The concept of latency, the delay between learning something and applying it, is often viewed as a natural part of the learning process. But as highlighted in Dr. Mark Johnson’s book, this delay has a significant impact on employee performance and organizational outcomes.

This session explores how latency quietly undermines productivity, safety, retention, and overall effectiveness in the workplace. Because most training programs unintentionally build latency into their methodology, organizations lose valuable time and resources through delayed application, rework, and reduced performance.

Attendees will learn why latency occurs, how it affects employee behavior and outcomes, and what leaders and HR professionals can do to reduce it. You’ll leave with practical strategies to increase training effectiveness, accelerate skill adoption, and minimize performance gaps across teams.

This session will be presented by Dr. Mark Johnson

Dr. Mark L. Johnson received a BSBA in 1983, an MS in Technical Teacher Education in 1987, and a Ed.S. in Industrial Education in 1989, all from PSU.  He received his Ed.D. in Vocational Education from the University of Arkansas in 1993. He is currently a University Professor in the Kelce College of Business at PSU.

For 40 years, Dr. Mark L. Johnson has been an advocate for student achievement and success, in and out of the classroom.  He has served on 5 national boards of directors in the field of career and technical Education, including President of the Association for Career and Technical Education T& I Division and a member of the ACTE National Board of Directors.  He is also a frequent presenter at state, national, and international conferences.  He has been named PSU Outstanding Faculty three times as well as being awarded the College of Technology’s Excellence in Teaching Award.  In 2000, he was named the National Career and Technical Educator of the Year by the National Association for Career and Technical Education.  Since 2014, he has been contracted by the Entertainment Industry as a Training Consultant for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stagehand Employees, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, the Union of Painters and Allied Trades, the Utility Workers Union of America, and the United Alliance of Plumbers and Pipefitters, having taught nearly 4,000 industry trainers in more than 40 cities across the US and Canada. In 2022, he was appointed by Lt. Governor Toland to serve as a member of the Kansas Apprenticeship Council, in which he serves as Council Secretary. He holds a black belt in Innovation Engineering, is a Distinguished Toastmaster, and holds the Association for Talent Development's Master Trainer Certification. He is the author of "Powerful Presentations that Connect", a book published by Kendall Hunt Publishing and his newest book “Training Design Simplified: Breaking Tradition,” released by Manuscripts Press in March of 2025.

Locally, he is involved in numerous activities.  He is a member of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce and was awarded its Chamber Volunteer of the Year in 2012. He was most recently awarded the city’s highest honor, the Spirit of Pittsburg Award in 2022.  He is the co-chair of Youth Leadership, a program which he helped create, that has served nearly 12,000 students in every school in Crawford County Kansas over the last 21 years.