In Memoriam: Ken Phillips

Ken Phillips, who passed away in December, transformed the landscape of learning and talent development through his groundbreaking work and profound human impact. In 2006, he stepped forward as one of the first pioneers in the Certified Professional in Learning & Performance (CPLP®) pilot program, setting an example of lifelong professional development that would inspire countless others over the next two decades.

“Ken’s positive outlook, appreciation for his peers, and excitement for his work in talent development came across in every interaction with him,” said Tony Bingham, president and CEO of ATD. “‘How can I help?’ was Ken’s first reaction anytime one of us reached out with a volunteer need from national ATD, and he was always willing to assist.”

His servant leadership shaped the industry at every level, touching hearts and minds across the global learning community. As president of the Chicagoland Chapter (CCASTD) in 2008, he exemplified what Laura Bunte remembered as true inclusive leadership: “Calm and collected during moments when others were frazzled. His leadership on the CCASTD board was successful because he opened the door to all opinions and happily entertained dissent until everyone could come to an equitable conclusion.”

Even after his presidency, Ken remained deeply committed to nurturing future leaders, partnering closely with incoming presidents such as Sue Weller to strengthen the chapter’s foundation. Together, they developed comprehensive initiatives to ensure CCASTD’s long-term success: creating leadership training programs, establishing succession planning processes, and bolstering the chapter’s volunteer program. Through his methodical approach to mentorship, Ken helped build a strong foundation for CCASTD’s future, always focused on developing talent and strengthening the Chicagoland learning and talent development community.

His warm presence became a fixture at ATD events of all sizes. He delivered expert sessions on measurement and evaluation at the Core4 regional conferences, presented his groundbreaking work on predictive learning analytics at the ATD International Conference & EXPO, and shared his insights at ATD global summits.

During his service on the National Advisors for Chapters (2009–2011), he strengthened collaboration between chapters. Lisa Downs, then NAC chair, remembered his unwavering support: “When I called him, after he just rolled off the committee due to completing his term, the first words out of his mouth were, ‘What do you need, kiddo?’ and then his ‘yes’ was instantaneous. That’s who he was—always the type of person who’d do anything for you.”

Ken’s intellectual contributions were matched by his commitment to local communities. He chose to debut his innovative Predictive Learning Analytics™ (PLA) methodology at Hawkeye ATD in Cedar Rapids in October 2015. As Marcie Van Note recalled, “When I was doing research for a paper, I reached out to see if we could talk about the work he was doing. His response, ‘Of course, I can meet today.’ He was the kind of person that was just always there for you. I will miss his friendliness, his willingness to share his knowledge, and his connection to Iowa.”

His expertise carried him all around the world from China to Saudi Arabia and Taiwan, where he helped shape the global conversation on learning evaluation. Yet, his heart remained in Chicago. I had the honor of serving alongside Ken in executive leadership on the Chicagoland ASTD Board of Directors for more than a decade, “Ken was a rare gem, a brilliant mind paired with an unrelenting curiosity and boundless humor.” His transformative leadership in the chapter brought fresh perspectives and enduring connections, particularly during milestone events like the CCASTD’s memorable 65th anniversary celebration. Through it all, Ken’s passion for combating scrap learning was matched only by his devotion to family, dog rescue, and community.

His prolific publications continue to guide the field today. Through insightful TD magazine articles such as “Predictions and Probabilities in Training Evaluation” (2021), “Secrets of Level 3 Survey Design” (2018), and “Make Sense Out of Evaluation Data” (2023), Ken shared his expertise widely. His comprehensive guide “Evaluating Learning With Predictive Learning Analytics” for TD at Work (2020) showcased his innovative approach to measuring learning effectiveness. Between 2010 and 2023, he co-authored six books that became cornerstones of industry practice.

