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Learning & Development for the
State of Colorado
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In this Issue:
- The Value of Connection
- FAMLI Training Update
- Trainer Spotlight: Rudy Sanchez
- Upcoming Learning Leader Meeting
- New Labor Relations E-Learning
- AI Contest: Still Time to Enter
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 - Allie Rasmussen, LDC Training Specialist
In today’s world, digital tools get a significant amount of buzz and attention. It is easy to see why! Between the ease of AI assistance and the numerous benefits to e-learning, many of us are starry-eyed about the use of technology in L&D spaces.
However, it is also important to remember the value of genuine, empathetic, and dynamic interactions that happen when we connect with other people. Human connection boosts our motivation, aids in understanding, and pushes us to grow in every way.
Here are just a few benefits of human connection in learning and development:
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Supporting Adult Learning (Andragogy): As learning professionals, we know that adult learning theory prioritizes self-direction, prior knowledge, and real-world application. I imagine you have designed or facilitated training that uses these best practices. But it can be easy to forget to create spaces for these same theories in our own learning. Human connection gives us collaborators to help us find our own answers and opportunities to make our own learning stick. Our life experiences are a goldmine for learning, and connecting with others allows us to share and build on a richer, collective understanding.
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Building Belonging and Sharpening Critical Soft Skills: When we feel connected to our colleagues, it creates a supportive environment where we're comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and having open discussions. This feeling of psychological safety allows us to be vulnerable, which is super important for tackling complex ideas and seeking new perspectives. Strong peer relationships impact engagement, retention, and performance. On top of that, crucial soft skills like teamwork, empathy, adaptability, communication, and conflict resolution get sharper through interacting with others. These aren't just bonus skills; they're often the foundation that helps us actually use our technical knowledge and come up with innovative ideas.
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Efficiency: When we collaborate, we are more efficient. We know that learning leaders from across the state are already solving big problems. When we share what we have learned and what works, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. If someone else has a great storyboard template and a cool practice for using polls in Google Meets, why not spread the wealth instead of wasting time to get to the same result.
Given all this, we at LDC are working to create a space to foster more connection within the learning leader community at the State of Colorado. In the coming months, we will continue the conversation on how to leverage technology to allow for more connection. We plan on sharing more soon!
In the meantime, here are some ideas for boosting connection:
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Schedule "Water Cooler" Moments: Beyond formal meetings, set up optional, informal video calls where people can just chat about non-work stuff as your schedule allows. Think virtual coffee breaks, lunch-and-learns without a strict agenda, or even a quick "good morning" huddle. This helps replicate those spontaneous office interactions that build rapport. You can also consider adding moments like this to virtual training environments to help learning cohorts feel more connected.
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Join the Learning Leaders Quarterly Forum on July 30: If you don’t already attend the Learning Leader Quarterly Forums, consider joining us. It's a great chance for the Learning Leaders to connect and collaborate. If you need to be added to the calendar invite, reach out to dpa_ldc@state.co.us
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Share your ideas: We'd love to hear your brilliant ideas on how to connect as learning leaders in a virtual world and what you would like to see out of this community. Please reach out to dpa_ldc@state.co.us to share what is on your mind! We would love to hear from you.
Prioritizing human connection alongside technological advancements is essential for effective learning and development. When we create environments that encourage genuine interaction, we help people grow, collaborate better, and build a stronger, more engaged workforce. Plus: connecting with others is fun! Which is a great bonus.
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 - Allyson Williams, CDLE Training Manager
Initial Focus: Ahead of the January 2024 launch of Colorado’s FAMLI benefits program, the CDLE Training Team concentrated on preparing staff to use two key software systems—one for collecting premiums and one for managing claims. Training emphasized system navigation, task completion, and helping new team members embrace FAMLI’s “Culture of Care.”
Current and Future Direction: As systems and processes improve, the training has evolved to focus on role-specific needs. This includes how to use the systems, follow team procedures, and build the soft skills needed to support both claimants and employers.
New Initiative — Friend of FAMLI Certification Program: The team recently launched the Friend of FAMLI Certification Program. This specialized training empowers community professionals to serve as trusted FAMLI resources, equipping them with the knowledge to guide and support claimants within their own communities.
Our Commitment: We’re committed to growing the FAMLI program in a way that’s practical, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Coloradans. It’s our job and privilege to help people navigate paid leave so they can take care of themselves and the people in their lives who matter most.
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Trainer Spotlight: Rudy Sanchez,
CDLE Training Specialist |
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Tell us about yourself:
My name is Rudy Sanchez (pronouns: he/him/his/el/ello). I identify as Latino and I bring over 23 years of experience with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), where I’ve served as a workforce professional and training specialist.
Before joining CDLE, I was a bilingual science teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in southwest Denver.
I was born and raised in Colorado Springs, and my roots in Colorado run deep—my family has lived in the San Luis Valley for over five generations, in places like San Luis, San Acacio, Chama (Colorado), San Pablo, and the surrounding areas.
I met my partner, Joseph, more than 31 years ago in Colorado Springs through mutual friends—ask me sometime, it’s a fun story! He is the love of my life, my rock, and my greatest supporter.
