Transforming Potential Into Workforce Power

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

MSG Supply Chain Logistics Accelerator

New to Forum Session

Welcome Reception

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

8:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Breakfast - Time to Network

Strategic Solutions Workshops

Blending Traditional & Virtual Services Post-Pandemic

Panelists:

Mike Fazio, CEO, Workforce180, LLC

Cathy Rychalsky, Workforce Consultant, Metrix Learning

The pandemic has no doubt forced change upon us personally and professionally. This includes workforce leaders and their staff, clients, employers, partners, as well as funding sources.  The accelerated pace of providing services in various ways has left many organizations to strongly wonder if they can keep up with the speed of things.  We are of the belief everyone can----if they make the right internal assessments and act accordingly.  Too many boards we’ve talked to across the country are unfortunately still in a “wait and see” mode.  This will bring about incredible failure unless immediate actions are taken.  For instance, what if the pandemic goes on for years?  Are you prepared to wait it out?  Retire?  Ignore the warning signs?  We’ll provide various ways boards are staying one step ahead, while keeping staff and their clients priorities in order.  The hybrid world of virtual and traditional services does exist and can be sustainable for years to come.   Join us for this eye-opening session and learn what action your board can begin to take.

The Not-So-Hidden Barrier of Benefit Cliffs

Presenters:

Brittany Birken, PhD, Principal Advisor

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Lee Wheeler - Berliner, Managing Director

Colorado Workforce Development Council Office

Brian Bauer, President/CEO

CareerSource Research Coast

Transitioning individuals on public assistance to a sustainable path to self-sufficiency is imperative in ensuring a strong workforce. Through a partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, CareerSource Florida released the Florida CLIFF Dashboard. This tool provides information to help individuals understand their potential earnings through paid employment and maps the timing and magnitude of the loss of public assistance as an individual progresses through in-demand career pathways toward self-sufficiency. The CLIFF Dashboard is currently being piloted as a career coaching and planning tool in workforce development boards in Florida and Colorado to assess utility as a case management and career coaching tool. CareerSource Research Coast will also share a unique partnership with the Early Learning Coalition that helps individuals weather the loss of federal child care subsidies while advancing careers in healthcare.

Strategic Leadership and Transformation

Discussion Leader:

Lori Strumpf, President

Strumpf Associates

Dr. Sharon Johnson, Director, Shenandoah Workforce Development Board

K-12 - Our future Workforce: how workforce boards can impact 'the system'

Discussion Leader:

Traci Marques, Executive Director/CEO

Pikes Peak Workforce Center

Presenters:

Bob Gemignani, Director, Pikes Peak Business & Education Alliance

Learning loss in K-12 is significant as a result of the pandemic. K-12 is also our future workforce and 'the system' must produce a product that businesses want to buy. The Pikes Peak Business & Education Alliance (PPBEA) is a grassroots effort to with a mission of "connecting students' talents, interests & aptitudes to the world of work." With both virtual and in-person access to career exploration, career awareness, summer job opportunities, paid internships and more, you will learn how a staff of three impacts and makes change in 20 urban and rural school systems in Colorado

Innovative apprentice partnerships! Bring workforce resources directly to the small business community

Discussion Leader:

Stephanie Mufic, Business Services Manager

Arapahoe/Douglas Works!

Participants will learn a new approach to partner with Chambers of Commerce. Working together with three local Chambers of Commerce, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! are supporting business service liaison apprentices. Creating a direct link from workforce to the small business community.

Connecting Talent to Careers

Discussion Leader:

John Zappa, Senior Product Manager

The ARM Institute

Presenters:

Byron Clayton, SVP & Chief of Community and Talent Development, CareerSource Tampa Bay

Tom Mudano, President & CEO, AmSkills

The presentation will cover key elements including a rapid re-employment program, access to an e-learning training bundle for upskilling displaced workers into Robotics Technician and other technical jobs, and an online platform for job matching and individual skill tracking for robotic technicians in manufacturing. This work will be focused in the Tampa Bay area, but the key elements, including the online job matching platform, will become national resources.