Jann Iaco remembered him as both teacher and mentor at the Workplace Learning and Performance Institute (WLPI). “Statistical analysis was never my strong suit, but Ken was an excellent teacher,” Iaco recalled. “He was so positive and encouraged me to join the ATDChi board. When I finally gathered the courage to go after my CPTD®, he recommended a study partner for me, and he championed me the whole way! But the things I will miss the most are his sense of humor, his generosity in taking my calls when I was stuck trying to do those ‘darn’ statistics, and those wonderful dinners my ATD friends and I had with Ken over the years.”

Shannon Tipton shared the joy of their serendipitous friendship. “We lived less than an hour apart, yet somehow, our most memorable and coincidental meetings happened at Chicago O’Hare to attend this conference or that,” she remembered. “These chance encounters invariably led to belly laughs and his unforgettable hugs. Our carpools to industry events became treasured traditions, complete with our running joke about being ‘old people who order tuna from Subway.’ Ours was a friendship where conversations flowed effortlessly, often starting with Ken saying ‘I gave your name to someone.’”

Kevin M. Yates expressed what many felt about Ken’s mentorship: “‘I’ll be there to see you in action Kevin.’ Those are the words Ken spoke to me when we were at the same conference or event. Ken was always in the room where I was presenting or speaking. He cheered me on with nods of approval and at the end of my presentation, he’d shake my hand and tell me that I’m doing good work for the L&D community.”

Terrence Donahue highlighted how Ken’s impact grew through their years of collaboration. “I first met Ken in 2009 through a dear mutual friend. We joined forces to create a series of workshops for learning and development (L&D) practitioners. Ken brought his unmatched expertise in the measurement & evaluation (M&E) space, and I brought my background in front-end needs assessment and instructional design. Some years later when I took on corporate L&D roles, I enlisted Ken to train all my L&D staff using his methodology. His expertise and content were without peer in our profession, and all my staff adored him. Ken’s superpower was to simplify the complex. In a profession where practitioners tend to overcomplicate things, Ken’s approach was practical, easy to implement, efficient, and efficacious. Every time I heard him speak, I learned something new. My ‘Ken Phillips Folder’ is the thickest file on my bookshelf. I never once saw Ken without a smile on his face. He was generous and gracious with his time and expertise with every person he met. Ken made me, my teams, and L&D practitioners around the world better and more valuable because of his contributions. It will take decades for the sun to set on his influence.”

As Paul Signorelli observed, “Ken was a cherished ATD friend, colleague, and informal mentor who came my way through an ATD committee that brought us together. He was an absolute wonder of the world when it came to evaluating success (and failure) in learning and talent development—always with an eye toward prodding us to be better than we were.”

Debbie Richards added: “Ken was an incredible human being and a leader in predictive analytics. I will always cherish our conference conversations, and the times I was fortunate to watch him present. Ken was incredibly generous with his time and expertise, always willing to help others grow. Serving with him on the ATD National Advisory Board was an honor. He challenged me to be a better leader and made a lasting impact on my life. Ken was beloved by everyone who knew him and will be dearly missed.”

Through Phillips Associates, the consulting firm he founded, Ken demonstrated that true leadership isn’t measured by accolades alone, but by the depth of impact on others’ lives. His legacy endures not only in his methodologies and publications but in the countless professionals he inspired to reach higher, think deeper, and lead with compassion.

“The entire global TD community will continue to benefit from Ken’s expertise because he was so generous to share his knowledge with others. Ken’s final piece for ATD’s TD magazine—an article titled “Assess the Proper Outcomes”—is running in the January issue of TD. We thank Ken for sharing his knowledge and his many years of service to the profession and ATD,” Bingham added.

Through his servant leadership, infectious humor, and genuine desire to help others succeed, Ken Phillips showed us that the greatest impact comes from lifting others up. His spirit lives on in every welcoming smile, every mentoring moment, and every act of community service that strengthens the learning and talent development profession—a testament to Ken’s unwavering belief in our boundless potential.