Sam Herring, co-founder and executive vice president of Intrepid Learning Solutions, Inc., will serve as the 2011 Chair of the Board of Directors for the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD). Herring joined ASTD's board in 2008 as a director and served as chair-elect of the board in 2010.

At Intrepid Learning Solutions, Mr. Herring leads the firm's major client relationships as well as marketing and product management functions. He is recognized as a "Who's Who" training industry thought leader by Training Industry Inc. He previously chaired ASTD's selection committee, and served on the advisory committee for the ASTD TechKnowledge Conference & Exposition.

"It's an honor to assume this position," said Mr. Herring. "ASTD plays a hugely important role guiding the future of the learning profession, which has never been more important. Coming out of a global recession, our world faces many challenges that leaders responsible for learning and development are uniquely positioned to solve. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the board of directors to help ASTD set a vision for learning in the 21st century, and provide the resources to help organizations realize that vision."

Mr. Herring is a frequent speaker at universities and leading industry conferences and seminars, where he speaks on topics including designing effective corporate learning strategies, trends in learning technology, and best practices in vendor selection and outsourcing. He is a past director of New Futures, a Seattle-area children and family services agency, and holds a master's degree from Harvard University, and a bachelor's degree from Yale University. In 2008, Mr. Herring was recognized as a top young business leader through the Puget Sound Business Journal's "40 Under 40" awards.