Training Impact Podcast

LatitudeLearning
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🎙️ The Training Impact Podcast with Jeff Walter Welcome to The Training Impact Podcast, where we explore how Partner Training Programs drive real business results. Hosted by Jeff Walter, Founder and CEO of LatitudeLearning, this show dives deep into the strategies, tools, and stories behind high-performing training programs for franchises, resellers, dealers, customers, and extended enterprise networks. With over 20 years in Learning and Development, Jeff brings clarity to a part of the industry too often ignored: Partners and Programs. While most conversations focus on employee training, The Training Impact Podcast shines a light on the unique challenges—and enormous opportunities—of partner learning at scale. Each episode features conversations with training leaders and franchise executives who are transforming how organizations learn, grow, and measure success. From building scalable onboarding systems to embedding AI in learning, we discuss what it takes to turn training into a strategic asset that fuels performance, retention, and growth. 💡 Why listen? Learn how to connect training directly to business KPIs Discover frameworks like the Training Program Roadmap and Surefire Training Impact™ model Hear real-world stories from franchisors, L&D professionals, and partner program innovators Gain practical strategies to elevate your training from tactical to transformational 🎧 New episodes every month featuring experts from across industries including retail, finance, automotive, healthcare, and tech. 👉 Follow Jeff Walter on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreywalter 🌐 Learn more about LatitudeLearning: www.LatitudeLearning.com #TrainingImpactPodcast #PartnerTraining #FranchiseTraining #LearningAndDevelopment #LMS #TrainingStrategy #JeffWalter #LatitudeLearning #TrainingROI #ExtendedEnterprise

  1. 1D AGO · VIDEO

    40. Bojangles: Inside a Bold Training Shift That’s Driving Real Performance

    Jeff Walter is joined by Lindsey Halson, Senior Director of Training and Development at ⁠Bojangles⁠, to explore how the brand designs, delivers, and scales training for its field teams. This conversation goes well beyond content libraries and one-time onboarding programs. Lindsey outlines a fundamental shift in how Bojangles thinks about training itself. The objective is not simply to ensure people know how to do their jobs, but to help them want to do their jobs, continue growing in them, and understand how their daily behaviors directly influence team performance, hospitality, retention, and profitability. As Bojangles evolved, leaders recognized that traditional “show and tell” training was no longer enough. While task execution mattered, there was no shared learning strategy, no consistent way to measure impact, and no framework connecting training to real outcomes in the field. Over time, it became clear that hoping knowledge would stick was not a strategy. Instead, Bojangles rebuilt its approach around behavior-based leadership. Leaders are no longer evaluated on vague impressions or general effort. They are coached on a small, focused set of observable behaviors, including drive-thru execution, food quality standards, hospitality cues, situational awareness, and how often they actively coach their teams during peak periods. By narrowing the focus, leaders gain clarity on where to invest their attention and how to improve performance in real time. The discussion also highlights the role of structured observation in leadership development. Drawing from Lindsey’s background in education, Bojangles uses simple, one-page observation tools during the busiest moments of a shift. These observations provide objective feedback, helping leaders lift their heads, see the whole operation, and coach more effectively instead of staying locked into a single task. You will also hear how Bojangles accelerated learning by getting people hands-on faster, redesigned leadership development around role-based competencies, and rolled out training intentionally to ensure programs were proven before scaling to franchise locations. Rather than overwhelming the field, training is introduced in stages, refined based on impact, and aligned to what leaders actually need in their roles. The result is a training system that strengthens leadership confidence, improves retention, and drives more consistent performance across the operation. It is a clear example of how training, when treated as a system rather than an event, becomes a strategic advantage. To learn more about Bojangles and its commitment to operational excellence, visit ⁠https://www.bojangles.com⁠.

