(Washington D.C.), May 21, 2019 – During its 2019 International Conference & Exposition held in Washington, D.C., the Association for Talent Development (ATD) recognized organizations and individuals for their excellence and contributions across the talent development field. The ATD Awards ceremony was held on May 20.
This year’s winners of the One to Watch Award are Keith Lillico, e-learning instructional designer for Horace Mann Companies, and Stacey Young Rivers, director of technology skills analysis and development in WarnerMedia’s Global Technology & Operations division.
ATD’s One to Watch Award is presented to an individual who is early in their talent development career (five or fewer years of experience) and viewed as a leader by peers and colleagues within and outside of their organization.
Winners have demonstrated professional achievements that might include leading successful projects, managing teams, demonstrating exceptional leadership capabilities, mentoring others within or outside of the organization, or other successes.
Keith Lillico is a gamification thought leader and avid lifelong learner. He earned his bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in instructional design and technology from Ashford University; an MBA focusing on information technology project management from Western Governors University; and his MEd in instructional design, also from Western Governors University.
Outside of higher education, he also has earned the Level 3: Gamification Master Craftsman Certification from Setentia Gamification, is a certified Competent Communicator per Toastmasters International, and has acquired several insurance industry designations from the Life Office Management Association.
“Prior to working in this field, a tremendous value was placed on individual performance, which fueled my passion for understanding how the brain learns. Businesses want to develop high-performing employees and that is achieved by creating training programs utilizing those learning techniques,” says Lillico.
Stacey Rivers is responsible for creating strategic programs to help WarnerMedia employees continue to build their technical skills as well as helping to develop a pipeline of talent. As a product owner managing a portfolio of work, she often wears multiple hats such as strategist, designer, and project manager. It was when she started working for the chief technology officer and began developing programs focused on skills acquisition and development that she realized, “I had found my dream job.”
Rivers holds a master’s degree in leadership and organizational effectiveness from Troy University and is currently pursuing her PhD in educational leadership at Mercer University.
A complete list of award winners can be found on ATD’s website.
About ATD
The Association for Talent Development (ATD), formerly ASTD, is the world’s largest association dedicated to those who develop talent in organizations. These professionals help others achieve their full potential by improving their knowledge, skills, and abilities. ATD’s members come from more than 120 countries and work in public and private organizations in every industry sector. ATD supports the work of professionals locally across 100 chapters, international strategic partners, and global member networks.
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