The Association for Talent Development mourns the loss of one of its boldest leaders. Former President Curtis Plott, who led the American Society for Training & Development from 1980–1998, died in late September. He is credited with changing the way organizations viewed learning and performance in the workplace.

“Curt was instrumental in making our association what it is today: a thriving global community of people dedicated to unleashing human potential through training and development,” said ATD President and CEO Tony Bingham. “His commitment to engage policy makers helped ATD (then ASTD) put the spotlight on the importance of employee development. His vision to engage professionals around the world laid the groundwork for our worldwide membership. He made the tough decisions and led through dynamic change. ATD is what it is today because Curt laid critical foundations. Our community is in his debt.”

An expert on change and workplace performance, Plott’s focus on decentralizing ASTD helped make the association more flexible and adaptable. He placed a greater emphasis on empowering middle managers to have more responsibility for the association’s products and services and created a strong customer service foundation, which paid dividends for the industry and the association.

“Curt was the right leader during ASTD’s change period from the early 1980s to the late 1980s,” explained Dave Jamieson, the former volunteer president of the ASTD board. “I worked closely with him on a new strategic planning process that set up many of the association’s changes and helped him with the governance redesign. Curt was smart, organized all our resources as needed, and always kept a good balance between the volunteer and staff leaders. He kept his eye on the dreams of what could be and operational realities.”

After the 1980 ASTD headquarters move from Madison, Wisconsin, to Washington, DC, monumental changes began to take place at the association. Plott established the research arm of the association; restructured the organization, which resulted in a new direction for the board of directors; created the association’s first strategic plan; and established a council of governors to examine the industry’s future trends.

“I think one of Curt’s significant achievements was making ASTD more diverse in its outlook, leadership, membership, and staff,” explained Pat Galagan, ATD’s former executive editor.

Many volunteer board members spoke fondly of Plott’s wisdom, patience, and high standards:

“As an officer for ASTD (I was the secretary), I had added interaction with Curt as we revised the bylaws and policies to support the organizational transition,” explained Elaine Biech, president of ebb associates. “During these thought-provoking discussions, Curt was prudent, wise, and sensible. I could always tell when we were about to experience his insight and knowledge: he would listen carefully, purse his lips, focus his eyes on one spot, and shake his head ever so slightly. That's when you prepared yourself for a dose of ‘Curt-wisdom.’ His clear thinking, ability to draw upon the multiple facets of ASTD, and keen understanding of the training community provided the foundation that led to the successful change for the society—achieving Vision 2000.”

"Curt was committed to helping ASTD professionalize and prepare for the major growth that he oversaw and that succeeded him,” added Pat McLagan, CEO of McLagan International. “Curt took on the responsibility for accelerating the professionalization of the association and preparing it for the future. During his term, international relationships became part of the association's emerging mainstream.”

Under his direction, ASTD more than doubled its membership and grew to represent more than 15,000 organizations in 100 countries worldwide. Plott also implemented major changes to the association’s annual conference, including expanding it from a national event to an international affair.

“He worked with volunteer leadership to launch major changes to the international conference,” said McLagan. “For example, patronage (the selection of speakers who were friends of or known by the volunteer conference committee) was replaced by a formal request for proposal process and the ‘Ask Me’ volunteers (people who could answer conference-goers questions) first appeared.”

A captain in the marine corps, he was revered for his leadership skills. Plott was honored with the American Society of Association Executives’ 1994 Key Award, which is presented to executives who demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities in their own association and exemplary devotion to voluntary membership organizations.

Plott Milestones

1982: ASTD publishes its competency study, Models for Excellence.

1984: ASTD implements a new governance structure resulting in a new leadership direction for the board of directors and creates a council of governors to examine the future and advise on trends.

1987: ASTD establishes a research function and receives a $750,000 grant from the US Department of Labor

1990: ASTD and the US Department of Labor publish The Learning Enterprise and Training in America: The Organization and Strategic Role of Training. Both works established the size and scope of the training industry in the United States.

1991: ASTD publishes America and the New Economy, which established the link between learning and performance.

1994: ASTD holds its fiftieth annual and first international conference in Anaheim, California.

1998: First State of the Industry report is published.