ACMP Midwest Chapter upcoming events

ACMP Midwest New Member Connect (10/09/2026)

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

We invite you to join the ACMP Midwest New Member Connect, a 45‑minute informal session created to welcome and orient our newest members.

You’ll gain a clear understanding of who we are, how to get involved, and the many benefits available to you.

Connect with other change management professionals and start building your network within our vibrant community.

It’s the perfect first step in your ACMP Midwest experience.

When the Project is the Problem: Managing Change in Poorly Structured Initiatives - Sponsored by Centric Consulting (10/14/2026)

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

When the Project is the Problem: Managing Change in Poorly Structured Initiatives

Sponsored by Centric Consulting

Not every change failure comes down to resistant employees or a weak communication plan. Sometimes the real obstacle is the project itself...unclear scope, shifting sponsorship, unrealistic timelines, or governance that was never set up to support sustainable change in the first place.

In this interactive training, Mark Paulson, of Centric Consulting's Chicago People & Change practice, will walk through how change practitioners can recognize the warning signs of a structurally flawed initiative early, and what to do when you're brought in (or already embedded) to manage change on a project that was set up to struggle. You'll leave with:

A framework for distinguishing project-structure problems from change-adoption problems
Language and tactics for raising structural red flags with sponsors and leadership
Practical adjustments to your change strategy when governance, scope, or sponsorship is shaky

There will also be time for live Q&A and scenario discussion with Mark

Whether you're a seasoned change lead or newer to the field, this session will help you build the judgment to know when the problem isn't your change plan, it's the project itself.

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About our speaker Mark Paulson, Centric Consulting People & Change Practice Lead

Mark Paulson is a veteran practitioner in the OCM space with over 20 years of experience in management consulting. He currently co-leads the Centric Consulting’s Chicago People & Change practice. Prior to joining Centric, Mark spent 13 years at Accenture and 2 years at KPMG. Mark has supported and led multiple engagements involving process and technology driven change management strategy definition and execution, leadership alignment, change leadership, operating model design, organization and job design, workforce planning, talent definition, and HR transformation. When not working, Mark loves spending time with his family (wife, two kids, dog). Mark loves spending time on the water and is usually found glued to the TV during college football season.

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About our sponsor Centric Consulting

Centric Consulting is a management and technology consulting firm recognized annually as one of Forbes' Best Management Consulting Firms since 2016. Centric helps organizations navigate complex transformation through Business Consulting services, including strategy, program management, and People and Change consulting, alongside technology solutions. Centric's Chicago-based People and Change team is an engaged partner in the regional change community, with a long-standing relationship with ACMP Midwest. Learn more: https://centricconsulting.com/

FREE! Members Only: CCMP 6-week Study Group (10/14/2026)

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Free! Members Only: CCMP 6-week Study Group

Register by October 9th

Planning to earn your CCMP this year? This study group is perfect for those that have already committed to earning this credential and just need a little extra support before taking the exam. The study group will meet on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 - 6:30 pm from October 14th - November 18th.

The study group will help you become familiar with the ACMP Standard as well as help you prepare for the CCMP exam. These weekly one-hour sessions will feature instruction, peer discussions, and weekly practices quizzes, culminating in a 150-question practice exam.

To be eligible to participate, you must be a member of the ACMP Midwest chapter AND emailed proof of completion of your CCMP exam application by September 30 to lpd.director@acmpmidwest.org.

The sessions will be facilitated by Jeff Bailey, PhD, PMP, CCMP. Jeff lives in downstate Illinois. He passed his CCMP in December 2020 and has shared some of his study materials with other certification candidates in the last year, which inspired him to step forward and help the Midwest Chapter. Jeff has been helping organizations change for 30 years. He has spent the last 15 years facilitating the change process generated by large information system implementations within a variety of public and private sector organizations throughout the US. Jeff also helped a variety of clients in the Chicagoland area as an independent consultant in the 1990s and early 2000s developing learning and performance support solutions. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State), his masters from Northern Illinois University, and his PhD from Benedictine University.

From OCM-Driven to Workforce-Led Change Adoption (10/16/2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

From OCM-Driven to Workforce-Led Change Adoption

Organizations are navigating continuous transformation, yet many still rely on a traditional model where OCM teams are expected to drive adoption, engagement, and readiness for the entire workforce. As the pace and volume of change intensify, this approach is no longer scalable. The future requires a shift from OCM-driven execution to leader-enabled and workforce-led change adoption.

