History
CANPD, originally called the Chicago Area Nursing Staff Development Organization (CANSDO), is a cumulative effort of many individuals in nursing professional development dating back to the 1980's.
In the early 2000's, Advocate Lutheran General Staff Development listed with the National Nursing Staff Development Organization (NNSDO), now called the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD), as the Chicago affiliate.
In 2007, the Resurrection Health Care Education Council contacted NNSDO to start the process of establishing a Chicago Area Nursing Staff Development Organization. The Advocate group and the Lutheran group worked together to establish one diverse Chicago-land organization.
The first meeting at West Suburban Hospital in January of 2007 yielded an attendance of 45 professionals in nursing staff development. The group was diverse and included participants from Advocate Health Care, Cook County Hospital, Northwestern Memorial, Resurrection Healthcare, Shriners, the University of Illinois.
During 2007, the organization began to establish itself; committees were formed for nomination of Board members, a Membership Committee was established, and bylaws were written. The first election of Board members occurred in May of 2008.
In December of 2009, as the CANSDO website construction began, NNSDO accepted CANSDO as their Chicago-land affiliate. Finally, in 2012 when NNSDO changed their name to ANPD, CANSDO followed suit and became CANPD the Chicago Association for Nursing Professional Development.
Our Mission
The purpose of CANPD is to act as an official association for and in support of all nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners in health care settings.
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To provide nursing professional continuing education with contact hour(s).
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To provide an opportunity for NPD practitioners to network and learn from each other.
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To promote best practices in NPD across local health care organizations.
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To promote the development of NPD practice congruent with current scope and standards of practice for the specialty.
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To support and strengthen NPD practitioner practice through collaboration with ANPD and other organizations that contribute to the practice of NPD practitioners.
2026 Board Members
CANPD President
Leslie Miller, MSN, BS, RN, NPD-BC
Leslie Miller brings over 15 years of diverse healthcare experience as a clinical nurse, nursing instructor, clinical educator, and nursing professional development specialist. She is dedicated to advancing nursing practice through education and fostering meaningful professional growth across healthcare teams.
Leslie’s clinical and professional development experience spans adult inpatient care, behavioral health, and emergency services. With more than a decade in nursing professional development, she has supported nurses across a variety of specialties, helping to strengthen clinical competence, confidence, and engagement.
She currently serves as a Nursing Professional Development Practitioner and Nurse Planner at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, where she supports both medical-surgical and emergency department teams through orientation, education, and ongoing professional development initiatives.
Leslie holds an Associate Degree in Nursing from John Wood Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Illinois State University, and a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Liberty University. She is board certified in Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC).
A committed leader in the professional development community, Leslie currently serves as President of the Chicago Area Nursing Professional Development (CANPD), the local affiliate of the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD), where she works to strengthen engagement, collaboration, and educational excellence across the region.
CANPD Vice President
Brenda Carlevato, MSMOB, BSN, NPD-BC, NE-BC
Brenda Carlevato serves as the Manager of Nursing Education and Professional Development at Advocate Health’s Advocate Medical Group. She is deeply committed to advancing nursing education and supporting modern learners, bringing both passion and innovation to her work in professional development.
With a diverse clinical background spanning critical care, emergency services, palliative care, and ambulatory practice, Brenda has cultivated a strong foundation in patient-centered care and team development. She is especially passionate about mentoring nurses and fostering environments that support growth, engagement, and career advancement.
Her areas of expertise include leadership development, mentorship and coaching, clinical orientation programs, career pathway design, and the integration of gamification and simulation-based learning into educational strategies.
Brenda holds a Master’s degree in Management and Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clarke College. She is board certified in both Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC) and Nurse Executive (NE-BC).
An active leader in professional organizations, Brenda has served on the Board of Directors for both the Illinois Association of Nursing Professional Development (IANPD) and the Chicago Area Nursing Professional Development (CANPD). She has presented at local and regional conferences, including CANPD, MANPD, IANPD, and Building Bridges, and has shared her work nationally through a poster presentation at ANPD.