    1h 24m

  2. 5D AGO · VIDEO

    39. Excel Truck Group: Breaks the Training Mold to Scale Performance

    What does it really take to scale training in a high-risk, multi-location industry where mistakes are costly and downtime is not an option? In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter sits down with Tom Meyers of Excel Truck Group to explore how one of the nation’s largest commercial truck dealer networks approaches training as an operational system rather than a collection of courses. Excel Truck Group operates in an environment where technician performance, service accuracy, and operational consistency directly affect safety, customer trust, and business outcomes. Tom shares how Excel Truck Group has evolved its training strategy to support multiple roles, locations, and experience levels while maintaining high standards across the organization. Throughout the conversation, Jeff and Tom unpack what scalable training really looks like in practice, including: * Why role-based training matters in complex dealership operations * How training maturity changes as organizations grow * The difference between tracking training activity and measuring training impact * Why onboarding alone is not enough to support long-term performance * How training influences retention, culture, and operational confidence This episode is a practical look at how training becomes a strategic asset when it is aligned with real work, real outcomes, and real accountability. Whether you lead training, operations, or a distributed workforce, the insights from Excel Truck Group offer a clear blueprint for building training programs that scale without breaking the business. Learn more about Excel Truck Group: https://www.exceltruckgroup.com/ For more from the Training Impact Podcast, follow us on Social Media: https://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/trainingimpactpodcast

    1h 1m

  3. FEB 16 · VIDEO

    38. American Dream:The Unstoppable Power of Scale and Experience-Based Destinations

    What does it really take to sell, support, and scale an experience-based destination at massive scale? In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with Stan Kravitz, Director of Global Tourism Sales and Partnerships for American Dream, for a deep conversation on how one of the most ambitious destinations in the world thinks about partner enablement, channel strategy, and experience-driven growth. Stan begins by reframing what American Dream actually is. Rather than calling it a mall, he describes it as a retail-tainment destination, a place where shopping, dining, attractions, and entertainment combine into a single, immersive experience. That distinction matters because American Dream is not selling individual stores. It is selling an entire day, weekend, or trip, which fundamentally changes how partners must be trained and enabled to sell it. Throughout the episode, Jeff and Stan explore what it means to build a unified ecosystem across internal teams and external resellers. American Dream relies on a wide range of tourism channels, including online travel agents, group travel planners, and distribution partners, each with different audiences and selling motions. The challenge is not simply sharing product information. It is ensuring consistency, positioning, and readiness across the entire network. Stan shares how American Dream prioritized channels during tourism recovery, starting with online travel agents to generate early momentum, then expanding into broader distribution as brand awareness grew. Jeff reflects on this approach as a repeatable strategy: identify the customer, understand how they buy, and align partners accordingly. Over time, the destination shifted from pushing into channels to being pulled in by partners whose customers were already asking for American Dream by name. The conversation also dives into the realities of selling in a competitive tourism market like New York. Stan explains how long-standing industry relationships opened doors, but sustained performance depends on answering one key partner question: what’s new? From new attractions to refreshed offers, American Dream keeps partners engaged by continuously updating what they can promote and how they talk about the destination. One of the most actionable insights from the episode is Stan’s belief that the best enablement tool is firsthand experience. Getting partners into the building transforms how they sell. When resellers experience the destination themselves, positioning becomes easier and confidence increases. This is especially powerful given the breadth of American Dream’s offerings, which expanded from six attractions to more than twenty-five. Stan also explains how product differentiation changes the sales conversation. American Dream is weatherproof, allowing guests to surf, ski, ride coasters, and enjoy attractions regardless of conditions outside. For partners, that reliability reduces risk and makes the destination easier to sell. The episode closes with a strong message for training and enablement leaders. Stan rejects one-and-done training and instead frames enablement as an ongoing education loop. Partners need fresh content, updated imagery, clear bundles, transportation clarity, and continuous communication to stay effective. As Stan puts it, the company may sign the paycheck, but it is the customer who paid you. This episode is a practical, real-world example of extended enterprise training in action. It shows how experience-based organizations succeed not by pushing content, but by enabling ecosystems to confidently sell, support, and deliver on a shared promise. For more information about American Dream, visit https://www.americandream.com/ For more from the Training Impact Podcast, follow us on social media: https://t-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smartlink/trainingimpactpodcast

