09/17/2026
👋 Say hello to Debbie Petru, our Member Spotlight this month!
Debbie is the Director of Talent Development at Heritage Communities and the founder of REL8. Her career has taken her through insurance, early childhood education, railroads, e-commerce, and senior living, and she says that variety is exactly what shaped how she approaches people development today.
One of her proudest projects? A Career Advancement Program for frontline caregivers that started with a Department of Labor grant and became so successful it's now internally funded, helping reduce turnover and open doors for employees to grow into new roles.
Her favorite quote sums up how she leads: "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." – JFK
And her advice to anyone in TD right now: don't wait for someone else's permission to start using your potential.
We're so glad to have Debbie as part of the ATD Nebraska community!
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Know someone who'd make a great spotlight? Submit a nomination or reach out to VP of Membership or Director of Member Experience.