Executive Board

TOC Board Structure

TOC Board Members

Steve Dobberowsky
Officer- TOC Chair

I joined TOC because I had heard that it fostered community.  I was new to the Federal service as well as new to adult learning, so I went to my first TOC Annual Institute.  I thought I’d attend the sessions and go back to my room and do work.  Apparently, I didn’t grasp the word community in TOC.  In TOC’s world, it means: Networking, Collaborating, Socializing and Connecting groups of people who may not know each other, but are interested in helping everyone out.  That’s why I joined TOC…and quite frankly, that’s why I stay in TOC!

This year, I accepted the position of the Chair of TOC Board.  So, my compass reset is twofold: For my personal compass reset, I’m reconnecting with my TOC network.  I need my network to keep me fluent in the issues in the Federal training community.  For the TOC compass reset, 2020-2021 was a challenging year for TOC and its registrants.  However, I believe it is time to set TOC on a course for bigger and brighter things as we move into 2022.  I want to help steer that navigation.

Steve Dobberowsky is the Director of Strategy and Value Services at Cornerstone OnDemand.

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Ellen Roderick
Officer- TOC Secretary

I joined TOC in 1979 initially for the connections I would make as a new Federal employee in the T&D field.  The connections it afforded me enhanced my career tremendously leading to promotions, enriching work challenges, and leadership skills beyond my wildest expectations.  I stayed in TOC for 42 years for the opportunity to “give back”, to “mentor others”, to help in keeping TOC the “gift that keeps on giving” to former, present, and future T&D colleagues.

This year, TOC is offering all registrants the opportunity to “reset our compasses”.  It is my hope to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the scope and meaning of inclusion in today’s complex environments. 

Ellen Roderick is a retired Federal Training Director, serving on the TOC Board since1988.

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Stephanie Campbell
Officer- TOC Treasurer

Stephanie Campbell is a current Federal employee with the Department of the Treasury.

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Shanda Adams
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
2022 Annual Institute Chair
Site Selection Chair

I joined TOC because I value the collective knowledge of our training and development community. In the years I have been a registrant and board member, I have increased my skillset and expanded my network, which have helped me grow in my career. 

This year, I plan to Reset my Compass towards E-Learning as I lead the effort to transition courses from in-person to a more blended approach.  

Shanda Adams is a current Federal employee with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (Department of the Treasury) where she serves as Leadership Development Specialist.

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Lin Burton
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
Recruitment and Retention Co-Chair

I have enjoyed TOC events and collaboration for well over a decade.  My journey began with sharing agency initiatives so warmly welcomed by this talented professional community.  This supportive and engaged collaboration has guided growth and increased awareness for trends and initiatives brought to the federal professionals I serve.  We have gained much experience and support through events and Annual Institutes attended in which I presented and led over my time in TOC.  I am honored to begin service on the TOC Executive Board with a personal goal to provide this crucial professional journey to young professionals in the federal training community.

My compass has pointed true north this year.  I am guided toward gathering a professional community that continues the tradition of professional engagement enriched with the talent growth that we all experience in our TOC community.  This true north will include pathways both expected and a journey guided by newly enriched experience, talent and growth.  

Lin Burton serves as Chief Learning Officer (CLO) for the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Prison Industries (FPI), Washington, D.C.

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Rhonda Carter
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
Awards and Scholarship Co-Chair
Historian

I value TOC because of our vision: TOC believes in building a community. TOC registrants span multiple Federal agencies, professional industries, and academic institutions that come together to share ideas, recognize best practices, and learn from each other. For more than 20 years this organization has given me the opportunity to grow my leadership development skills through serving in multiple capacities from 2008 Program Chair for the Annual Institute to 2011 AI Vice Chair to 2012 Annual Institute Chair to leading this amazing group of federal learning leaders for 3 years from 2017-2020. The community in TOC has opened doors for me and placed me in the right palace at the right time to achieve my goals.  I have been abundantly blessed and have grown tremendously through my work in TOC as a registrant and as a member of the Executive Board. 

Rhonda Carter is a current federal employee and a long-time TOC Board member.

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Michelle Clark
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
Recruitment and Retention Co-Chair

I re-joined TOC in 2014 when I went back into the training industry. I wanted to network and stay apprised of the Federal training officers needs and challenges in their workplace so I can be an ally and help them find solutions. Over time the relationships grew stronger, and I found that the professional development opportunities kept getting better and better. The tenacity and agility of the organization to pivot to an all-virtual year long program in the blink of an eye with nothing on their minds but to bring the maximum value to their registrants made me even more proud to be part of such a wonderful organization. There is a reason why TOC has stood the test of time for over 80 years and it will be around for 80 more with the commitment of its registrants, the Federal Training Community, the vendor/sponsors community, and friends.

This year I plan to reset my compass with a focus on sharing my story from many perspectives and networking in different ways to cast a broader net so more people can become a part of the TOC family.

Michelle Clark is the Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Management Concepts a provider of training, career development, performance improvement, and human capital solutions for the public sector.

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Eugene de Ribeaux
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
Assistant Treasurer
Strategic Partnerships, Vendor Relations & Metrics

My firm became involved with TOC in the mid-2000s. We do a lot of training development, training evaluation, and organizational development work in the Federal Government sector, and we wanted to participate in an organization where we could more deeply understand the needs of Federal training officers. We found the perfect group in TOC! Although we started out as a self-interested vendor, we stayed because we came to relish contributing to the growth of the talented and vibrant TOC community. Today, several of my staff members and I volunteer, learn, grow, and enjoy being part of the TOC family.

This year, I will reset my compass by continuing to invest in my learning journey, both through TOC professional development programs as well as participation in the SBA 2021 Emerging Leaders Cohort.