    40 min

  4. FEB 12 · VIDEO

    37. AC Inc.: Turning Field Support into a Strategic Growth Engine

    In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter talks with Angela Cote, founder and CEO of AC Inc., about why field support is one of the most influential and least developed roles in franchising. Angela brings a rare, end-to-end perspective shaped by a lifetime in the franchise industry. She grew up in a franchise system that scaled to nearly 500 locations, spent years working directly in field support, and later operated as a multi-unit franchisee herself for close to two decades. That experience exposed a consistent challenge across franchise brands. Even with strong onboarding, solid systems, and well-documented operational playbooks, franchisee performance often stalls once the business is up and running. Jeff and Angela unpack why the issue is rarely the system itself. Instead, the gap shows up in how franchisees are supported day to day. Field support teams are expected to drive accountability, engagement, and growth, yet many are promoted into the role without being trained to coach business owners. As a result, support conversations often default to compliance and checklists rather than strategic guidance. Throughout the conversation, Angela explains the difference between consulting, training, and coaching, and why coaching is the missing capability in many franchise systems. Rather than solving problems for franchisees, effective coaching helps them think more clearly, prioritize their time, and take ownership of their results. This shift reduces dependence on head office and creates stronger, more confident operators. Angela also shares how AC Inc. helps franchisors equip field support professionals with the skills to build trust, establish credibility, and lead more productive coaching conversations. When field teams are trained to coach rather than police, franchisee engagement improves, relationships strengthen, and performance follows. This episode is especially relevant for franchisors, operations leaders, training and learning professionals, and anyone responsible for supporting franchisees, dealers, or partners across a distributed network. Learn more about AC Inc.: https://fieldcoachexperts.com/ For more episodes of the Training Impact Podcast join us here: ⁠https://www.latitudelearning.com/training-impact-podcast/ ⁠

    54 min

  5. FEB 9 · VIDEO

    36. Matthew Reyes: Training, Motivation, and the Human Needs That Drive Performance

    In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter welcomes Matthew Reyes for one of the most human-centered conversations the show has hosted to date. What begins as a discussion about customer experience and training quickly becomes a deeper exploration of motivation, habit formation, and why many training programs struggle to create lasting behavior change. Matthew brings more than two decades of experience leading large customer experience and support organizations at companies including Crunchyroll, Milestone, and eSignal. Throughout the conversation, he challenges a common assumption in learning and development. Training does not fail because people are unwilling to learn. It fails because organizations underestimate the role human needs play in performance, engagement, and consistency. Content alone does not create capability, and systems alone do not create commitment. Jeff and Matthew unpack what customer experience really means beyond software or interfaces. Customer experience is the full journey someone has with a brand, shaped by human interactions, support conversations, AI agents, partners, and frontline employees. Because many of those people do not work directly for the organization, training becomes the primary lever for consistency, trust, and quality across distributed environments. The conversation then shifts from traditional training design to motivation. Matthew explains why incentives and surface-level rewards miss the mark and why generational labels like “Gen Z challenges” often point to unmet needs rather than attitude problems. Short attention spans, desire for feedback, and emphasis on mental health are signals that traditional systems are no longer aligned with how people work. At the center of the episode is Matthew’s framework of six core human needs: safety and familiarity, variety, significance, connection, growth, and contribution. These needs are not hierarchical. They coexist, and when at least three are met consistently within a process, behavior becomes repeatable and habit-forming. Matthew shares how this insight emerged from studying engagement patterns in gaming and subscription environments and how the same principles apply to workforce development. Listeners will hear how these ideas translate into practical training design. From scaling teams rapidly to building train-the-trainer models, Matthew explains how effective programs focus on identity as much as skill. Learn-do-teach becomes a human system, where learning creates safety, doing drives growth, and teaching reinforces significance and contribution. The episode also explores individual adaptation and inclusion through a powerful example of redesigning work for an underperforming agent with ADHD and dyslexia. By adjusting workflows instead of forcing conformity, performance improved dramatically in days, not months. The conversation concludes with Matthew’s work mentoring men transitioning back into society after incarceration. The same framework applies. Before goals can be set, foundational skills like time management, self-measurement, and purpose must exist. By teaching personal KPIs and connecting actions to future identity, lasting change becomes possible. This episode reinforces a simple but often overlooked truth. Training is not primarily about delivering content. It is about designing environments that meet human needs so the right behaviors become repeatable. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.latitudelearning.com/insights/portfolio/36-matthew-reyes/

