Category: News

SweetRush Named a Top 20 Gamification Company 2017

by Carolina Montero

Training Industry’s annual list highlights “the best providers of gamification services/technologies in support of corporate learning and development.”

San Francisco, Calif., November 20, 2017 — Training Industry released its 2017 Top 20 Gamification Companies list and named SweetRush a top company offering gamification services for learning and development for the fourth consecutive year.

Training Industry uses the following criteria to select the companies for the list:

  • Gamification features and capabilities
  • Innovativeness of offerings
  • Company size and growth potential
  • Quality and number of clients
  • Awards, recognition, and competitive differentiation

“Simply put, gamification works. If you’re fighting a negative perception of training—it’s ‘boring’—games are often an effective way to change that,” said Arturo Schwartzberg, Chairman and Cofounder of SweetRush. “We’ve created custom gamified learning solutions for most of our clients, and time and time again, we hear from learners that these programs are the ‘best training’ they’ve ever taken. And now we’re combining gamification with microlearning, mobile, and virtual and augmented reality. We’re honored to be on Training Industry’s list and among the best gamification companies in the industry.”

“This year’s 2017 Top 20 Gamification Companies are leading the way in developing and implementing innovative gaming techniques to engage and improve the corporate learning experience,” said Ken Taylor, president of Training Industry Inc. “We have seen an increase in the use of adaptive learning and other gaming strategies to drive efficient and impactful learning.”

Training Industry prepares Top 20 and Watch List reports on critical sectors of the training marketplace as part of its mission to continually monitor the market for the best providers of training services and technologies.

View the complete 2017 Top 20 Gamification Companies list at the Training Industry website.

About SweetRush

Dream for a moment that you have the expertise and tools to positively impact the lives of others. You can affect mindsets and behavior. You can help an organization grow, change, prosper, and thrive. The passionate pursuit of this expertise and the development of these tools have been at the heart of the success SweetRush has experienced collaborating with clients who share the same dream.

SweetRush’s focus on team culture and mastery of performance improvement is reflected in loyal clients, a near-zero turnover of teammates, a 15-year track record of success, and a remarkable portfolio. Our work with clients has earned us gold awards from our peers and high ranking on the top training industry lists.

Every solution we deliver is infused with creativity. Instructional creativity allows us to discover effective and unique solutions to our clients’ challenges. Artistic creativity spurs us to create visually exciting, engaging user experiences. Technical creativity allows us to embrace new capabilities and platforms as they emerge, such as gamification and mobile delivery. Cultural creativity empowers our clients to create the conditions that energize and empower their people and unleash the energy in their teams. Our Talent Solutions team applies the lens of creativity, building upon its unique knowledge of talent, team building, and learning and development, to craft a unique solution for clients who need the best temporary staff to augment their team. We apply the creative lens to all things, from project management to our treatment of our teammates, clients, and the planet.

We are over 100 people strong and have been in business since 2001. Every day, we give thanks for the trust of our world-class clients. Our deliverables span from analysis and curriculum mapping to the creation of blended training products, including live and virtual classroom training and the gamut of custom-developed eLearning modalities.

Dream with us, and together let’s make a positive impact!

About Training Industry

Training Industry Inc. spotlights the latest news, articles, case studies, and best practices within the training industry and publishes annual Top 20 and Watch List reports covering many sectors of interest to the corporate training function. Its focus is on helping dedicated businesses and training professionals get the information, insight, and tools needed to more effectively manage the business of learning.

SweetRush Tops List of eLearning Content Development Companies for Fourth Year

by Carolina Montero

The prestigious list from eLearning Industry recognizes companies that focus on quality and innovation and earn high marks from their clients.

San Francisco, Calif., October 20, 2017 — eLearning Industry recently published its annual Top 10 eLearning Content Development Companies list — and SweetRush earned the coveted top spot on the list for the fourth consecutive year.

The Top 10 list ranks companies that “share a genuine passion for extraordinary eLearning content development.” The evaluation criteria includes:

  • eLearning content development quality
  • eLearning expertise
  • eLearning industry innovation
  • Customer reviews
  • Economic growth potential
  • Customer retention
  • Employee turnover
  • Social responsibility

“It’s an incredibly exciting time to be in learning and development—– from the lightning-fast pace of change in technology to finding ways to motivate and delight new generations in the workplace. Every day we wake up to complex challenges, which fuel innovation and creativity in our collaborations with the clients we serve,” said Arturo Schwartzberg, SweetRush Cofounder and Chairman. “We are beyond thrilled to be recognized at this level by eLearning Industry, a trusted and respected source of education and connection for our community.”

Visit elearningindustry.com to see the complete list of the Top 10 eLearning Content Development Companies.