This session presents a modern perspective on rebalancing roles across the organization so that leaders and employees are equipped—not dependent. Attendees will explore how OCM can evolve into a strategic enabler that builds capability, strengthens emotional resilience, and embeds change leadership into everyday work. The session will outline what it looks like when leaders take on “micro-OCM” responsibilities and when employees are empowered to manage their own change experience with confidence.

Through practical examples and a forward-looking framework, the session will help participants rethink how their organizations can prepare for continuous change by shifting ownership, redefining expectations, and building long-term resilience across the workforce.

About the Speaker:

Asel Abu-Alshaeer is a Senior Manager at Yash Technologies specializing in enterprise transformation, change adoption, and capability-building. She helps leaders and teams become confident drivers of change by applying practical, future-ready OCM strategies that strengthen resilience, accelerate adoption, and build organizations capable of leading change from within.

Building a Change Management Center of Excellence - Sponsored by Judge Learning Solutions (11/04/2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 18:15:00 GMT

Building a Change Management Center of Excellence

Sponsored by Judge Learning Solutions

Every change practitioner eventually hits the same wall: individual projects go well, but the organization never builds lasting change capability. The fixes are ad hoc, the lessons don't transfer, and each new initiative starts from scratch...

A Center of Excellence (CoE) is how you break that cycle but only if it's built with intention. Stand it up too fast and it becomes a dusty shelf binder no one opens. Stand it up too slowly and you lose the momentum that made the case for it in the first place.

In this interactive session, we'll work through what actually makes a change management CoE stick, whether you're building one from inside an organization or helping a client build theirs as an outside consultant. Kevin will cover:

How to scope a CoE that matches your organization's actual appetite for change maturity
The first 90 days: what to prioritize, what to skip, and how to show value before you have a track record
Governance structures that support practitioners instead of slowing them down
How the embedded practitioner's playbook differs from the external consultants
Common reasons CoEs stall out after a strong launch, and how to avoid them

This will be an interactive session, not a lecture. Come ready to ask questions, interact, engage, and share what's worked (or hasn't) in your own organization. You'll leave with a framework you can start applying immediately.

Who should attend: Change practitioners, OCM consultants, program leads, and anyone tasked with building or scaling change capability, whether you're CCMP-certified, new to the field, or responsible for "figuring it out" as you go.

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About our facilitator: Kevin Rillo, Vice President, OCM Center of Excellence, Judge Learning Solutions

Kevin has over 35 years of experience in human resources, learning development, and organizational change working in large, complex, matrixed organizations. He has led global initiatives and teams to foster greater results through better people performance. Kevin worked for over 17 years with Accenture as both an external and internal human-capital consultant in all areas of Change Management and Talent Development, from strategy to implementation. Kevin joined Judge Learning Solutions in 2014 as an account executive. And since that time, has been focused on driving The Judge Group’s organizational change management capability along with their entire learning solutions. He is active in several professional associations such as ACMP, ODNet, and ATD Chicago. He also served on the Board of Directors for Chicago ISPI. Kevin is a two-time Indiana University alumnus, holding an MBA in Organizational Change and Behavior and an MS in Instructional Systems.

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About our sponsor Judge Learning Solutions

Judge Learning Solutions, part of The Judge Group, an international leader in business technology consulting and talent solutions, specializes in helping organizations navigate change with confidence. With field-tested strategies and custom programs trusted by Fortune 1000 companies, Judge delivers the full spectrum of change management resources: quality talent, cutting-edge technology solutions, and impactful training programs. Ready to lead change, not just manage it? Learn more at Judge.com

Member Only Change Exchange: Where Is Your Change Actually Breaking Down? A People Stack Change Exchange (11/05/2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Where Is Your Change Actually Breaking Down? A People Stack Change Exchange

You have the project plan. You have the communications. You have the training. And yet, something still isn't clicking.

People are confused. Leaders aren't aligned. Adoption is uneven. Resistance is showing up. Or maybe everyone is nodding along, but you're not convinced they're actually on board.

So, where is the change really breaking down?

In this Idea Exchange built for change leaders and practitioners, members will join Julie Ann Whitten, previous ACMP Midwest Conference speaker and author of The People Stack: Why Change Fails (and What Actually Fixes It), for an interactive Change Exchange focused on diagnosing the human side of adoption.

In this highly participatory roundtable, we'll use the five layers of The People Stack: Clarity, Alignment, Capability, Belief and Sustainment, with Trust as the foundation that supports them all, to look beneath the symptoms of resistance and explore what people may actually need to move forward.

