About + Team
Former Operators Who Build Learning That Works on the Frontline
Modern Training is a fractional learning + development (L+D) team founded by former operators. We support learning strategy, content development, and collaborative work with a wide range of services, and we bring clarity, care, and real-world experience to every project, whether it's a multi-language rollout for a global brand or setting up an LMS for a small team.
Who We Are
We're a fractional L+D team, which means you get a complete learning + development department on demand: strategists, writers, designers, and client success leads who plug into your team at the size and speed you need. Passionately collaborative, we work as if we're in the building with you, learning your brand and operations deeply.
We're also relationship-focused, bringing credibility, quality assurance, consultation, and a good amount of humor to our work together.
Why We Do It
We're former operators with roots in the field, and our experience with operations helps us develop training that truly works on the frontline.
We've seen what great training can do: how it empowers teams, strengthens operations, and drives real change. That's why we build learning that doesn't just check the box, it actually makes work better.
How We Work
Working with us starts with a conversation, not a contract, and it runs on a clear path: scope, plan, build, launch, and support past the launch, with your team in the loop at every step.
Meet the Modern Training Team
Matt Nelson
Matt Nelson is the CEO and Founder of Modern Training, a team that creates premium learning content, builds custom training programs, and provides other LX services for restaurants, retail, breweries, and more. With over 30 years of experience, he has helped multi-unit operators of all sizes create and evolve their learning experiences.
Matt is also the author of The Renegade Cook, a skill-building book for the Back-of-the-House. Speaking directly to BOH team members, The Renegade Cook goes beyond culinary skills to share how to become a better teammate and develop into a future leader. It's a great resource for restaurant leaders and trainers to elevate performance in the kitchen, develop a talent pipeline, and guide managers how to lead the BOH confidently.
Cassie Douglas
Cassie boasts over two decades of hands-on experience in the hospitality industry, consistently engineering remarkable turnarounds by transforming struggling restaurants into top-tier performers within their respective companies. Cassie's passion for delivering results and nurturing talent seamlessly translated into an impactful career in learning and development. With a meticulous approach, Cassie has crafted comprehensive training programs spanning diverse hourly roles, MIT initiatives, NSO implementations, and large soft skill workshop facilitation. Fueled by an unyielding enthusiasm for training, advancing leadership capabilities, and ensuring operational excellence, Cassie relishes in creating dynamic leadership development pathways that foster robust pipelines of strong leaders for the future.
Shante Bryan
Shante strives to build engaging content that promotes lasting behavioral change. She believes that impactful learning doesn't happen by chance. For her, it happens from intentional planning and execution. How learners engage with the content is considered at each step of her design process. As a former educator and healthcare worker, Shante loves to create learner-centric solutions that combine best practices with innovative software. Her enthusiasm for technology has inspired her to dabble into responsive design and usability. When not focused on projects, Shante likes to spend her free time playing video games, browsing online artwork, and trying out new Instant Pot recipes.
Alex Torres
Working in retail, restaurants, and manufacturing taught me a lot about how people learn. I noticed that when training paths were clear, I grew quickly, but when training was bad, it was incredibly frustrating. I knew I wanted to change that for others. I met our CEO, Matt Nelson, who was a client at the personal training gym my husband and I own. I told him to let me know if he was ever hiring, and he interviewed me right there, and I've been a part of creating great training ever since.
I love getting to know our clients' brand so that all the content we produce matches their exact tone and feel, and that the learning connects to the team members it's for. I also lead our AI initiatives, researching and testing how these new tools can improve learning and development. I'm highly organized, love the details, and am always looking for the next project to tackle.
When I'm not working, I'm usually playing with my two kids, paddle boarding, baking, or reading!
Sarah Brodsky
From a young age, Sarah has harbored a love for engaging and forging meaningful connections with others. This led her naturally into the field of hospitality. Her enthusiasm led her to James Madison University, where she pursued a major in Hospitality Management. Her primary ambition lies in delivering an exceptional and memorable client experience, fostering a mutually rewarding collaboration. She constantly strives to nurture these relationships and looks for innovative methods to enhance her skills to provide the best service possible.
She likes to spend her free time working out, exploring the outdoors with her dog, trying out new restaurants, or binge-watching her favorite TV shows with her friends!
Our core team partners with USA-based contractors for extra design bandwidth.
Common Questions
What is Modern Training?
Modern Training is a fractional L+D team. We plan, build, and deliver training for growing and enterprise brands in restaurants, retail, hospitality, and more, from strategy and content to LMS services and AI adoption.
What makes Modern Training different?
We come from operations, continuing that passion for execution and service, and knowing what makes training move from concept to sustainable execution in the field. We work as if we're in the building with you, and we're relationship-focused, with credibility, quality assurance, consultation, and a good amount of humor.
How big is the team we'd work with?
Sized to the project. Every engagement gets the mix of Content, Design, Client Success, and Strategy roles it needs, from a focused pair to a full team.
Where are you located?
We work remotely with clients everywhere, and we come onsite when the work calls for it: openings, mentoring, video shoots, and field evaluations.
How do we get started?
Schedule a call or email [email protected]. Discovery conversations are free.
Let's Meet the Team Behind Your Next Project
Ready to work with people who've stood where your teams stand? We'd love to meet you.