About SweetRush

Dream for a moment that you have the expertise and tools to positively impact the lives of others. You can affect mindsets and behavior. You can help an organization grow, change, prosper, and thrive. The passionate pursuit of this expertise and the development of these tools have been at the heart of the success SweetRush has experienced collaborating with clients who share the same dream.

SweetRush’s focus on team culture and mastery of performance improvement is reflected in loyal clients, a near-zero turnover of teammates, a 15-year track record of success, and a remarkable portfolio. Our work with clients has earned us gold awards from our peers and high ranking on the top training industry lists.

Every solution we deliver is infused with creativity. Instructional creativity allows us to discover effective and unique solutions to our clients’ challenges. Artistic creativity spurs us to create visually exciting, engaging user experiences. Technical creativity allows us to embrace new capabilities and platforms as they emerge, such as gamification and mobile delivery. Cultural creativity empowers our clients to create the conditions that energize and empower their people and unleash the energy in their teams. Our Talent Solutions team applies the lens of creativity, building upon its unique knowledge of talent, team building, and learning and development, to craft a unique solution for clients who need the best temporary staff to augment their team. We apply the creative lens to all things, from project management to our treatment of our teammates, clients, and the planet.

We are over 100 people strong and have been in business since 2001. Every day, we give thanks for the trust of our world-class clients. Our deliverables span from analysis and curriculum mapping to the creation of blended training products, including live and virtual classroom training and the gamut of custom-developed eLearning modalities.

Dream with us, and together let’s make a positive impact!

SweetRush Wins Gold CLO Learning in Practice Award for Technology Innovation

by Carolina Montero

The prestigious award highlights SweetRush’s commitment to innovation and its investment in learning technology.

San Francisco, Calif., October 30, 2017 — Chief Learning Officer magazine recently announced the winners of its coveted Learning in Practice Awards, and SweetRush won Gold in the Technology Innovation category.

The award recognizes “vendors that have rolled out an innovative learning technology for a client.” SweetRush’s winning submission, which was created in collaboration with its client-partner Bridgestone Americas, is a scenario-based mobile learning game designed for a millennial audience. As sales associates play the game, they practice skills such as recommending products, overcoming objections, and closing sales.

The game was developed in SweetRush’s proprietary learning technology Helium, which features sophisticated gaming elements and works on mobile platforms such as tablets and smartphones.

“The pace of change in technology is extremely fast, and this is certainly true for the learning and development industry,” said Arturo Schwartzberg, SweetRush Cofounder and Chairman. “Since the inception of SweetRush, we’ve been investing in technology by developing our own tools and pushing the capabilities of off-the-shelf tools. We’re thrilled to be recognized by Chief Learning Officer for our own learning technology, which made the development of this custom learning solution possible.”

The Learning in Practice Awards is given annually to learning leaders and providers who demonstrate excellence in the design and delivery of employee development programs.

“Since 2003, the Learning in Practice Awards have been a benchmark for exemplary enterprise learning and development,” said Mike Prokopeak, Vice President and Editor in Chief at Human Capital Media. “This year’s group of winners is no exception. From CLOs at large, multinational companies to learning leaders at small and midsized businesses as well as progressive vendor companies, they are all examples of the powerful personal and organizational impact that learning creates.”

The full list of winners is available at the Chief Learning Officer website.

About SweetRush

Dream for a moment that you have the expertise and tools to positively impact the lives of others. You can affect mind-sets and behavior. You can help an organization grow, change, prosper, and thrive. The passionate pursuit of this expertise and the development of these tools have been at the heart of the success SweetRush has experienced collaborating with clients who share the same dream.

SweetRush’s focus on team culture and mastery of performance improvement is reflected in loyal clients, a near-zero turnover of teammates, a 15-year track record of success, and a remarkable portfolio. Our work with clients has earned us gold awards from our peers and high ranking on the top training industry lists.

Every solution we deliver is infused with creativity. Instructional creativity allows us to discover effective and unique solutions to our clients’ challenges. Artistic creativity spurs us to create visually exciting, engaging user experiences. Technical creativity allows us to embrace new capabilities and platforms as they emerge, such as gamification and mobile delivery. Cultural creativity empowers our clients to create the conditions that energize and empower their people and unleash the energy in their teams. Our Talent Solutions team applies the lens of creativity, building upon its unique knowledge of talent, team building, and learning and development, to craft a unique solution for clients who need the best temporary staff to augment their team. We apply the creative lens to all things, from project management to our treatment of our teammates, clients, and the planet.

We are over 100 people strong and have been in business since 2001. Every day, we give thanks for the trust of our world-class clients. Our deliverables span from analysis and curriculum mapping to the creation of blended training products, including live and virtual classroom training and the gamut of custom-developed eLearning modalities.

Dream with us, and together let’s make a positive impact!

About Human Capital Media

Human Capital Media is a leader in the human capital management industry, delivering award-winning editorial content, events, research, and awards and benchmarking programs that give organizations the tools and insights necessary for success. The group’s brands include Chief Learning Officer, Workforce, and Talent Economy.

