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• Stop Fighting the Brain: Designing Learning That Actually Sticks

  • When
    March 25, 2026
  •  
    4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
  • Location
    Kent County MSU Extension Office, 775 Ball Ave. N.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49503
  • Spaces left
    24

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  Stop Fighting the Brain: Designing Learning That Actually Sticks

  Learning professionals are under constant pressure to deliver faster results, stronger engagement, and measurable behavior change — often with less time and fewer resources. Yet many learning experiences unintentionally work against how the brain naturally learns.

  In this interactive session, we will explore how neuropathways are formed, strengthened, or ignored, and why stress is one of the biggest hidden barriers to learning transfer. Participants will discover how cognitive load, emotional safety, and connection directly influence retention, recall, and behavior change. Instead of adding more content, attendees will learn how small design shifts — repetition, emotional relevance, storytelling, and reflection — dramatically improve learning outcomes.

  Participants will leave with practical, immediately applicable ways to design learning that aligns with how the brain actually processes and stores information, resulting in stronger engagement and more durable learning.

  About Jodi DeRoo, Founder and Chief Explorer, LED Journey:

  
  

  Jodi DeRoo is the Founder and Chief Explorer of LED Journey, where she helps leaders and organizations unlock growth through the intersection of neuroscience, leadership, and practical application. Drawing on experience across banking, manufacturing, and technology sectors, she designs highly interactive learning experiences that turn brain science into tools leaders can immediately apply.

  Jodi received her Brain-Based Coaching certification through the NeuroLeadership Institute and is a certified Everything DiSC® facilitator who is passionate about helping people better understand how they think, lead, and learn.

  Location (free parking on premises)

  Kent County MSU Extension Office

  775 Ball Ave. N.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49503

  Conference Room A/B

  Directions (Google Maps)
  

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• Do Your Learning Technologies Work Together — Or Against You?

  • When
    April 16, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
  • Location
    Kent County MSU Extension Office 775 Ball Ave. N.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49503
  • Spaces left
    37

  Register

   Do Your Learning Technologies Work Together — Or Against You?

  A cohesive learning technology ecosystem includes many elements: Vision, Audience and Macro Learning Needs, Governance, Delivery Methods, Procurement, Technology and Infrastructure, Evaluation, Organizational Structure, and an Implementation Plan.

  This session by Innovative Learning Group's (ILG) Senior Director of Technology and Visual Design, Matt Kurtin, highlights how integrating your learning technologies can eliminate redundancies, reduce friction, and amplify impact across your organization's entire learning strategy.

  At the end of the session, you'll be able to:
  

  • Identify the signs when your learning technologies are working against each other
  • Describe the key components needed to create a unified learning technology ecosystem
  • Determine strategies for eliminating technology silos and overlaps that waste resources

  As a learning leader, you’ll leave ready to align your learning technology stack with your overall learning strategy — and drive real results through seamless integration.

  About Matt Kurtin, Senior Director of Technology and Visual Design, Innovative Learning Group:

  

  
  

  Matt Kurtin is Innovative Learning Group’s senior director of technology and visual design. With nearly 30 years of experience, he has guided a wide range of organizations in developing and executing technology strategies that drive learning and performance improvement. Matt brings deep expertise in building comprehensive learning strategies that address key components such as vision, audience needs, governance, delivery methods, procurement, infrastructure, evaluation, and implementation planning.

  Matt also provides insight into best practices for selecting, implementing, and integrating learning technologies to ensure they support strategic goals and deliver measurable results. His approach helps organizations make informed, scalable decisions that align learning systems with business priorities and learner needs.

  Location (free parking on premises)

  Kent County MSU Extension Office

  775 Ball Ave. N.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49503

  Conference Room A/B

  Directions (Google Maps)

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• From Burnout to Belonging: The Role of Emotional Intelligence at Work

  • When
    May 21, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
  • Location
    Kent County MSU Extension Office 775 Ball Ave. N.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49503
  • Spaces left
    37

  Register

  From Burnout to Belonging: The Role of Emotional Intelligence at Work

  Emotional intelligence is more critical than ever and yet we’re experiencing an emotional recession. Rising stress, burnout, polarization, and constant change have eroded empathy, self-awareness, and connection at work, even as the need for these skills continues to grow. For talent professionals, this gap is shaping employee experience, performance, wellbeing, and leadership effectiveness.

  In this session, we’ll explore why emotional intelligence is now a defining capability for individuals, teams, and organizations. Drawing on fresh research and real-world insights, we’ll examine the consequences of declining emotional intelligence and the powerful benefits of rebuilding it. We’ll discuss eight core elements of emotional intelligence as well as practical ways to strengthen them, both personally and across the workforce.

  Designed for talent, HR, and people leaders, this session will equip you with clear frameworks and actionable strategies to help you and the employees you support build emotional intelligence as a critical advantage for wellbeing, engagement, and performance.

  Learning objectives:
  

  • Understand the drivers and consequences of today’s emotional recession, including its impact on burnout, connection, performance, and employee experience.
  • Identify the eight core elements of emotional intelligence
  • Explore practical strategies to build emotional intelligence at work

  
  About Dr. Tracy Brower, PhD Sociologist, Author, and VP of Workplace Insights at Steelcase:

  
  

  
  

  Dr. Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist studying community, happiness and the future of work and life. She is a Global 50 Thinker and the award-winning author of three books: Critical Connections, The Secrets to Happiness at Work and Bring Work to Life. She is the vice president of workplace insights with Steelcase and a senior contributor to Forbes and Fast Company. She is a Top 101 Experience and Engagement Influencer, and her work has been translated into 25 languages, while her TEDx talk has been viewed 8.6 million times.

  In addition, she is an award-winning speaker with over 25 years of experience working with global clients to achieve business results. Tracy is on the advisory board for Kids Food Basket and for the CoDesign Collaborative. In addition, she is a coach and advisor for the Center for Leadership at Hope College and an advisor to the Michigan State University Master of Industrial Mathematics Program. She is a award-winning faculty member for CoreNet Global and for Hacking HR. Tracy’s work has been featured on CBS News, TEDx, The Wall Street Journal, Work-Life Balance in the 21st Century (book), Globe and Mail (Canada), InsideHR (Australia), HR Director (UK), T3N (Germany), Morning Wave in Busan (South Korea), Real Estate Review Journal, Fortune, Inc. Magazine, HBR (France), multiple podcasts and more.

  Tracy holds a PhD in Sociology, a Master of Management in Organizational Culture, and a Master of Corporate Real Estate with a workplace specialization. You can find her on LinkedIn, X, TikTok, Instagram, Goodreads, Unsplash (photography) or at tracybrower.com. You can sign up for Tracy's mailing list here and Tracy’s LinkedIn Newsletter, Connecting the Dots, here.

  Location (free parking on premises)

  Kent County MSU Extension Office

  775 Ball Ave. N.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49503

  Conference Room A/B

  Directions (Google Maps)

  Show details