Training Magazine and Conference: A Fond Farewell

Earlier this month, it was announced that the venerable Training Magazine would cease publication after this month’s issue. In addition, last month’s Training 2010 Conference and Expo would be the last ever.

According to at least one blogger:

…the magazine had been in a downward spiral since its sale by Lakewood Publications to VNU Business Media and then again to Nielsen Business Media. Every sale saw new staff, less and less knowledgeable about (or, as far as I could tell, interested in) workplace training and learning. The struggle was evident: Those who subscribed to the print edition over the past few years can attest to its shrinkage from magazine to something more akin to newsletter. I don’t know how it held on for as long as it did. (Jane Bozarth, bozarthzone.blogspot.com 2/20/2010)

But this article is to bid the magazine and conference a fond farewell. Barnes & Conti has been a regular exhibitor at the Expo since 2005. Several of us have been at the expo and worked the Barnes & Conti booth over the years.

Back in 2006, Kim Barnes, along with Jack Harris, MD, Vice President of Global Medical Operations, Lilly Research Laboratories, gave a joint presentation at the Conference entitled “Inspirational Leadership: Involving Senior Leaders in Developing the Next Generation.”

I think, however, what we’ll miss most is Training Magazine’s annual ranking of the top 125 Organizations that Excel at Employee Development. It is always gratifying to see our own client companies in that list! In the current list, we were delighted to see Cisco near the top of the list, and Western & Southern Life in the mix. A number of past Barnes & Conti clients were represented.

We’ll miss Training Magazine and our annual trek to wherever the expo is happening. However, we certainly hope that some other organization takes up where Training left off; the annual top 125 list is too important to just go away!