LR Alert: Don’t miss these 15 concurrent sessions at DevLearn 2017!

by Carolina Montero

If there is a place for learning and development professionals to look forward and discover what is at the forefront of their field, it’s DevLearn 2017 in Las Vegas. Learning professionals—whether they are new to the industry or seasoned veterans—gather for three days each fall for an event filled with more than 250 sessions in 10 different tracks.

DevLearn is a place to engage, explore and be part of a community that is always looking for cutting-edge technologies and tools, new ideas, strategies, and best practices to drive every program toward success.

And this year’s program is no exception. From October 25 to October 27, eLearning Guild is holding DevLearn at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. But with so many great sessions running concurrently, it can be a little overwhelming. To help, I’ve made a list of 15 sessions (five per day) that caught my attention because of the speaker’s experience and the value of the topic. Hope you can be at DevLearn and enjoy one of these concurrent sessions!

Day 1: Wednesday, October 25

Intelligence Augmentation: AI Technology and L&D

Learn from Kenneth Hubbell, Senior Manager Instructional Design Strategy & Innovation, SVP at Wells Fargo Bank, about intelligence augmentation and the implications for the learning and development industry. Hubbell describes the session as an opportunity to engage “in a conversation about what new user experiences this technology can provide your audience—not years in the future, but today!”

Speaker: Kenneth Hubbell, Senior Manager Instructional Design Strategy & Innovation, SVP, Wells Fargo Bank | Track: Emerging Tech | Session 113 | 10:45 a.m.–11:45 a.m.|

Case Study: A Game-Based Approach to Learning Without Lessons

A challenge for Canadian Tire Corporation became a game-based solution. In this case study session, learn how to apply game mechanics and make your learning solution drive engagement and retention. Experts will describe how to achieve success by creating an “innovative solution in-house [with] limited time and resources.”

Speakers: Chris Ang, Senior Web Design and A.J. Mazepa, Team Lead, Canadian Tire Corporation | Track: Games and Gamification | Session 104 | 10:45 a.m.–11:45 a.m. |

Creating a Global Diversity Program from Scratch: How in the World Do You Do That?

This is a case study session that’s geared for everyone from novices to seasoned professionals. The SAP team will discuss how they design and develop an in-house learning series on diversity and inclusion. The speakers will show the process, tips, strategies, and best practices that they “found worked best for collaborating with multicultural stakeholders and SMEs.”

Speakers: Debby McNichols, Senior Instructional Designer, SAP and Leah Morris, Senior Instructional Designer, SAP Success Factors |Track: Instructional Design | Session 208 | 1:15 p.m.–2:15 p.m. |

Reimagining the New-Hire Experience for the Modern Learner

Learn about strategies and techniques for connecting new employees through social communities and developing a large-scale new-hire transformation. McKinley will speak to intermediate professionals on how “this approach should change [their] design, such as how techniques like interactive video can connect new employees to both company culture and to experienced employees.”

Speaker: Allan McKinley, Principal Learning Consultant, Capital One | Track: Management and Strategy | Session 202 | 1:15 p.m.–2:15 p.m. |

When eLearning Isn’t the Answer: An Alaska Airlines Case Study

Alaska Airlines understood its learning audience’s needs and created a solution that included a fresh and memorable learning experience. Learn how the airline transformed a 45-minute eLearning into comic-style graphics and also “tips for communicating instructional change across a large organization.”

Speaker: Christina Schultz and Leigh Shocki, Alaska Airlines | Track: Video & Media | Session 212 | 1:15 p.m.–2:15 p.m. |

Day 2: Thursday, October 26

Go Long! What Learning Professionals Can Learn from Fantasy Football

Using the example of fantasy football, Ryan Rose, Head of Customer Experience and Product Design at Cisco, will show how it can be applied in the workplace to better understand data and analytics to help build better and engaged employees.
Attendees will explore “how to go beyond the self- and peer assessments most organizations have traditionally used and include analytics from sources such as social learning activities, learning management systems, and more to deepen [their]data.”

Speaker: Ryan Rose, Head of Customer Experience and Product Design, Cisco | Track: Data and Measurement | Session 401 | 10:45 a.m.–11:45 a.m. |

A Look Ahead: The Now and the Next of Learning and Technology

Learn to recognize the evolving technologies in the learning landscape and define which ones “have the potential to disrupt organizational learning, as opposed to those that are just hype.”

Speaker: David Kelly, Executive Vice President and Executive Director, eLearning Guild | Track: Emerging Tech | Session 403 | 10:45 a.m.–11:45 a.m. |

Communities of Practice: A Cornerstone of Social Learning

More than a group with a shared interest or a place for networking, a Community of Practice (CoP) is a tool to connect with “the goal of improvement practice.” Learn about what a CoP is, the dynamics of how to nurture and support CoPs, what works and what doesn’t, and examples of successful CoPs.