This is not a webinar. It's an interactive, two-way discussion. Expect rich discussions, insights from peers, and opportunities to co-create ideas you can take back to your work and your teams.

Bring a real change initiative, stakeholder challenge or adoption problem you're wrestling with. We'll use the framework to unpack real scenarios, compare experiences and explore questions such as: Where is your People Stack weakest? What looks like resistance but may actually be something else? And what can you do differently when more communication or training isn't the answer?

Come ready to participate, share and learn from fellow change practitioners. You'll leave with a practical lens for identifying where adoption is getting stuck and where to focus your attention next.

About the Speaker:

Julie Ann Whitten is the Founder and CEO of Julie Whitten Consulting, author of The People Stack: Why Change Fails (and What Actually Fixes It), keynote speaker and change advisor with more than 25 years of experience leading transformation and communications.

Julie helps leaders and change practitioners make sense of the human side of transformation, especially when the project plan looks good but adoption isn't following. Her People Stack framework helps organizations identify what people need to successfully navigate change by examining five critical layers: Clarity, Alignment, Capability, Belief and Sustainment, all built on a foundation of Trust.

Known for making complex change practical, relatable and occasionally a little uncomfortable in the best way, Julie brings real-world experience, candid conversation and actionable tools to her work with organizations and audiences.

Member Only Workshop: Learn to Create a, Reimagined with AI, Change Impact and Stakeholder Analysis (11/12/2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Member Only Workshop: Learn to Create a, Reimagined with AI, Change Impact and Stakeholder Analysis

This interactive, completely FREE, members only workshop will ensure all attendees leave with a deliverable they can put into practice immediately! As change professionals, we know Change Impact Assessments and Stakeholder Analyses are foundational tools for any change initiative — but knowing when to use each, and how to make them genuinely useful, isn't always straightforward. This hands-on workshop clarifies the what, why, when, and how of both assessments, and helps you tell the two apart with confidence.

You'll use AI prompts to sharpen your thinking, strengthen your assessments, and better interpret what the data is telling you. Through peer practice and real-time coaching, you'll build confidence presenting your findings. And you'll leave with more than ideas — you'll walk away with hands on experience with AI and prompts for immediate use!

About the Speakers:

Michelle Yanahan, Principal and Owner of ChangeFit 360, is a change management thought leader with proven expertise in executing change programs that enhance and grow organizational change management as a strategic business competency.

Michelle has 25 +years of experience in leadership roles in operations, change and project management office (PMO) development.

Michelle holds a Masters in Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University as well as CCMP and Prosci ADKAR change management certifications.

ChangeFit 360 has been recognized by ACMP, ATD, SHRM and ICF as a qualified education provider in support of their professional certifications and is proud to hold a >90% customer satisfaction rate for the past 5 years running.

Summer Dirks has spent the last decade guiding organizations through complex change as a change management professional in the banking industry. She currently serves as Senior Change Partner at USAA, where she has led change efforts across several multi-year transformations.

Summer holds her CCMP and Prosci certifications, and is a credentialed career and strengths coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Gallup CliftonStrengths. As the owner of Summer Dirks Coaching, she is passionate about helping women build greater confidence and joy in their work. She also volunteers with ACMP Midwest's Learning & Professional Development Committee.

Empowering Teams Through Self-Organization (11/16/2026)

Mon, 16 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Empowering Teams Through Self-Organization

Talk about a change management program— in 2022 my organization embarked on a journey to become less-hierarchical by leveraging self-organization not only in teams, but also at the system level.

From my perspectives as chief of staff tasked with helping to design and implement this change, and as a Northwestern lecturer in the MSLOC program, I will share insights about why such a change matters and how one goes about creating a human-centric approach to organizational change.

Attendees will gain actionable insights into how one might approach a new way of working that requires not only shifts on mental models of what work is now to how to engage with the entire organization to learn, design and experiment with new ways of working.

About the Speaker:

Maggie Lewis is a change leader who specializes in designing human-centered work experiences, empowering teams, and fostering self-organizing, Agile environments. She is a proponent of changing systems through the application of design thinking methodologies which include experimentation and co-creation.

Member Only Change Exchange: The W.I.N. Method: What If It Isn't Resistance (12/09/2026)

Wed, 09 Dec 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Change Exchange: The W.I.N. Method: What If It Isn't Resistance

You have the strategy. The timeline is set. The rollout has begun. Then comes the word every change practitioner knows: resistance. But what happens when what we're calling resistance isn't actually resistance? What if people are responding to a history of failed rollouts, a lack of trust, voices being excluded from decisions, or leaders who haven't fully examined the systems shaping the change they're asking people to embrace?

