2024 February Meeting: Training Return-on-Investment (ROI)

Join us for an enlightening discussion on Training ROI – an essential metric for evaluating the effectiveness of training programs. While calculating ROI may seem daunting, mastering it can significantly impact your career trajectory and enhance the success of your training initiatives.

During our session, we will:

• Define Training ROI and underscore its significance in the realm of professional development.
• Explore how understanding ROI can benefit leaders in technology training and professional growth.
• Examine the key performance indicators (KPIs) pivotal for assessing the efficacy of training programs within law firms.
• Discuss strategies for obtaining the necessary data to calculate ROI and identify reliable data sources.
• Discuss analytical tools to facilitate ROI analysis and presentation.
• Delve into the potential of AI technology to streamline the process of ROI calculation and prediction.

Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your understanding of ROI and its implications for organizational success.

Moderators -

John Attinger is the Senior Director of Technology Adoption at Harbor, which specializes in technology consulting / training / security awareness for law firms.

Prior to Harbor, John was a partner at Capensys, and also worked in-house at three global laws firm for 15 years in IT applications training and management roles. John managed a global team of 7 trainers, oversaw training-related projects, incorporated new technologies and creative ideas into the training program, and designed a corporate online university.

John’s client responsibilities include managing global technology rollouts and providing change management and security awareness consulting. He is responsible for developing new business, managing existing relationships, and helping the company navigate the changing legal vertical.

John holds a BA in History from UC Berkeley, and an M. Ed. from Teachers College, Columbia University, where his work included several courses in designing and delivering adult education programs.

Nelson Valdez is the Technology Education Manager at Perkins Coie.

Nelson is an education and technology professional with nearly 20 years of experience supporting the learning and development needs of Big Law firms. He is currently responsible for the development and execution of Perkins Coie' technology education strategy. He has also presented professional development programs for attorneys and business professionals. Nelson is known as solution focused, innovative, and a person who values relationships for mutual growth. Nelson earned a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems. He is an adjunct professor in the Mathematics and Computer Science department at a private university in Westchester, NY.

Panelists -

Leslie Gosheff is a Lead Technology Trainer and Instructional Designer based in Boston and has been at WilmerHale since 2003.

Leslie has over twenty years of experience in technology training and possesses a strong focus on customer support, courseware development, and professional presentation from both a technical and end-user perspective. She is certified in Microsoft PowerPoint and is a Microsoft Word Expert, as well as holding the ITIL v3 Foundation, with additional coursework in Blended Learning and Instructional System Design. Prior to joining the firm, Leslie consulted with law firms on establishing and maintaining training programs and service desk support.

Mischa Kischkum is the information services department’s Learning Management System Administrator & Technology Training Coordinator at WilmerHale LLP.

Mischa has also worked in human resources departments in his role developing training for staff at law firms. He is certified in Word (Expert), Outlook, PowerPoint, and is a CTT+ Certified Professional Trainer by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). Currently he uses Learning Paths in varying ways to satisfy both new hire and ongoing resource needs for many departments at the firm.  Before entering the adult learning space, Mischa was an actor and writer for 25 years who was seen in several film festivals including Cannes, and can be seen in syndication in a principal role opposite Ice-T on “Law & Order: SVU”, the longest running TV show of all time.

Jon Grant is the Vice President of Growth Initiatives at Harbor.

A former practicing attorney with over 20 year of leadership experience in law firm strategy roles, Jon has had a front-row seat to legal practice transformation. He recognizes the importance of people and culture, versus reliance on process and technology alone. Jon's experience in legal practice transformation, big law firms, and in-house legal teams enables him to develop effective strategies that incorporate the latest tools and process to help clients achieve success without losing the foundation of who they are. His thoughtful leadership helps law firms and clients transform operational challenges into strategic opportunities.

Cindy Meidt is the IT Education & UX Manager at Blank Rome LLP.

Cindy is the IT Education and UX manager at Blank Rome LLP and has been in the IT Education field for more than 25 years with 15 of those years in legal. She finds being involved in all aspects of the legal tech environment fun and interesting.  She enjoys the challenges and the rewards associated with helping people to get the most out of technology, and she is inspired by seeing the lightbulb light for a learner.  Cindy loves collaborating with others and learning new things, she believes that one of the most important roles of an effective teacher is to continue to learn. Whether it be taking classes, creating courseware, reading, observing, or questioning, you will often find Cindy with some form of learning at her fingertips. 

Erika Barber is a Learning Strategist at Traveling Coaches.

Erika Barber, a seasoned professional with over ten years of experience in Learning and Development, emerges as a distinguished leader in the field. With a robust background in steering training programs across both instructor-led and virtual models, Erika boasts a proven track record in crafting and implementing impactful training and talent strategies. Erika collaborates with law firms to conceptualize and optimize their learning programs in alignment with business objectives. Through strategic planning sessions, she guides clients in identifying and assessing learning goals, monitors progress towards meeting those goals, and presents data for evaluating the effectiveness of the learning process. Erika Barber's expertise lies in shaping learning experiences that drive success and proficiency within organizational contexts. 

Social Time 9:00am - 9:30am