Two new companies, Applied Materials, Inc., and ESL Federal Credit Union, were inducted into the Training Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of 14 other organizations named to the hall since its inception in 2008. These 16 companies earned Top 10 spots on the Training MVP Awards list for four consecutive years. Applied Materials, Inc., and ESL Federal Credit Union were formally inducted into the Training Hall of Fame during the black-tie Gala held February 23 during the Training 2026 Conference & Expo. Members remain in the Training Hall of Fame for a minimum of three years.
Applied Materials, Inc.
Applied Materials, Inc., is a leader in materials engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor and advanced display in the world. The technology it creates is essential to advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation chips. Applied Materials pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to deliver material innovation that changes the world.
Applied Materials’ learning and development (L&D) strategy focuses on the dual goals of growing its talent and capturing its business objectives. The company does this by maintaining a culture of continuous learning and skill building through personalized, data-driven programs.
Applied Materials’ L&D portfolio includes vast technical content and carefully selected professional skill content. It utilizes multiple modalities, including traditional live instruction in classrooms or global training centers, hybrid instruction delivered at employees’ desks, AI modules, and custom Web-based-training (WBT) courses available 24 hours a day. This full spectrum of delivery methods ensures employees receive training where and when they need it.
To execute the L&D strategy, Applied Materials utilizes customized Learning Journeys, live interactive workshops and bootcamps for targeted audiences, an annual Pathway program that encourages employee learning, apprenticeships where employees learn and earn, and a multitude of certification and degree programs (including partnerships with local colleges to provide upskilling). This results in the successful delivery of specialized training to 35,000-plus employees across 24 countries each year.
To support the rapid pace of change in its industry, the company regularly reviews and updates its content, engagement methods, and instructional quality to ensure the L&D environment at Applied Materials remains current and delivers high-value instruction that accelerates capability building, maximizes ROI, and empowers employees.
Applied Materials knows training is an essential cornerstone for a healthy, successful organization, and it strives to maintain a world-class level of L&D throughout the company to facilitate its current and future success.
ESL Federal Credit Union
With more than 100 years of locally owned history, ESL Federal Credit Union serves as a full-service financial institution to more than 443,000 members and 17,400 businesses. ESL’s purpose—to help the Greater Rochester, NY, community thrive and prosper—guides the work that its nearly 1,000 employees do every day. As a result of this strong commitment to enriching the community, ESL has reinvested more than $153 million in grants since the creation of its Community Impact initiative in 2018. This level of success is inextricably tied to the exceptional performance of ESL’s employees.
As a pillar of ESL’s enduring strategy, the Employee Experience has long been a critical area of focus for the company. As a learning organization, ESL recognizes the importance of ongoing professional and skill development for all employees. Continued education is an expectation and is possible because of the more than 50 internal offerings available through ESL University. For other skill development, ESL works with external vendors to bring those opportunities to employees.
Of note is ESL’s three-level progressive leadership development curriculum. Emerging Leader focuses on creating and strengthening the basic behaviors required for leadership at ESL, as defined by nine Leadership Competencies. In a 10-month course, seasoned ESL managers in Developed Leader put leadership into practice through experiential learning activities. Advanced Leader grooms high-performing managers for senior leadership roles through an action learning project, mentored by ESL’s executive team. Leaders in each phase of the curriculum work as a cohort, building positive relationships that are the heart of ESL’s culture.
This emphasis on employee development has helped land ESL on Fortune Magazine’s Great Place to Work lists many times since 2010, illustrating that employees feel they can grow. This proves out in the numbers: Year to date, 89 percent of leadership positions and 76 percent of all positions have been filled from within.
Applied Materials, Inc.: #2 in 2025, #5 in 2024, #8 in 2023, #6 in 2022. Representative: Chuck Tully, Managing Director, Training and Performance Improvement, Applied Materials, Inc.
BNSF Railway: #4 in 2020, #5 in 2019, #4 in 2018 and 2017. Representative: Debra Ross, AVP, Talent Management, BNSF Railway
Central Alabama Water: #7 in 2022, #8 in 2021, #6 in 2020, #7 in 2019. Representative: Marilyn Vertison, Assistant Manager, Learning & Development, Central Alabama Water
ESL Federal Credit Union: #1 in 2025, #6 in 2024, #7 in 2023, #9 in 2022. Representative: Julie Ahrens, Vice President & Director, Organizational Development and Culture, ESL Federal Credit Union
KLA Corporation: #9 in 2006, #5 in 2005, 2004, and 2003. Representative: Glenn Hughes, Senior Director, Learning and Development, KLA Corporation
KPMG LLP: #5 in 2010, #2 in 2009, #5 in 2008, #7 in 2007. Representative: Mike Mather, Chief Learning Officer, KPMG LLP
Leading Real Estate Companies of the World: #2 in 2019, #1 in 2018, #3 in 2017, #9 in 2016. Representative: Jessica Edgerton, Chief Legal Officer and EVP, Industry & Learning, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World
McCarthy Holdings, Inc.: #7 in 2015, #6 in 2014 and 2013, #10 in 2012. Representative: Gina Villegas Allen, Director, Talent Development, McCarthy Holdings, Inc.
Medical Solutions: #6 in 2023, #1 in 2022, #4 in 2021, #9 in 2020. Representative: Liz Hall, Vice President, Talent Management, Medical Solutions
Nationwide: #10 in 2020, #4 in 2019, #7 in 2018, #10 in 2017. Representative: Erin Tunis Pheister, SVP, Talent Management, Nationwide
Paychex, Inc.: #4 in 2024, #5 in 2023 and 2022, #7 in 2021. Representative: Erica Toluhi, Director, Organizational Development & Employee Relations, Paychex, Inc.
Rosendin: #3 in 2023, #2 in 2022, #5 in 2021, #8 in 2020. Representative: Phillip Browning, Director, Learning & Development, Rosendin
Sonic Automotive: #7 in 2020, #6 in 2019, #3 in 2018, #5 in 2017. Representative: Douglas Bryant, Vice President, Talent Management, Sonic Automotive
State Compensation Insurance Fund: #3 in 2024 and 2022, #4 in 2023, #6 in 2021. Representative: Joshua Hinkle, Vice President, Corporate Learning, State Compensation Insurance Fund
The Haskell Company: #1 in 2024 and 2023, #4 in 2022, #3 in 2021. Representative: Brooke Jones-Chinetti, Vice President, Talent Development, The Haskell Company
Verizon: #1 in 2013 and 2012, #3 in 2011, #4 in 2010. Representative: Brent Vader, Vice President, Learning & Development, Verizon