Speaker: Jane Bozarth, eLearning Coordinator, State of North Carolina | Track: Instructional Design | Session 510 | 1:15 p.m.–2:15 p.m. |

The Power of Story in Podcasting

A good story keeps learners interested and engaged, but how can you build a story that no one wants to stop listening to? Learn how to “use the narrative podcasting techniques to teach learners information that is often viewed as technical or boring” and how to deliver effective and memorable audio stories.

Speakers: Jeffrey D’Anza, Consultant and Learning and Performance, Nationwide Insurance and Joseph Meyer, Multimedia Specialist and Performance, Nationwide Insurance | Track: Video & Media | Session 513 | 1:15 p.m.–2:15 p.m. |

Adapting Your Mobile Learning Strategy with Open-Source Interactive Solutions

Yes, this is a little self-promotion, but you won’t want to miss this session with my colleague John-Carlos! He and Kareem from Google have put together a fantastic, interactive session.

Learn to thinking outside the box and increase interactivity and engagement for a mobile learning solution using Adapt. Explore the Adapt framework and how to use the different custom components to increase interactivity, and learn the benefits of an open-source solution.

Speakers: Kareem Elsayed, Instructional Designer, Google; John-Carlos Lozano, Chief Creative Officer, SweetRush |Track: Mobile | Session 609 | 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. |

Day 3: Friday, October 27

From Content-Centric to Learner-Centric Design at Amazon

In this case study session, discover “how one of the most complex organizations in the world slowly and iteratively pivoted from a content-centric focus on training and enablement to a learner-centric focus.” Learn how you can communicate to stakeholders and make your training more effective by being learner-focused.

Speaker: Jared Garrett, Senior Instructional Designer, Amazon Media Group | Track: Management and Strategy | Session 711 | 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m. |

BYOL: Microvideo—Making Every Second Count

Bring your own laptop to this session and learn to create engaging and compelling microvideos. Explore the steps for creating a microvideo and learn “tricks for using video analytics to select the best content for a microvideo. You will leave with specific formulas for creating short-form video-based content.”

Speaker: Josh Cavalier, CEO and Founder, Lodestone | Track: Management and Strategy | Session 716 | 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m. |

Designing Virtual Training for Mobile Devices

This session will show the key differences between the virtual classroom desktop programs and mobile apps, and it will teach facilitators how to prepare learners when they plan to connect to virtual training via mobile device. Learn “five techniques to design engaging virtual training when your audience is either mixed or fully mobile.”

Speaker: Cindy Huggett, Consultant, Cindy Huggett Consulting | Track: Mobile | Session 709 | 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m. |

Encouraging a Feedback Culture in the Course Production Process

Receiving stakeholder feedback on time when you are building and designing a course is important. Explore a sample project with McKinsey’s professionals that will help you track a project plan and let stakeholders incorporate the feedback throughout the course development process.

Speakers: Pam Lee, Director of Course Operations, McKinsey & Company; Jen Kruper, Director of Instructional Design, McKinsey & Company | Track: Instructional Design | Session 807 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. |

Using Ambient Video Techniques to Create Visually Intriguing Training

Explore how to use Adobe Captivate and GoAnimate to capture the attention of the modern workplace learner. “You’ll leave this session with a broad understanding of Captivate’s video features, as well as best practices when using GoAnimate to simplify content creation.”

Speakers: Steve Corbett, Instructional Design Lead, Insight Enterprises; Kyle Jenkins, Instructional Designer, Insight Enterprises | Track: Video & Media | Session 813 | 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. |

Have fun and enjoy your time at DevLearn!

SweetRush to Present on Mobile Learning with Google at DevLearn 2017

by Carolina Montero

The session will focus on thinking outside the box to increase interactivity and engagement for mobile learning solutions using Adapt.

San Francisco, Calif., October 20, 2017 — SweetRush and Google will team up to present “Adapting Your Mobile Learning Strategy with Open-Source Interactive Solutions” at 3 p.m. Thursday, October 26, at DevLearn Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, session #609.

John-Carlos Lozano, SweetRush Chief Creative Officer, and Kareem Elsayed, Instructional Designer at Google, will demonstrate how to combine mobile-ready instructional and UI design techniques within Adapt, an open-source mobile learning authoring framework.

“Mobile learning has shifted from an emerging need to an essential part of our custom learning solutions,” said SweetRush Cofounder Arturo Schwartzberg. “We are delighted to be presenting with Google at this premier L&D industry event and to share how to achieve greater levels of interactivity in mobile learning. Come on out and join us—this will be a fun and interactive session!”