Brenda is passionate about advancing CANPD’s mission by growing Illinois membership and expanding innovative learning modalities, including podcasts and other modern educational formats. She is dedicated to designing programs that empower nurses at every stage of their careers.
Outside of work, Brenda enjoys attending sporting events, country music concerts, spending time in Florida with her husband, and making cherished memories with her three grandchildren.
CANPD Secretary
Kelly Deverell, MSN, RN, CMSRN, OCN, NPD-BC
Kelly Deverell is a master’s-prepared nurse with 17 years of clinical experience and more than a decade in nursing professional development. She currently serves as a Clinical Practice Specialist at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, where she leads nursing education, professional development, and evidence-based practice initiatives on a medical-surgical unit.
Kelly is deeply committed to advancing nursing practice through mentorship, innovation, and interprofessional collaboration. Her work focuses on fostering clinical excellence, supporting professional growth, and promoting the integration of evidence-based care into daily practice.
She holds board certification in Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC) and maintains specialty certifications in medical-surgical nursing (CMSRN) and oncology nursing (OCN), reflecting her dedication to lifelong learning and clinical expertise.
As an active member of the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) since 2018, Kelly recently joined the Chicago Area Nursing Professional Development (CANPD) organization to further engage with local colleagues. In her role as Secretary, she is committed to supporting CANPD’s mission and advancing the impact of nursing professional development practice across the region.
CANPD Treasurer
April Arendt, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, RNC-MNN
April Arendt serves as a Clinical Practice Specialist at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee and Valley West Hospitals, where she supports hospital-wide initiatives, collaborates across multiple service lines, and partners with Nursing Professional Development (NPD) practitioners across the organization.
With over 26 years of nursing experience and more than a decade in nursing professional development, April is dedicated to mentoring nurses, standardizing processes, and implementing innovative, engaging education strategies. She coordinates the New Graduate RN Residency and Preceptor Programs, serves as a Nurse Planner for continuing nursing education, and leads competency development while supporting learning management system administration.
April is recognized for her strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage complex educational programs. She effectively tracks outcomes, ensures regulatory compliance, and drives consistency in professional development practices—strengths that align well with her role as Treasurer for the Chicago Area Nursing Professional Development (CANPD).
As an active member of both ANPD and CANPD, April is passionate about fostering growth, engagement, and excellence within the professional development community. She recently presented at the 2026 ANCC Professional Development Practice and Transition into Practice Symposium and looks forward to continued professional growth and contribution to the field.
Outside of work, April enjoys attending country music concerts and is preparing for an exciting milestone as she sends her daughter to college in Fall 2026.
Membership Information
Meeting Information
At each in-person meeting, we will offer networking with other nursing professional development practitioners, meal, educational activity with continuing nursing education contact hour(s), and business update of the organization.
5:00 pm - Doors Open & Networking
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm Light Meal
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Educational Activity
7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Membership Meeting
Members: FREE
Non-Members: $15 for meal and ANCC Contact Hours
Joint Provider of this activity is the Chicago Association of Nursing Professional Development (CANPD).
Northwestern Medicine is an accredited with distinction provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
January 26, 2026
Pet Therapy
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Simulation Center
1775 W Dempster Ave, Park Ridge, IL
March 18, 2026
Implementing NPD - Related Research into Practice
Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
25 N. Winfield Rd, Winfield, IL
May 19, 2026
NPD Influence - Developing a Social Network
Advocate Healthcare
3025 Highland Parkway Suite 600, Downers Grove, IL
July 13, 2026
Mention from Convention
Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Lake Forest Hospital &
Maxine & Thomas B. Hunter III Simulation & Education Center
600 N Westmoreland Rd, Lake Forest, IL
Ground Floor
September 17, 2026 (UPDATED)
The Science Behind Excellence:
Bridging Research and Professional Development
Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
25 N Winfield Rd, Winfield, IL
Bed Tower Conference Room #2
November 10, 2026
6th Annual CANPD Poster Symposium
Advocate Healthcare
3025 Highland Parkway Suite 600, Downers Grove, IL