Association for Talent Development recognizes organizations for commitment to workplace learning.

(Alexandria, VA), September 9, 2021—During its 2021 International Conference & Exposition in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Association for Talent Development recognized organizations and individuals for their excellence in talent development during a virtual awards recognition celebration.

“ATD award winners reflect a deep commitment to the value of developing people in the workplace. Winning organizations demonstrate how aligning talent development to business needs can increase the performance and success of organizations worldwide,” said Tony Bingham, ATD president and CEO. “These winners’ accomplishments advance knowledge in the talent development profession and contribute to increasing workforce capability and organizational competitiveness.”

Individual honorees included:

• ATD Dissertation Award: Sangok Yoo, University of Minnesota

• Champion of Talent Development Award: Amy Edmondson, researcher and professor

• Distinguished Contribution to Talent Development Award: Joe Folkman, president and co-founder of Zenger|Folkman

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Bob Pike, CPTD Fellow

ATD’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has advanced knowledge and practice across the talent development field. The individual’s thought leadership and contributions to the profession have had a sustained impact on individuals and organizations over many years. This year’s recipient, Bob Pike, is known as the “trainer’s trainer.” His career spans six decades and he has authored more than 30 books, designed more than 600 training programs, and has presented at the ATD International Conference & EXPO every year since 1977—that’s 44 times.

Tata Consultancy Services was honored with the Innovation in Talent Development Award. This award is given in recognition of innovation that has had a measurable impact on an organization or audience, is moving the talent development industry forward, is sustainable, and is replicable within or outside the talent development field.

ZPEB Training Center at SINOPEC Oil received the ATD Certification Institute Champion Award.

ATD introduced a new award this year, the Talent Development for Good Award, which recognizes organizations that leveraged talent development to make significant contributions to improve the lives of others, change an industry or community for the better, or serve society in a powerful way. University Health won the inaugural award.

Twenty-six companies were recognized with a 2021 Excellence in Practice Award. The award honors companies for results achieved using practices and solutions from across the scope of talent development.

Practice categories include career development, change management, coaching and mentoring, customer service training, diversity and inclusion, integrated talent management, leadership/management development, learning and development, learning technologies, managing the learning function, onboarding, performance consulting/performance improvement, and sales enablement.

Organizations that received an Excellence in Practice Award include:

Akamai Technologies

Bank of America

BrightStar Credit Union

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid

China Telecommunications Corporation

Cisco Systems

CITIC Telecom International CPC

Cognizant

Comerica Bank

Genesis Medical Center—Davenport

Grant Thornton

HCL Technologies

ITC Limited

Lee Kum Kee

National Science Foundation

NetEase Games

Postal Savings Bank of China

Progress

Quality HealthCare Medical Services

Sai Life Sciences

Softserve

St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Tata Consultancy Services

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

US Customs and Border Protection

ZTE Corporation

Additional information can be found at td.org/eip.

About ATD

The Association for Talent Development (ATD) is the world’s largest professional membership organization supporting those who develop the knowledge and skills of employees, improve performance, and help to achieve results for the organizations they serve. Established in 1943, the association was previously known as the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD).

ATD’s members come from more than 120 countries and work in public and private organizations in every industry sector. ATD supports talent development professionals who gather locally in volunteer-led US chapters and international member networks and with international strategic partners.

For more information, visit td.org.