DevLearn 2017, produced by The eLearning Guild, is one of the most attended conferences for the learning and development industry. It will be held October 25 to 27 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

About SweetRush

Dream for a moment that you have the expertise and tools to positively impact the lives of others. You can affect mindsets and behavior. You can help an organization grow, change, prosper, and thrive. The passionate pursuit of this expertise and the development of these tools have been at the heart of the success SweetRush has experienced collaborating with clients who share the same dream.

SweetRush’s focus on team culture and mastery of performance improvement is reflected in loyal clients, a near-zero turnover of teammates, a 15-year track record of success, and a remarkable portfolio. Our work with clients has earned us gold awards from our peers and high ranking on the top training industry lists.

Every solution we deliver is infused with creativity. Instructional creativity allows us to discover effective and unique solutions to our clients’ challenges. Artistic creativity spurs us to create visually exciting, engaging user experiences. Technical creativity allows us to embrace new capabilities and platforms as they emerge, such as gamification and mobile delivery. Cultural creativity empowers our clients to create the conditions that energize and empower their people and unleash the energy in their teams. Our Talent Solutions team applies the lens of creativity, building upon its unique knowledge of talent, team building, and learning and development, to craft a unique solution for clients who need the best temporary staff to augment their team. We apply the creative lens to all things, from project management to our treatment of our teammates, clients, and the planet.

We are over 100 people strong and have been in business since 2001. Every day, we give thanks for the trust of our world-class clients. Our deliverables span from analysis and curriculum mapping to the creation of blended training products, including live and virtual classroom training and the gamut of custom-developed eLearning modalities.

Dream with us, and together let’s make a positive impact!

SweetRush Wins Provider of the Year Award for Second Consecutive Year

by Carolina Montero

Judges praise SweetRush as a “very creative learning and development solution partner, making a difference in the lives of its clients.”

San Francisco, Calif., October 5, 2017 — The Stevie Awards for Great Employers recently announced its 2017 winners, and SweetRush was recognized for the second straight year in the Leadership or Skills Development Solution Provider of the Year category, earning a Silver award. For its collaboration with client-partner Bridgestone Americas, SweetRush also received a Silver award in the Achievement in Workforce Development and Learning category.

In reviewing SweetRush’s application for provider of the year, one judge stated, “I really like the way this company practices; creativity and innovation have been mantras in all areas of the company, from multimedia to technology. This kind of leadership skills building is really appreciated.” Another added, “Good usage of the visuals but more importantly very good usage of the new technologies in learning.”

The company’s collaboration with Bridgestone Americas was recognized for its “excellent use of gamification in learning and development” and described as “a great learning and development platform that has transformed the technical and sales capabilities of the workforce.”

“Demand for learning and development is increasing, and newer generations in the workplace see training as their most coveted job benefit. Great employers recognize the value of providing learning solutions that are engaging and effective,” said Arturo Schwartzberg, SweetRush Cofounder and Chairman. “We’re thrilled to be recognized in the Leadership or Skills Development Solution Provider of the Year and the Achievement in Workforce Development and Learning categories for providing these types of solutions. The client-partners we collaborate with every day are truly ‘great employers’ and we’re honored to play a role in helping to make them successful.”

The Stevie Awards for Great Employers recognize the world’s best employers and the human resources professionals, teams, achievements, and HR-related products and suppliers that help create and operate great places to work. More than 500 nominations from organizations around the world were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of HR-related categories.

Find the complete list of 2017 winners at the Stevie Awards for Great Employers website.

About SweetRush

Dream for a moment that you have the expertise and tools to positively impact the lives of others. You can affect mind-sets and behavior. You can help an organization grow, change, prosper, and thrive. The passionate pursuit of this expertise and the development of these tools have been at the heart of the success SweetRush has experienced collaborating with clients who share the same dream.

SweetRush’s focus on team culture and mastery of performance improvement is reflected in loyal clients, a near-zero turnover of teammates, a 15-year track record of success, and a remarkable portfolio. Our work with clients has earned us gold awards from our peers and high ranking on the top training industry lists.

Every solution we deliver is infused with creativity. Instructional creativity allows us to discover effective and unique solutions to our clients’ challenges. Artistic creativity spurs us to create visually exciting, engaging user experiences. Technical creativity allows us to embrace new capabilities and platforms as they emerge, such as gamification and mobile delivery. Cultural creativity empowers our clients to create the conditions that energize and empower their people and unleash the energy in their teams. Our Talent Solutions team applies the lens of creativity, building upon its unique knowledge of talent, team building, and learning and development, to craft a unique solution for clients who need the best temporary staff to augment their team. We apply the creative lens to all things, from project management to our treatment of our teammates, clients, and the planet.

We are over 100 people strong and have been in business since 2001. Every day, we give thanks for the trust of our world-class clients. Our deliverables span from analysis and curriculum mapping to the creation of blended training products, including live and virtual classroom training and the gamut of custom-developed eLearning modalities.

Dream with us, and together let’s make a positive impact!

