Nora is a dedicated professional with a rich background in education. After earning her BFA in performance from Emporia State University and obtaining her K-6 teaching licensure from Ottawa University, she spent 18 years shaping young minds as a teacher. Transitioning to Olsson, she now is a Senior Talent Development Coordinator, where she passionately supports the Preparing Emerging Professionals (PEP) Talks groups, a program designed for high-performing employees who are in the first year of their career. The program provides opportunities for participants to learn more about Olsson, discuss situations that they may run into during their first year, network with other employees, and ask questions. Nora also supports the Rising Professionals, a year-long development program aimed at building connections across high-performing, junior-level employees. This program incorporates mentoring, learning more about Olsson operations, career development, and project management. Additionally, she supports Supervisors in their development program. Nora also contributes as an instructional designer, enhancing the firm's training initiatives. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her husband Mike, their children Emily and Brady, and daughter-in-law Josie. A true Kansas City sports enthusiast, she enjoys cheering on the KC Current, Sporting, Royals, and the Chiefs!
Ashley Dobrzenski is an instructional designer who celebrated her 10-year anniversary in the talent development world in 2025. She started her career in sales but quickly found her passion when she stepped into a retail sales trainer role at Verizon. That experience sparked her love for helping people learn, grow, and feel confident at work. Her journey continued at Indeed, where she held various roles such as enterprise sales training and creating enablement learning programs for all support teams. While completing her M.Ed at Arizona State University (Forks Up!), she focused on building strong learning experiences and developing the skills of enablement professionals. Her thesis focused on virtual, international mentoring programs for STEM students beginning their careers. Ashley is currently ABD in Baker University’s Instructional Design and Performance Technology doctoral program, where her research is inspired by Dr. Amy Edmondson’s work in psychological safety. She is especially passionate about exploring how organizations can intentionally build psychological safety into onboarding and continuing that sentiment throughout employee's careers. Along the way, she’s gained experience across industries including government contracting, alternative energy, convenience stores, and now works as an instructional designer at Security Benefit, where she enjoys creating practical, human-centered learning solutions for the organization. Some of her most memorable projects include building the first leadership program for Casey’s store managers and a volunteer project focused on training formerly incarcerated persons on reentry into the job force. Outside of work, Ashley is a proud Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters, a Broadway superfan, and a true die-hard New York Yankees fan. She also dogsits on Rover and it’s often you’ll find her home chaotically full of pups!
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Joey brings over six years of diverse experience in organizational learning and development. Throughout his time in the L&D field, he has helped both adults and children grow in formal and informal instructional settings. He currently serves as the VP/Organizational Learning & Development Specialist at Security Bank of Kansas City, where he leads organization-wide leadership programs, technical training initiatives, and professional growth strategies. His work centers on creating educational pathways, strengthening workforce capabilities, and supporting organizations in cultivating cultures of growth and opportunity. In his role with ATD KC as the Director of University Collaboration, Joey is committed to supporting students as they explore and enter the Learning & Development profession. He focuses on building meaningful partnerships with regional universities, expanding mentorship opportunities, connecting students with professional support, and helping emerging practitioners bridge the gap between academic preparation and real-world career success. Beyond his professional responsibilities, Joey is an active volunteer with FIRST Robotics, where he supports student development in STEM fields through education, teamwork, and hands-on learning. He also provides training and education to other volunteers who help deliver these programs across both Missouri and Kansas. |
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