I have a deep love for teaching, but more importantly, a genuine passion for learning. The friendships and lifelong connections I’ve built with my CDLE colleagues are some of the things I treasure most.
I’m proud to be one of CDLE’s strongest champions for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA), and I bring this passion to every training I lead. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story.
What is your favorite tool to support employee professional development? Why?
I’m a strong believer in Work Styles and the True Colors philosophy as frameworks for connecting with adult learners.
My personal philosophy is rooted in the idea that people are motivated by a few or multiple dominant needs and desires:
- The desire to understand why we do what we do (driven by relationships)
- The need to know what we’re doing (driven by facts and knowledge)
- The importance of knowing how things work (driven by structure)
- The curiosity of asking what if (driven by autonomy and creativity)
All of my trainings incorporate these four learning styles to ensure every participant feels seen, understood, and engaged.
What is something you’d like to implement for statewide learners in the future?
I’d love to create a statewide certification program for teachers, trainers, facilitators, mentors, and coaches focused on work style and communication.
As mentioned earlier, I believe that all learners are motivated by a mix of the four dominant learning styles. A formal training certification would help equip those who are passionate about teaching with tools to better connect, engage, and empower diverse learners across Colorado.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I’m an avid bird watcher and nature lover. Although I don’t always get to explore the great outdoors as much as I’d like, we make time for long walks around our neighborhood to stay connected with nature.
Friends and coworkers often reach out to me with questions about birds, wildflowers, or other natural wonders—and I love it! So, if you work for the State of Colorado and have a nature question, my invitation is open—I’d love to hear from you!
Is there a unique travel experience you’ve had?
During my sophomore year at Colorado College, I spent a semester studying abroad in Mexico.
Though English is my first language, I studied Spanish through junior high, high school, and college, which helped me become fluent in reading, writing, and speaking the language. For the first three months of the program, I lived with a host family in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, and spent the final month in Cuernavaca, Morelos.
It was a deeply enriching cultural and personal experience that left a lasting impression.
What was your dream job as a kid, and how has that changed?
As a young gay Latino boy growing up in Colorado Springs, I was fortunate to have compassionate and supportive teachers who inspired me.
From a young age, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. I also had a deep love of science, which led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology from Colorado College, along with a secondary science education credential.
That combination of education and science shaped the path I’ve taken—and while the settings have changed, the core passion for teaching, learning, and serving others has remained constant throughout my career.
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 As mentioned earlier in the newsletter, we’re looking forward to connecting with you at the next Learning Leaders Quarterly Forum on Wednesday, July 30 at 10:00 a.m. This meeting is a chance for agency Learning & Development teams to share updates, explore emerging workforce needs, and collaborate on strategies to strengthen employee development across the State.
If you’re part of your agency’s L&D efforts, these quarterly meetings are a great opportunity to stay engaged with peers, learn from statewide initiatives, and help shape the future of workforce growth in Colorado.
Details and the agenda will be shared ahead of the meeting. For more information or to ensure your agency is represented, please contact dpa_ldc@state.co.us
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New Self-Paced Labor Relations
Courses Now Available
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 The Statewide Labor Relations Unit has launched two new self-paced e-learning courses to strengthen labor relations knowledge and practices across Colorado agencies. These brief courses are designed to reinforce key skills and keep employees up to date on important concepts.
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Positive Labor Relationships: Skills Refresher
A 30-minute, self-paced course for non-covered employees who previously completed the instructor-led Creating Positive Labor Relations training. This refresher revisits essential topics such as the role of unions, collective bargaining, and the distinctions between covered and non-covered employees—helping participants stay current on the State’s relationship with COWINS and the Partnership Agreement.
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Level I PAD Meetings: Quick Refresher
Designed for Labor Relations and Human Resources professionals who have already completed Holding Effective Level I PAD Meetings, this short course reinforces best practices for serving as an objective decision maker in Level I PADs. It focuses on staying neutral, asking open-ended questions, and avoiding common missteps that can hinder resolution.
Both courses are available in the LXP. Register or learn more on the LXP Discover page.
Need help promoting training? Use the Labor Relations Training Marketing Toolkit to support your outreach efforts. The toolkit includes a flyer, FAQ, and sample blurbs to make sharing easier.
Questions? Email dpa_laborrelations@state.co.us
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Update: AI Prompt Writing Contest
—Still Time to Enter!
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 Thanks to everyone who has already jumped in to explore how AI can support training and development across Colorado. We’ve received some fantastic entries, from prompts that generate creative visuals for leadership programs to structured analyses that turn thousands of survey responses into clear, actionable themes.
There’s still time to submit your own prompt and show how AI can be used thoughtfully, ethically, and practically in the workplace. Whether you’re curious to see how AI might streamline your projects or already using it to tackle tasks, we’d love to see your ideas.
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Submit your prompt by Aug. 8 to dpa_ldc@state.co.us
- Winners will be announced in the August L&D Newsletter!
Not sure where to start? Try drafting a simple prompt for summarizing complex feedback, creating a graphic, or generating discussion questions for a training session. You don’t need to be an expert—a clear, well-phrased prompt is all you need to get started.
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