About the Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the American Business Awards, the International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Visit the Stevie Awards website to learn more.

SweetRush Wins 17 Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards, 13 Golds

by Carolina Montero

The company joins the list of top overall winners in the prestigious awards competition, bringing home awards in a wide variety of categories that include sales training, new hire onboarding, mobile learning, learning games, accessibility, video, and innovation.

San Francisco, Calif., September 11, 2017 — SweetRush, a leader in performance improvement, custom learning content, and learner engagement, was recently awarded 17 coveted HCM Excellence Awards, including 13 Gold awards, from the Brandon Hall Group. The company, which placed among the top overall winners in 2017, shares these recognitions with its client-partners Bridgestone Americas, Cisco, Google, Hilton, and Pfizer.

SweetRush brought home awards in a wide variety of categories, demonstrating the breadth and depth of its capabilities and innovation in developing custom learning solutions. The company won for its sales, new hire onboarding, and certification training programs, as well as for methods of delivery and engagement, including mobile learning, performance support, video, learning games, accessibility, and learning technology.

SweetRush’s commitment to innovation is reflected in its three wins in the “unique and innovative” categories, and the award it shares with client-partner Google in the learning team category exemplifies SweetRush’s commitment to partnership.

A panel composed of independent senior industry experts and Brandon Hall Group senior analysts and executive leadership evaluated the entries based on the following criteria: fit the need, design of the program, functionality, innovation, and overall measurable benefits.

Here is SweetRush’s complete list of 2017 HCM Excellence Awards:
Gold_Award_Brandon Hall2017

GOLD – Best Advance in Custom Content
GOLD – Best Results of a Learning Program
GOLD – Best Use of Blended Learning
GOLD – Best Certification Program
GOLD – Best Use of Games and Simulations for Learning
GOLD – Best Use of Mobile Learning
GOLD – Best Use of Performance Support
GOLD – Best Use of Video for Learning
GOLD – Best Unique or Innovative Learning and Development Program (two wins)
GOLD – Best Advance in Training Programs that Require Global Accessibility Standards
GOLD – Best Sales Training & Performance Program
GOLD – Best Unique and Innovative Sales Training Program

SweetRush_wins_silver_Brandon_Hall_Award_2017

 

SILVER – Best Learning Team
SILVER – Best New Hire Onboarding Program

 

 

SweetRush_wins_bronze_Brandon_Hall_Awards_2017

 

BRONZE – Best Advance in Learning Technology Implementation
BRONZE – Best Program for Sales Training and Performance

 

 

“There are few industries with so broad an application as ours to shape culture, values, operations, and the overall daily work experience. It is a thrill to work with so many amazing client-partners in a time of rapid change and emerging technology,” said Andrei Hedstrom, SweetRush CEO. “We have been rewarded year after year—for sticking to our values of caring for and committing to our client-partners, our team, and the world around us—with the opportunity to elevate our little piece of the industry. Our hats off to the large community of quality L&D professionals—past, present, and future—for their contributions to human learning and their commitment to engaging the significant challenges of our time.”

“I’d like to take a moment to focus inward and express how proud I am of the SweetRush team,” said Arturo Schwartzberg, Cofounder, and Chairman of SweetRush. “Working in the custom development space means every client project is challenging and unique, and that means getting up every day to design and implement solutions that require extreme innovation and commitment. I stand in awe of the superstar SweetRush team.”

“Excellence Award winners symbolize the power and impact that human capital management practices can have on a business or on any organization,” said Rachel Cooke, Chief Operating Officer of Brandon Hall Group and head of the awards program. “Many organizations can have great HCM initiatives, but the standard of excellence only applies for organizations whose HCM practices truly benefit the business. That’s what the Excellence Awards program stands for, and that is what Brandon Hall Group stands for.”

The full list of 2017 winners can be found on the Brandon Hall Group website.

About SweetRush

Dream for a moment that you have the expertise and tools to positively impact the lives of others. You can affect mindsets and behavior. You can help an organization grow, change, prosper, and thrive. The passionate pursuit of this expertise and the development of these tools have been at the heart of the success SweetRush has experienced collaborating with clients who share the same dream.

SweetRush’s focus on team culture and mastery of performance improvement is reflected in loyal clients, a near-zero turnover of teammates, a 15-year track record of success, and a remarkable portfolio. Our work with clients has earned us gold awards from our peers and high ranking on the top training industry lists.

Every solution we deliver is infused with creativity. Instructional creativity allows us to discover effective and unique solutions to our clients’ challenges. Artistic creativity spurs us to create visually exciting, engaging user experiences. Technical creativity allows us to embrace new capabilities and platforms as they emerge, such as gamification and mobile delivery. Cultural creativity empowers our clients to create the conditions that energize and empower their people and unleash the energy in their teams. Our Talent Solutions team applies the lens of creativity, building upon its unique knowledge of talent, team building, and learning and development, to craft a unique solution for clients who need the best temporary staff to augment their team. We apply the creative lens to all things, from project management to our treatment of our teammates, clients, and the planet.