Housing Stability - A Prerequisite for Workforce Outcomes

Presenters:

Nicole Ganier, Vice President of Operations, Equus Workforce Solutions

Lisa Boyd, Vice President of Operations, Equus Workforce Solutions

When an individual has stable housing, they are then able to confidently pursue workforce opportunities and have greater success in career training and employment. This session will explore community-based solutions that can eliminate housing barriers created by equity gaps. We will discuss proven service models and curate best practices from attendees that have been effective in breaking the cycles of poverty and inequity.

The Sprint for Workers



Presenters:

Grace Heffernan, Senior Manager TPMA

Brittany Dougherty, Senior Consultant TPMA

Workforce Boards are being challenged like never before to ensure that employers have a robust, qualified talent pool and that workers have access to quality employment opportunities. In this interactive session, TPMA will lead participants through a Design Sprint aimed at getting to work on these challenges. A Design Sprint is a proven step-by-step process that TPMA utilizes to empower leaders and stakeholders in validating new ideas + solving critical organizational challenges quickly. This rapid prototyping process is ideal for aligning teams and gaining speed, momentum, and direction for sustainable transformation. In this workshop, attendees will learn how to incorporate a Design Sprint model to tackle common workforce challenges such as customer flow, service delivery, access to services, etc.

9:45 AM - 10:15 AM

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Networking Break

Strategic Solutions Workshops

A New Avenue of Collaboration: Labor-Management Partnerships and the Workforce Boards

Discussion Leader:

Gregory Irish Executive Director

LA City WDB

Presenters:

John Chamberlin - Workforce Attorney

Sara Miles - United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Workforce Development Advisor

Anne McMonigle - LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council, Apprenticeship Readiness 

Fund, Executive Director

Tim Rainey - Executive Director, California Workforce Development Board

Adine Forman - Executive Director, Hospitality Training Academy (HTA)

Labor-Management Partnerships (LMPs) are coming of age and changing the workforce ecosystem in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami. Recently, the HTA, UNITE HERE Local 11’s LMP, won a $3 million dollar USDOL CAREER Grant with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and LA/OC Building & Construction Trades Council - Apprenticeship Readiness Fund (Fund) LMPs. The HTA, UFCW, and Fund have direct and consistent communication with employers who provide input on training curriculums, send job orders, and collaborate on large-scale job fairs. The panel will focus on lessons learned, the LMPs’ partnership efforts with local WDBs (LA City & County WDBs), and outreach efforts to marginalized communities and vulnerable populations such as homeless, justice-involved, veterans, foster youth, etc

Making it Happen! Taking Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from Conversation to Action

Discussion Leader:

Danielle Frazier, President & Chief Executive Officer

Charlotte Works

Presenter:

Rochelle Brown, Regional Director

Equus Workforce Solutions, Regional Director

Building and implementing a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) strategy can seem overwhelming. Beyond a special initiative or task force, we are positioned to normalize inclusiveness and make it the fiber of day-to-day business. It is imperative that the “workforce system” of today champion these efforts, as employees, participants, employers and partners are looking to engage in a system that has a deep commitment to social responsibility and economic prosperity for all. A successful workforce system must be responsive to social issues, local community needs, emerging technological trends and the diverse workforce landscape. This session will explore best practices in DEIB strategies that Workforce Board leaders, Career Center Operators and community stakeholders can champion together to have greater impact in local communities.

Congratulations! You're A New Workforce Director or Board Chair/Member. Now what? 

