bring your A Game, have fun, and compete for up to $200 in cash prizes! Bring your smartphone to participate. Hosted by Adam Ace. Adam Ace has been a professional comedian since 1997. In that time he has performed in 49 of the 50 states, appeared on stage in 27 countries, entertained at 11 military bases, been seen on over 35 different cruise ships and entertained on over 500 college campuses nationwide. He has headlined casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, headlined comedy clubs in Los Angeles and in 2007 he was selected to perform at the White House. In addition to this he has 3 times been named Comedian of the Year (2001,2009,2012) by the APCA, an organization made up of colleges from around the country. In 2008, he was one of contestants on the TV show “America’s Got Talent.” Adam Ace has entertained crowds of all ages and all shapes and sizes. “Refreshing” “Different” and “Original” are a few words used to describe the contagious personality and high energy performances of Adam Ace. What sets him apart is his interaction with the audience and quick wit that make each presentation different and special to that particular crowd.
	Let CFTEA Be The Solution Thursday, September 14, 2023
7:30am—8:30am	Breakfast Buffet
8:30am-9:30am	Education, Communication, and Nominating Committee Meetings
9:30am – 9:45am	Morning Break
9:45am-11:15am	Board Meeting
11:15am – Noon	Gearing up for Fall!  What’s New with CFTEA and Call to Action – Andrew Lederer (Mt Jefferson) What action steps are you going to put into practice from this year’s Leader Conference? Find out what is new from CFTEA and explore common questions with surprising answers. How well did you tap into our learning and development community? Find out what is new in the area of career paths, partnerships, certificates, certifications and diplomas. Learn how CFTEA content is being used to gain college credits at a greatly reduced rate. How can we help support your organization and you?
12:15pm – 1:00pm	Executive Committee Council Meeting (Mt Jefferson)

Updated:  2023.05.08