We are over 100 people strong and have been in business since 2001. Every day, we give thanks for the trust of our world-class clients. Our deliverables span from analysis and curriculum mapping to the creation of blended training products, including live and virtual classroom training and the gamut of custom-developed eLearning modalities.

Dream with us, and together let’s make a positive impact!

About Brandon Hall

Brandon Hall Group is an HCM research and advisory services firm that provides insights into key performance areas, including learning and development, talent management, leadership development, talent acquisition, and workforce management. With more than 10,000 clients globally and 20 years of delivering world-class research and advisory services, Brandon Hall Group is focused on developing research that drives performance in emerging and large organizations and providing strategic insights for executives and practitioners responsible for growth and business results (www.brandonhall.com).

SweetRush a Finalist for Skills Development Solution Provider of the Year Award for Second Year in a Row

by Carolina Montero

The performance improvement company is a finalist in two categories in the Stevie Awards for Great Employers.

San Francisco, Calif., August 30, 2017 — The Stevie® Awards for Great Employers has announced its 2017 finalists, and SweetRush is in the running in the two following categories:

  • Leadership or Skills Development Solution Provider of the Year

 

  • Achievement in Workforce Development and Learning, together with our client partner Bridgestone Americas

 

“Every year clients engage us with increasingly complex business and performance challenges. These awards reflect the results we’re able to achieve in collaboration with our client partners,” said Arturo Schwartzberg, Cofounder and Chairman of SweetRush Inc. “We’re thrilled to be named as finalists for these achievements.”

SweetRush will be awarded a Gold, Silver, or Bronze in both categories at the awards ceremony on September 22. In 2016, the company won Gold in the Leadership or Skills Development Solution Provider of the Year category.

The Stevie Awards for Great Employers recognize the world’s best employers and the outstanding human resources professionals, teams, achievements, and HR-related products and suppliers that help create great places to work. More than 500 nominations from organizations around the world were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of HR-related categories.

“The judges were extremely impressed with the quality of entries we received,” said Michael Gallagher, President and founder of the Stevie Awards. “The dedication of the Stevie Award finalists to making workplaces great for employees is evident in every finalist nomination.”

For the complete list of finalists, visit the 2017 Stevie Awards for Great Employers finalists list.

About SweetRush

Dream for a moment that you have the expertise and tools to positively impact the lives of others. You can affect mind-sets and behavior. You can help an organization grow, change, prosper, and thrive. The passionate pursuit of this expertise and the development of these tools have been at the heart of the success SweetRush has experienced collaborating with clients who share the same dream.

SweetRush’s focus on team culture and mastery of performance improvement is reflected in loyal clients, a near-zero turnover of teammates, a 15-year track record of success, and a remarkable portfolio. Our work with clients has earned us gold awards from our peers and high ranking on the top training industry lists.

Every solution we deliver is infused with creativity. Instructional creativity allows us to discover effective and unique solutions to our clients’ challenges. Artistic creativity spurs us to create visually exciting, engaging user experiences. Technical creativity allows us to embrace new capabilities and platforms as they emerge, such as gamification and mobile delivery. Cultural creativity empowers our clients to create the conditions that energize and empower their people and unleash the energy in their teams. Our Talent Solutions team applies the lens of creativity, building upon its unique knowledge of talent, team building, and learning and development, to craft a unique solution for clients who need the best temporary staff to augment their team. We apply the creative lens to all things, from project management to our treatment of our teammates, clients, and the planet.

We are over 100 people strong and have been in business since 2001. Every day, we give thanks for the trust of our world-class clients. Our deliverables span from analysis and curriculum mapping to the creation of blended training products, including live and virtual classroom training and the gamut of custom-developed eLearning modalities.

Dream with us, and together let’s make a positive impact!

About the Stevie Awards

The Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the American Business Awards, the International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com.

SweetRush Wins Silver at the 2017 International Business Awards

by Carolina Montero

The international panel of judges praised the winning project for its great execution and use of gamification for adult learning.

San Francisco, Calif., August 30, 2017 — SweetRush, along with its client Bridgestone Americas, was recently named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award at the International Business Awards. The winning project is a mobile learning game submitted in the Mobile Site & App Education, Reference & Training category.

The learning solution received high praise from the judges, who called it “a truly remarkable and innovative game.” The judges also said that “it allows employees to learn the best skills to work with customers” and that it is an “excellent training platform and fitting for the sales environment.”

“The combination of gamification and mobile learning was a great fit for this millennial audience of sales associates. This solution allows them to practice their skills on the floor while earning points and having fun,” said Arturo Schwartzberg, Cofounder and Chairman of SweetRush Inc. “The collaboration with Bridgestone Americas has been remarkably successful and an exceptional case study for games-based learning.”