Discussion Leader:

Krista Tedrow, Executive Director

South Central Iowa Local Workforce Development Board

Presenters:

Miranda Swafford, Executive Director, Mississippi Valley Workforce Development Board

Matthew Nicol, Committee Chair, HON

Your leadership role as a Workforce Director or Board Chair/Member is more critical than it ever has been. The economy and communities across the nation have been knocked to their knees by the recent public health crisis resulting in an enormous shortage of workers for businesses in need of talent. Workforce boards should be meeting these challenges with solutions, but it can be difficult to know where to begin and what to focus on. Join this interactive session designed and presented by current Directors and Board Members to learn about the design and key elements of the workforce ecosystem, board structure, governance, compliance, operations, and more. Whether your budget or area is small, medium, or large, you will receive strategies, tips, tools, and resources you can take with you to overcome some of the challenges and obstacles you may face.

No Wrong Door: Arkansas’ Collective Action Initiative, “ReadyForLife”

Discussion Leader:

Rick Neal, Director, Arkansas Governor's Office for Workforce, Education and Data Transformation

Presenter:

Mary Hayes, CEO, Workbay

The pandemic forced many companies to adjust quickly, and we saw a rise in the number of jobs that transitioned from in-office to remote working environments. And now, some companies are transitioning to hybrid settings, but many have chosen to keep a fully remote workforce. This presentation will explore new research findings on the top remote and hybrid work career paths, as well as the skills and attributes that individuals should focus on developing to be successful in those jobs. By surfacing data to help inform job seekers on in-demand remote and hybrid job opportunities, we can ensure forward-thinking, informed decisions that lead to successful careers! 

Remote and Hybrid Jobs: Top Career Paths and Skills Needed for Success in the Future of Work

Discussion Leader:

Dan Hawthorne, Director of I/O Psychology

PAIRIN

The pandemic forced many companies to adjust quickly, and we saw a rise in the number of jobs that transitioned from in-office to remote working environments. And now, some companies are transitioning to hybrid settings, but many have chosen to keep a fully remote workforce. This presentation will explore new research findings on the top remote and hybrid work career paths, as well as the skills and attributes that individuals should focus on developing to be successful in those jobs. By surfacing data to help inform job seekers on in-demand remote and hybrid job opportunities, we can ensure forward-thinking, informed decisions that lead to successful careers!

Discussion Leader:

Dawn Karber, COO, Spokane Workforce Council

Join us for an interactive session highlighting 10 no- to low-cost ways to up your workforce game within your AJC. Presenters will provide handouts as well as access to a website that includes resources discussed, which will range from technology, goal setting with job seekers, virtual engagement strategies, professional development and more. All have been tried at one or more AJCs and have demonstrated success. 

Moderator:

Vanessa Presto, Senior Vice President, Grant Associates

Panelists:

Bianca Cervantes, Communications Director, Workforce Solutions Borderplex

David Olson, Director, Marketing and Communications, Workforce Solutions Capital Area

Infiniti Scarboro, Program Coordinator, Grant Associates

Are workforce boards and programs actually seeing positive results from using social media? How are other boards using social media to drive community engagement? Join us for tips and tools that are being used across the country to engage new audiences and execute services. Hear how Workforce Solutions Borderplex in El Paso, TX and Workforce Solutions Capital Area in Austin, Texas have implemented effective social media campaigns on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to engage their region with workforce system resources. Plus, hear how a CTE youth initiative uses Instagram to attract its youth participants and includes them in content creation.

Building Coalitions to Create Inclusive Workplaces for Speakers of Other Languages

Employee recruitment and retention is perhaps the greatest challenge facing employers today--with more open roles than job-seekers to fill them, many organizations are rethinking how they source and cultivate talent, often turning to workplace-based upskilling and reskilling programs and workforce boards to source new talent. However, immigrants, refugees, and speakers of other languages are often left out of these programs simply because they do not have the English skills they need to participate. The pandemic has exacerbated historic disparities between immigrants and native-born Americans when it comes to earnings and access to career opportunities. And with nearly 2 million college-educated immigrants and refugees reporting unemployment or underemployment, this oft-overlooked talent pool of New Americans could help employers address complex labor market challenges. This session will surface expert perspectives and best practices on building a more inclusive workforce with this segment of the population in mind. Moderated by former Department of Labor official Jane Oates, this session will provide an overview of how workforce boards and employers can create an English upskilling program and solutions to make your programs successful.