    1h 21m

  6. FEB 5 · VIDEO

    35. MCP Emerson Canada: Turning Technical Training into Confident Field Performance

    In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, host Jeff Walter sits down with Kara Hale, Operations Director at MCP Emerson Canada, for a deep dive into what it really takes to scale complex partner operations across borders, brands, and retail channels. MCP Emerson Canada plays a critical role in helping U.S. and global consumer product brands enter and succeed in the Canadian market. With more than 50 brands across health, wellness, OTC, and consumer packaged goods, and distribution reaching roughly 5,000 retail locations nationwide, the operational complexity is significant. Kara walks through how MCP Emerson Canada acts as an extension of its brand partners, providing the regulatory expertise, supply chain infrastructure, and retail relationships required to operate successfully in Canada. The conversation begins with an overview of the Canadian retail landscape and why it differs so dramatically from the U.S. market. With only a handful of dominant national retailers, shelf space is scarce, competition is intense, and execution must be precise. Kara explains how MCP Emerson Canada navigates regulatory approval through Health Canada, manages import and logistics processes, and standardizes onboarding for brand partners so nothing falls through the cracks. From there, the discussion shifts to one of the most powerful differentiators in MCP Emerson Canada’s approach: consumer insights and data-driven decision making. Kara shares how the organization moved beyond simply representing products to actively guiding retailers with market intelligence. By analyzing macro consumer trends, category data, and point-of-sale information, MCP Emerson Canada helps retailers make smarter decisions about assortment, shelf space, and inventory turns. Jeff and Kara explore real examples of how secondary and tertiary trends shape demand. From shifts in travel behavior to the downstream effects of GLP-1 medications on OTC categories, Kara explains how insight-led presentations help retailers anticipate what consumers will need next. This approach not only improves shelf efficiency for retailers, but also strengthens brand performance and accelerates growth for MCP Emerson Canada’s partners. The episode also dives into operational scalability. Kara discusses the challenges of managing institutional knowledge when processes live in people’s heads, and how MCP Emerson Canada is working toward more automated, standardized workflows to support growth. She outlines plans to improve cross-functional handoffs between regulatory, sales, marketing, and supply chain teams, ensuring consistency as the organization continues to expand. Technology and data play a major role in this evolution. Kara introduces Emerson’s proprietary data platform, Omega, which brings together shipment data, POS data, and analytics into a single source of truth. The platform helps brand partners understand performance trends, identify supply gaps, and make more informed planning decisions across both U.S. and Canadian markets. Finally, the conversation looks ahead to the role of AI and automation. Kara shares how MCP Emerson Canada is thoughtfully applying AI to reduce manual, repetitive work while preserving human judgment where it matters most. From insight generation to workflow automation, the goal is not workforce reduction, but enabling teams to spend more time growing the business and less time managing friction. This episode is a candid, practical look at what partner enablement, data-driven operations, and scalable execution really look like behind the scenes. For anyone involved in partner management, consumer goods, retail operations, or extended-enterprise training and enablement, it offers valuable insight into how complexity can be turned into competitive advantage. 🎧 Learn more about the Training Impact Podcast: 👉 ⁠https://www.latitudelearning.com/training-impact-podcast/ Learn more about MCP Emerson Canada at https://www.mcpemerson.ca #TrainingImpactPodcast #MCPEmersonCanada #PartnerEnablement #ConsumerProducts #RetailStrategy #SupplyChain #OperationalExcellence #ExtendedEnterprise #DataDrivenDecisions #AIinBusiness #ChannelPartners #MarketInsights #CanadianRetail

    39 min

  7. FEB 2 · VIDEO

    34. Thryv: Unlocking Confident Small Business Growth Through Integrated Enablement

    What does confident growth really look like for small businesses? In this episode of the ⁠Training Impact Podcast⁠, Jeff Walter sits down with Matthew Gourgeot of ⁠Thryv ⁠to explore how small businesses adopt technology, build confidence, and scale without adding unnecessary complexity. While many platforms focus on features, this conversation highlights why enablement and education are just as critical as the software itself. Matthew shares how Thryv supports small business owners who are balancing sales, operations, marketing, and customer relationships all at once. Rather than overwhelming users, Thryv embeds guidance and learning directly into everyday workflows—helping owners move from reactive problem-solving to proactive growth. Together, Jeff and Matthew discuss why software adoption often stalls, how integrated enablement reduces friction, and why confidence is one of the most important outcomes of any training or technology investment. This episode is especially relevant for training leaders, enablement professionals, and anyone designing customer or partner-facing platforms that need to deliver real business impact. 🎧 Learn more about the Training Impact Podcast: 👉 ⁠https://www.latitudelearning.com/training-impact-podcast/⁠ 🌐 Explore Thryv: 👉 ⁠https://www.thryv.com⁠