Join Michaun Winborn, CEO & Principal Coach of Born2Win Consulting, for an interactive Change Exchange centered on The W.I.N. Method: (A)Waken, Interrupt & Navigate, a framework for examining the human and systemic dynamics that influence whether organizational change takes hold or quietly falls apart.

We'll begin with a 10 to 15 minute introduction to the W.I.N. Method. The remainder of our time will be dedicated to facilitated peer discussion, questions, and shared problem solving. You'll have an opportunity to examine the framework through the lens of your own work, ask questions of Michaun and fellow change leaders, learn from how others are navigating similar challenges, and explore where the W.I.N. Method could strengthen your approach to change.

Together, we'll wrestle with questions such as: What are we misdiagnosing as resistance? Whose voices are missing from the change process? Where are trust and historical experiences influencing adoption? When does maintaining momentum actually threaten the success of the change? And what can we learn from one another about navigating these moments differently?

This isn't a webinar or a traditional hour-long presentation. It's a supportive learning environment built around the expertise already in the room. Bring a current change challenge, a question you've been sitting with, or simply your experience. You'll leave with a new framework, insights from your peers, and questions you can take back into your own work.

This is not a webinar. It's an interactive, two-way discussion. Come ready to participate, share and learn from fellow change practitioners

About the Speaker:

Michaun Winborn is the CEO & Principal Coach of Born2Win Consulting, a practice dedicated to supporting senior leaders in building trust, repairing culture, and reducing risk through practical, human-centered frameworks.

Before founding Born2Win Consulting, Michaun served in leadership roles at JPMorgan Chase, including as Vice President of Diversity, Opportunity & Inclusion for Consumer & Community Banking, where her work included enterprise inclusion initiatives, executive reporting, and leadership development. Her primary experience is in helping leaders navigate culture, difference, trust, and organizational change.

Today, Michaun works with organizations and leaders to strengthen the behaviors that influence how people make decisions, navigate complexity, build trust, and lead across difference. Through her coaching, facilitation, and speaking, she challenges leaders to look beyond the immediate people problem and get curious about the systems, assumptions, relationships, and patterns influencing the outcome.

Her approach is practical, reflective, and grounded in a simple belief: sustainable organizational change requires leaders who are willing to examine not only what needs to change, but how their own leadership may be influencing whether that change succeeds.

ACMP Midwest New Member Connect (02/12/2027)

Fri, 12 Feb 2027 18:00:00 GMT

We invite you to join the ACMP Midwest New Member Connect, a 45‑minute informal session created to welcome and orient our newest members.

You’ll gain a clear understanding of who we are, how to get involved, and the many benefits available to you.

Connect with other change management professionals and start building your network within our vibrant community.

It’s the perfect first step in your ACMP Midwest experience.

ACMP Midwest New Member Connect (04/09/2027)

Fri, 09 Apr 2027 17:00:00 GMT

We invite you to join the ACMP Midwest New Member Connect, a 45‑minute informal session created to welcome and orient our newest members.

You’ll gain a clear understanding of who we are, how to get involved, and the many benefits available to you.

Connect with other change management professionals and start building your network within our vibrant community.

It’s the perfect first step in your ACMP Midwest experience.

ACMP Midwest New Member Connect (06/11/2027)

Fri, 11 Jun 2027 17:00:00 GMT

We invite you to join the ACMP Midwest New Member Connect, a 45‑minute informal session created to welcome and orient our newest members.

You’ll gain a clear understanding of who we are, how to get involved, and the many benefits available to you.

Connect with other change management professionals and start building your network within our vibrant community.

It’s the perfect first step in your ACMP Midwest experience.

ACMP Midwest New Member Connect (08/13/2027)

Fri, 13 Aug 2027 17:00:00 GMT

We invite you to join the ACMP Midwest New Member Connect, a 45‑minute informal session created to welcome and orient our newest members.

You’ll gain a clear understanding of who we are, how to get involved, and the many benefits available to you.

Connect with other change management professionals and start building your network within our vibrant community.

It’s the perfect first step in your ACMP Midwest experience.

ACMP Midwest New Member Connect (10/08/2027)

Fri, 08 Oct 2027 17:00:00 GMT

We invite you to join the ACMP Midwest New Member Connect, a 45‑minute informal session created to welcome and orient our newest members.

You’ll gain a clear understanding of who we are, how to get involved, and the many benefits available to you.

Connect with other change management professionals and start building your network within our vibrant community.

It’s the perfect first step in your ACMP Midwest experience.