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

2:15 PM - 3:30 PM

General Session, Award Presentation and Lunch

Welcome

Jennifer Harris, NAWB Chair and Ron Painter, CEO

Focus: Age of the Worker! What is driving policy and workforce

Panel Discussion

Fireside Chat

W.O. Lawton Award Presentation - Grant Quezada

Strategic Solutions Workshops

Workforce Policy Update – Implications for WDBs

Discussion Leader:

Kyle Marinelli, Manager of Government Relations & Policy, National Association of Workforce Boards

Presenters:

Ron Painter, President & CEO, National Association of Workforce Boards

Steve Voytek, Policy Advisor, Foresight Law + Policy

Congressional legislation, Administration priorities and the broad national policy dialogue all have the potential to affect your work at the local level. In this session, participants will discuss the most important policy actions currently impacting CTE, including the latest on the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, federal funding, and other key secondary and postsecondary policy issues.

Planning and Implementing a COVID-19 Recovery Occupations Strategy

Discussion Leader:

Patricia Blumenauer, Vice President, Operations & Data Philadelphia Works

The Workforce Development Board of Philadelphia

Philadelphia Works will present its data-driven Recovery Occupations strategy and provide guidance on how to reproduce and implement this COVID-considerate approach locally. The strategy prioritizes investment in training and employer engagement for occupations that are experiencing demand now; pay livable wages; require only short-to-moderate term training and education; and are middle-skill or low-skill entry points to careers with opportunity for advancement. Learn how to coordinate planning and execution of your region’s own Recovery strategy and coordinate cross-functional implementation across teams, providers, and partners. Emphasis will be placed on building a high-quality customer flow, from Recovery Occupation career exploration at American Job Centers to training enrollment and/or job placement via Job Matchers, on-the-job training (OJT) and other business services contracts.

Improv: An Innovative Approach to Navigating DEI

Discussion Leader:

Sally Payne, Director

City of Springfield, Department of Workforce Development

Presenters:

Murphy McHugh, Founder, Dojo Comedy

Haley Jones-Sides, Executive Secretary, City of Springfield, Department of Workforce Development

To develop and support impactful DEI strategies, the strategies must be approached with understanding and intentionality. Join the City of Springfield, Department of Workforce Development and Improv Comedian, Murphy McHugh, to see first-hand the benefits of incorporating improv in these strategies. Improv requires the same collaboration workplaces thrive upon and can offer an interactive way to discuss the sometimes-difficult topic of DEI. Experience how improv scenes can provide the opportunity to practice necessary skills outside of our normal comfort zone. Learn how Springfield utilized improv comedy techniques to break down barriers to have impactful DEI conversations as well as how sessions were developed to improve the economic status of TANF and WIOA participants, increase participant engagement, and build staff morale.

Two Recovery Challenges for Workforce Boards: Labor Market Needs & the Drug Addiction Epidemic

Discussion Leader:

Bruce England, Executive Director

Susquehanna Workforce Network

Presenters:

Don Mathis, Susquehanna Workforce Board, Member & Committee Chair, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

Hannah Betesh, Abt Associates, Senior Associate

Two leaders from the Susquehanna Workforce Board (Harford & Cecil counties, Maryland) will discuss its previous year's lessons & achievements with Project FORWARD - Fostering Opioid Recovery: Workforce And Resource Development. FORWARD recruits, provides & leverages training and career opportunities for people in recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) and/or whose lives have been immediately impacted by addiction, e.g. raised in a family by addicted parents. Maryland is one of 4 states funded by this federal DOL initiative. A representative from Abt Associates which is doing the evaluation for DOL will be on our panel. Attendees will learn which strategies are most effective in engaging this population into the labor market.