A record 3,900 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration. The 2017 IBAs received entries from more than 60 nations and territories.

The complete list of winners is available on the International Business Awards website.

About SweetRush

Dream for a moment that you have the expertise and tools to positively impact the lives of others. You can affect mind-sets and behavior. You can help an organization grow, change, prosper, and thrive. The passionate pursuit of this expertise and the development of these tools have been at the heart of the success SweetRush has experienced collaborating with clients who share the same dream.

SweetRush’s focus on team culture and mastery of performance improvement is reflected in loyal clients, a near-zero turnover of teammates, a 15-year track record of success, and a remarkable portfolio. Our work with clients has earned us gold awards from our peers and high ranking on the top training industry lists.

Every solution we deliver is infused with creativity. Instructional creativity allows us to discover effective and unique solutions to our clients’ challenges. Artistic creativity spurs us to create visually exciting, engaging user experiences. Technical creativity allows us to embrace new capabilities and platforms as they emerge, such as gamification and mobile delivery. Cultural creativity empowers our clients to create the conditions that energize and empower their people and unleash the energy in their teams. Our Talent Solutions team applies the lens of creativity, building upon its unique knowledge of talent, team building, and learning and development, to craft a unique solution for clients who need the best temporary staff to augment their team. We apply the creative lens to all things, from project management to our treatment of our teammates, clients, and the planet.

We are over 100 people strong and have been in business since 2001. Every day, we give thanks for the trust of our world-class clients. Our deliverables span from analysis and curriculum mapping to the creation of blended training products, including live and virtual classroom training and the gamut of custom-developed eLearning modalities.

Dream with us, and together let’s make a positive impact!

About the Stevie Awards

The Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the American Business Awards, the International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards.

SweetRush Named a Finalist for Chief Learning Officer Learning in Practice Award

by Carolina Montero

The company was recognized for its achievements in technology innovation in mobile learning and learning games.

San Francisco, Calif., August 18, 2017 — Chief Learning Officer magazine recently announced the finalists for its 2017 Learning in Practice Awards, and SweetRush was recognized in the Excellence in Technology Innovation category.

The winning solution is a sophisticated scenario-based mobile learning game designed for a millennial audience. As sales associates play the game, they practice skills such as recommending products, overcoming objections, and closing the sale.

“Mobile learning and gamification continue to be strong trends in the learning and development industry. It makes sense—we’re meeting learners where they are and making learning accessible, and at the same time, we’re making sure they’re paying attention and engaged,” said Arturo Schwartzberg, Cofounder and Chairman of SweetRush. “This recognition from Chief Learning Officer highlights our commitment to innovation and advancing our technology capabilities. The Learning in Practice Awards are very competitive, and we’re honored to be named a finalist.”

SweetRush will be awarded a gold, silver, or bronze for the category. Winners will be announced on October 3.

The full list of finalists can be viewed on the Chief Learning Officer website.

About SweetRush

Dream for a moment that you have the expertise and tools to positively impact the lives of others. You can affect mindsets and behavior. You can help an organization grow, change, prosper, and thrive. The passionate pursuit of this expertise and the development of these tools have been at the heart of the success SweetRush has experienced collaborating with clients who share the same dream.

SweetRush’s focus on team culture and mastery of performance improvement is reflected in loyal clients, a near-zero turnover of teammates, a 15-year track record of success, and a remarkable portfolio. Our work with clients has earned us gold awards from our peers and high ranking on the top training industry lists.

Every solution we deliver is infused with creativity. Instructional creativity allows us to discover effective and unique solutions to our clients’ challenges. Artistic creativity spurs us to create visually exciting, engaging user experiences. Technical creativity allows us to embrace new capabilities and platforms as they emerge, such as gamification and mobile delivery. Cultural creativity empowers our clients to create the conditions that energize and empower their people and unleash the energy in their teams. Our Talent Solutions team applies the lens of creativity, building upon its unique knowledge of talent, team building, and learning and development, to craft a unique solution for clients who need the best temporary staff to augment their team. We apply the creative lens to all things, from project management to our treatment of our teammates, clients, and the planet.

We are over 100 people strong and have been in business since 2001. Every day, we give thanks for the trust of our world-class clients. Our deliverables span from analysis and curriculum mapping to the creation of blended training products, including live and virtual classroom training and the gamut of custom-developed eLearning modalities.

Dream with us, and together let’s make a positive impact!

About the Learning in Practice Awards

The Learning in Practice Awards were established in 2003 to recognize learning leaders and providers. The awards are given in two broad classes. Practitioner awards recognize chief learning officers and qualified senior learning leaders for their work within their organizations. Provider awards recognize qualified service providers, vendors, and consultants for their work on behalf of a client organization.