Eugene de Ribeaux is CEO of PTG International, Inc., a small business that provides Federal agencies with expert-level IT and human capital services and solutions that allow them to measurably impact their mission.

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Claire Gudewich
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
Assistant Secretary
Professional Development Program Vice Chair

I first joined TOC because I was a new federal employee and I wanted to expand my network. I stay with TOC because I cannot find another organization that provides such a high level of professional development. Attending the PDPs, whether in person or virtually offers me the opportunity to stay current on new and emerging trends in the field of training and human resources. Serving on the Board of Directors has been an honor and has allowed me to develop my leadership skills and Executive Core Qualifications while giving back to this amazing organization.

This year, I plan to Reset my Compass towards Skills as I strengthen my ability to an effective full-time teleworker by leveraging technologies.

Claire Gudewich is a current Federal employee with the Department of Health and Human Services where she serves as an Executive Development Specialist.

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Karen Hoffman
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
TOC Administrator
Professional Development Program Vice Chair

“Be the person who makes others feel included and do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who YOU are.”

As a Human Resources Professional and current TOC Board member, I joined TOC to gain the requisite knowledge and skills to become a connoisseur-learning professional.  The camaraderie, network and knowledge afforded me limitless opportunities by learning from experts in Learning and Development professionals’ field.   

I plan to reset my compass and learn from every direction because there is always some powerful and thought provoking knowledge and skills to learn along my journey that will help to promote personal transformation.  More importantly this year, I plan to develop my skills in the Southern quadrant through employee engagement, strategic and collaborative partnerships.

Karen Hoffman is a current Federal employee with the Federal Trade Commission where she serves as the Lead, Training Officer and a Federal Coach to the federal workforce.

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Laniera Jones
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
Marketing and Communications Chair

TOC has helped me expand my skills far beyond what I could have imagined. Even before becoming a Board Member, the professional development programs have always been an opportunity to learn innovative approaches. Learning from others has provided new and different insights that I have been able to take back to my Bureau and adapt for implementation. Having the point of contact within TOC has been instrumental – the TOC connection provides a necessary element in making these efforts successful through networking.

This year, I’m looking forward to resetting my compass with a focus on e-learning. We have taken a very passive approach to this learning method pre-pandemic and became reactionary during. I look forward to striking a balance with the support of the programs TOC provides this year.

Laniera Jones is a current Federal employee with the Bureau of Economic Analysis (Department of Commerce) where she serves as the Training Officer. 

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Chris King
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
Chief Technologist

TOC is the only game in town focused on federal L&D and Human Capital practitioners. I joined the TOC Board because I know how important and hard-working these dedicated men and women are, and I want to give a little back to them. Along the way, I made some amazing friendships and professional connections.

In the coming year, I will Reset my Compass with Wellness as I focus on helping teams embrace working virtually as the default or making the shift a hybrid configuration.

Chris King is the Chief Learning Provocateur at CEEK LLC, a boutique consulting firm focused on Organizational Wellness and ridding the world of zombies in the workforce.

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Trina Petty
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
Professional Development Program Chair

I became a TOC registrant in 2010 and attended my first Annual Institute. I was hooked on TOC at that point! The seminars I attended, the networking with vendors (some of them I later introduced to my organization), and new friends/colleagues I met far outweighed the cost. When I went back to my office and explained to my supervisor what I had learned and it was demonstrated in my work actions, my registration with TOC was easy to sale to my organization the following program year.

Over the years I have also shared and invited my colleagues to TOC professional development programs so that they could take advantage of what TOC has to offer. TOC friendships are made; not forced! Information is freely shared amongst the TOC learning community! As a result of TOC, I was able to expand my circle of contacts both inside and outside of the federal government. This itself has made TOC a valuable tool in my personal toolkit for success.

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Gary C. Powell, EdD
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
Awards and Scholarship Co-Chair

What I value about TOC today, is what drew me to it over a decade ago: the comradeship.  Through TOC I’ve built much more than a network of contacts; I’ve formed genuine bonds with other likeminded L&D professionals with common aspirations.   I value TOC’s uncanny ability to build a community of Federal training & development experts (and allies) who share a passion for continuous learning, knowledge sharing and collaboration.  Finally, I value how through all of its programs — whether it’s a one hour-long webinar or a three-day Annual Institute — TOC provides an opportunity for me to build, connect and learn.

This year, I plan to Reset my Compass towards skills, as I bring about strategic change through learning & development programs designed to help my organization meet its goals.  I will continue to grow my skillset focusing on planning/managing a broad spectrum of innovative and creative training, capability-building, succession planning and professional development activities and services.

Dr. Gary C. Powell currently serves as the Training Officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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Mike Powell
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
Logistics

This year I’m resetting my compass towards E-Learning as I’m really focused on enhancing my skills in the virtual learning environment. Over the past year we’ve all pivoted to virtual learning and I want continue to grow in that area. Technology is constantly changing and I want ensure that we are able to respond with creative programs that people both enjoy and benefit from experiencing. TOC continues to provide valuable opportunities to grow and develop my skillset so I am looking forward to the challenge!

Mike Powell is the Vice President of Organizational Development and Training for the Powell Consulting Group, a family-owned Management Consulting Company located in Hyattesville, MD.

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Cheryl Seminara
Board Member

Committee Position(s):
2022 Annual Institute Vice Chair
Site Selection Chair

I will be resetting my compass this year by focusing inward.  As learning and development professionals, we often spend so much time developing others that we neglect ourselves.  My compass is taking me West, to focus on Wellness!

Cheryl Seminara is the Chief Strategist for The Learning Concierge.

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