From the President – Greg Adamson
As we get ready for #LTEN2023, it’s time to reflect
Next month, LTEN comes together for our Annual Conference. Once again, we’re expecting hundreds of you to join us for this year’s event; we look forward to the camaraderie and networking as much as we do to the knowledge sharing.
While I’ve been to more LTEN Annual Conferences than I can readily remember, this will be my first as president of the LTEN Board of Directors. That role brings new conference responsibilities and duties, and I’m excited to be able to put my own spin on the event. But as we get ready to pack our bags and head off to Phoenix, I couldn’t help but reflect.
Looking Back
The past three years will forever be known as the COVID and post-COVID years. Our world went through numerous changes, and we lost many loved ones. Our workplaces are not the same as we’re still in transition to the reality of hybrid work — much of our training regimens are offered either virtually or in a blended format.
LTEN faced the same challenges, leading us to offer our annual conference and LTEN award show virtually, followed by blended offerings. Only in June 2022 did we go back to a full live annual conference.
But like they say, every crisis is also an opportunity, and many lessons were learned on what could be done virtually versus live.
Full confession: In March 2020, I told my team, “This virtual stuff will just be for a short time. Don’t worry, we will be back to full live courses in a matter of weeks.” I embarrassingly stated, “This virtual training will never work!”
Ouch! I’d like to officially recall that statement. Who knew all we could do from the comfort of our dining room tables?
Extending Thanks
As the theme of this year’s 52nd LTEN Annual Conference tells us, it’s time to focus forward. Life sciences training is a future-facing entity anyway — we seek to build skills that build a stronger organization, a mission to innovation that’s nothing if not perpetual.
But before we turn too many new pages in our journey forward, I would like to look back briefly. As a network, LTEN came out of the global pandemic with our membership at an all-time high and our course offerings at full capacity. It’s only right that I take the time to recognize a few individuals and one group of supporters that collectively made the successful transition of LTEN from COVID to post-COVID possible.
First, special gratitude to Dawn Brehm, the LTEN executive director from 2015 to2023. Dawn’s dedication to the organization has helped drive us to new heights, and she navigated the choppy COVID waters that would have dismantled a normal nonprofit. I’m going to recognize Dawn more formally in Phoenix and I hope you’ll be there to join me.
Second, we’re going to have a chance to put our collective hands together to recognize and thank outgoing LTEN Board President Richard Sampson. Richard was the first board president to serve a three-year term — he was elected right before COVID rocked our world and he led the board and the organization through unprecedented times. He was so successful that the board asked him to extend his two-year term into a third year, and he stepped up. On behalf of all of LTEN, Richard, thank you for your sacrifices, your time and everything you’ve done for us.
Of course, I can’t forget to thank my fellow board colleagues. Over these challenging years, everyone put in the extra effort and gave that much more, and our growth was the byproduct of that work. I’m going to especially thank four board members who’ve served for many years and stayed with LTEN until things “settled down” before stepping aside as board members.
Two of them — Carol Wells and Mark Osborne — worked to retirement, and the other two, Ashley Bentley and Jennifer Muszik, stayed through challenging job changes and competing priorities.
Carol and Mark were both past presidents of LTEN, as well as being long-time members. Mark was president in 1999 and 2000, and Carol served in 2012 and 2013.
Ashley and Jenn also had significant time on the LTEN board. Ashley joined the board in November 2016 and became vice president in 2017. Jenn joined the board in November 2019, after three years on the LTEN Advisory Council.
All four board members also supported LTEN by judging award and scholarship entries, reviewing workshop submissions and generally assisting LTEN members. They also served on various committees and groups, including the:
- Charity Committee
- Global Committee
- Learning Executive Series Committee
- Social Media Engagement Community
Mark, Carol, Ashley and Jennifer, your dedication is appreciated.
Focusing Forward
One more thank you, to a group we both thank often and still could not thank enough. This is a thank you that both looks backward at their amazing support and also focuses forward on what they’re doing for us this month and beyond.
I’m talking, of course, about our sponsorship community. LTEN is a nonprofit organization, and quite simply we couldn’t do what we do without the kindness of our friends. As I will many times at the conference and in conversations, I thank every company that’s sponsored an ad, a conference, a newsletter, an event, an elearning Lounge lesson, a learning lab and everything else.
I want to make a special call-out to our Preferred Industry Partners, or PIPs as we call them. Without their ongoing financial support, there would be no LTEN today. To our PIPs — Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze alike — thank you. When we needed your support the most, you were there.
The PIPs and many other sponsors will also be joining us next month in Phoenix, and once again I hope to see you there as well. You’ll see more about the agenda and event in this issue of LTEN Focus on Training magazine, and you can checkout www.LTENconference.com to learn more. And no, it’s not too late to plan to join us!
Until then, or until next time.
Greg Adamson is president of the LTEN Board of Directors and executive director, sales training, for Olympus Americas. Email Greg at greg.adamson@olympus.com.