    34 min

  8. JAN 29 · VIDEO

    33. Protein Bar & Kitchen: Scaling a Better-for-You Brand Without Sacrificing Quality

    In this episode of the Training Impact Podcast, Jeff Walter sits down with Jimmy McFeeters to explore how Protein Bar & Kitchen has scaled thoughtfully while protecting food quality, brand culture, and operational clarity. While many franchise brands chase rapid expansion, Protein Bar & Kitchen has taken a different path—one rooted in intentional growth, experienced franchisee selection, and operational simplicity. Jimmy brings more than a decade of franchise development experience across multiple restaurant systems. Together, he and Jeff unpack what tends to break when brands grow too fast and what it takes to avoid those pitfalls. From real estate strategy and menu evolution to franchisee alignment and training, the conversation reveals the behind-the-scenes decisions that protect consistency as a franchise footprint expands. Listeners will hear how Protein Bar & Kitchen evolved from a compact urban protein shake concept into a scalable quick-service restaurant without compromising taste or efficiency. By avoiding grills, fryers, and high-heat equipment, the brand has reduced operational complexity, simplified training, and created a better working environment for staff—advantages that become especially important in high-volume, non-traditional locations like airports. Training plays a central role in the brand’s growth strategy. Rather than treating training as a one-time event, Protein Bar & Kitchen views it as a foundation for franchise success. Structured on boarding, ongoing field support, and operational reviews help franchisees execute with confidence while staying aligned with brand standards. The result is a system designed to support experienced operators and reinforce consistency across every location. The episode also explores why non-traditional locations have become a strategic advantage. Airport environments provide immediate volume, early brand validation, and operational insights that inform improvements across the broader system. Combined with growing consumer demand for protein-forward, convenient meals, this disciplined approach has helped the brand achieve strong same-store sales growth in a challenging restaurant landscape. This conversation offers valuable insights for franchisors, operators, and training leaders who want to scale without losing what makes their brand work. It’s a reminder that sustainable growth is built on discipline, clarity, and systems—not speed alone. 🎧 Listen to the full Training Impact Podcast: ⁠https://www.latitudelearning.com/training-impact-podcast/⁠ 🔗 Learn more about Protein Bar & Kitchen: ⁠https://www.theproteinbar.com/⁠

    1h 7m
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About

🎙️ The Training Impact Podcast with Jeff Walter Welcome to The Training Impact Podcast, where we explore how Partner Training Programs drive real business results. Hosted by Jeff Walter, Founder and CEO of LatitudeLearning, this show dives deep into the strategies, tools, and stories behind high-performing training programs for franchises, resellers, dealers, customers, and extended enterprise networks. With over 20 years in Learning and Development, Jeff brings clarity to a part of the industry too often ignored: Partners and Programs. While most conversations focus on employee training, The Training Impact Podcast shines a light on the unique challenges—and enormous opportunities—of partner learning at scale. Each episode features conversations with training leaders and franchise executives who are transforming how organizations learn, grow, and measure success. From building scalable onboarding systems to embedding AI in learning, we discuss what it takes to turn training into a strategic asset that fuels performance, retention, and growth. 💡 Why listen? Learn how to connect training directly to business KPIs Discover frameworks like the Training Program Roadmap and Surefire Training Impact™ model Hear real-world stories from franchisors, L&D professionals, and partner program innovators Gain practical strategies to elevate your training from tactical to transformational 🎧 New episodes every month featuring experts from across industries including retail, finance, automotive, healthcare, and tech. 👉 Follow Jeff Walter on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreywalter 🌐 Learn more about LatitudeLearning: www.LatitudeLearning.com #TrainingImpactPodcast #PartnerTraining #FranchiseTraining #LearningAndDevelopment #LMS #TrainingStrategy #JeffWalter #LatitudeLearning #TrainingROI #ExtendedEnterprise

Information

  • Creator
    LatitudeLearning
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Training Impact Podcast