More than 100 people tackled generational issues during the Next Generation Leadership Conference. Keynote speaker Rebecca Ryan (below) signs one of her books.

At one time or another, we’ve all experienced a “generational moment.”

Maybe it was when your child asked for this newfangled device called an iPod. Or when you saw piercings in places you never thought imaginable.

Generational expert Rebecca Ryan addressed these issues and more at the Next Generation Leadership Conference sponsored by the Austin Community College District’s Customized Training. The all-day event drew more than 100 participants to the Eastview Campus on August 10.

Ryan, CEO of Wisconsin-based Next Generation Consulting Inc., told the audience she founded the company after she experienced her own generational moment watching the Super Bowl with her father, and they each walked away with two different meanings of a commercial ad.

Since that day 10 years ago, Ryan’s business has helped people like an older banker who couldn’t understand why his employees were eating and sleeping at their desks. He thought they weren’t being productive, but in reality, they were working through their lunch and falling asleep because they were tired from all the hours they’d put in.

Ryan can empathize with both sides, but, “My job is to understand how the next generation will make their decisions,” she said.

Ryan discusses these matters in her new book, “Live First, Work Second.” She signed copies at the ACC conference while Dr. Kathy Walton, executive director of Customized Training, looked on.

“Customized Training is pleased to be the host of an event like this,” Walton said.

Walton and her staff recruited a variety of successful executives and other generational experts to lead sessions throughout the day. Speakers included ActionCOACH owner John Hutmacher, 3M Human Resources Development Manager A.J. Josefowitz, and AngelouEconomics CEO Daniel Kah.

Coming up next: Customized Training is sponsoring “Discovery Selling Bootcamp” to help business improve sales and increase profits. Registration is under way for the Aug. 28-29 conference.

For information on Customized Training or Discovery Selling Bootcamp, visit www.trainingmatrix.com/austincc