About the American Society 
for Training & Development (ASTD)

Founded in 1944, ASTD is the world's premier professional association and leading resource on workplace learning and performance issues. ASTD provides information, research, analysis and practical information derived from its own research, the knowledge and experience of its members, its conferences, expositions, seminars, publications, and the coalitions and partnerships it has built through research and policy work.

ASTD's membership includes more than 70,000 people, working in the field of workplace performance in 100 countries worldwide. Its leadership (see ASTD's Board of Directors) and members work in more than 15,000 multinational corporations, small and medium sized businesses, government agencies, colleges and universities.

To find out more about the national society or for membership information, see www.astd.org.

About the Emerald Coast Chapter

The efforts to start a chapter for this area were initiated by Pat Braunstien (left, with Alison Raynaud). Pat hosted the first interest meeting in May 2000. Under her leadership as the first President, the group met the criteria for and received its official charter in December 2000. As of the first anniversary of the Chapter, the membership reached 38 members. It currently has about 75 members.

Our Vision:

To be recognized by our community as the premier professional training and development association in the Okaloosa and Walton counties area.

Our Mission:

The Emerald Coast Chapter of ASTD is a professional training and development association dedicated to providing its members training opportunities to continually improve their ability and skills. To this end, the Emerald Coast Chapter of ASTD provides high-quality training programs and networking opportunities to an ever-increasing number of training and development professionals in Northwest Florida.