Engaging High School Students through the Authentic STEM Program

Discussion Leader:

Sylvie Nelson, Executive Director

North Country Workforce Development Board

Presenters:

Sherry Snow, Student Services Coordinator

Champlain Valley Education Center

Natalie Branosky, Executive Advisor, International Workforce Development and Global Director, Thought Leadership+Policy, APM

Dr. Ingo Witzke, Chair of the Department of Mathematics Education, University of Siegen, Germany

Dr. Gero Soffels, Associate Professor in Mathematics and Physics Education, University of Siegen, Germany

Kristopher Renadette, Manufacturing Quality Engineer, Schluter-Systems L.P

Learn how a NYS' North Country partnership with Germany's University of Seigen's engages US and German HS students in STEM through collaboration with local manufacturers.

Connecting the Hospitality Industry with Workforce Development Systems

Discussion Leader:

David Faro, Sr Manager of Workforce and Business Development, National Restaurant Association

Presenters:

Deborah Howell, Chief Operating Officer, Workforce Central

Sandra Miller, Executive Director, Washington Workforce Association 

William Westmoreland, Chief Operating Officer, Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council

This session will address the challenges and successes that have been encountered in the Pacific Northwest while building hospitality sector focused workforce development strategies. Economic development clusters that support and empower the industry, also seek to give voice to traditionally underserved populations. Who are the players in regional economic development that provide the foundations of a thriving hospitality sector workforce? What do sustainable sector partnerships look like? How do rural regions that depend on a strong hospitality service sector create policies that sustain operations? These are just some of the questions that will be discussed in this presentation along with some of the innovative solutions being explored in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

State Responses to Service Provision for Youth with Disabilities during COVID-19

Discussion Leaders:

Sydney Blodgett, Senior Project Manager,

CAPE-Youth

Abeer Sikder, Policy Analyst, CAPE-Youth

Youth and young adults with disabilities face a steeper road to employment and reemployment because of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession. While youth with disabilities are not inherently at higher risk for contracting COVID-19, youth with disabilities may be disproportionately affected by the disruption of services, including receiving appropriate special education, related services, and accommodations, among other programs and services. This presentation will review a nationwide, state-by-state scan to identify which programs and policies are intended to support youth and young adults with disabilities in their transition from high school to employment, training, or post-secondary education during COVID-19. Topics that will be discussed from the national scan include Assistive Technology, Distance Learning, Family Engagement, Individualized Education Programs, Mental Health, Telehealth, and Transition Services.

From Competitors to Collaborators: Developing & Expanding a Community of Practice to Address Workforce Needs in Boston’s Healthcare Sector

Discussion Leader:

Ashley Hazleton McClafferty, Workforce Development Assistant Director

MassHire Boston Workforce Board

Presenter:

Angela McCabe, Workforce Development Director

MassHire Boston Workforce Board

The healthcare and social assistance industry accounts for over 18% of total employment in Boston; with hospitals representing five of our top ten employers. The Boston Healthcare Careers Consortium was founded in 2010 to convene healthcare employers, educational institutions, and the workforce system to identify workforce gaps and align training that is efficient and effective to ensure a prepared workforce for the sector. The Consortium continues to serve as a forum in which organizations analyze labor market needs, share and develop best practices, and collaborate on grants and projects to enhance their collective impact. Join us as we explore how to effectively convene stakeholders in order to leverage resources and address workforce needs in priority industries.

Virtual Service Delivery - Best Practices

How Local Boards are using technology to make a difference

Geosol, Inc.

In this session discover how local workforce boards are using creative, online solutions that allow staff, job seekers, and employers to connect virtually and maintain high levels of service delivery and security through the pandemic and into the stages of recovery. You will hear firsthand from American Job Centers about the real challenges they faced – and the creative solutions that allowed them to circumnavigate those challenges. This Best Practices session will explore the non-traditional tools to facilitate the remote and secure handling of case management, job seeker and employer outreach, help desk assistance, remote signatures and document uploads, job market analysis, up-skilling and re-skilling platforms, virtual hiring events, and mock interview resources.

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

4:00 PM - 5:15 PM

Networking Break

Issue Sessions

Integrating Work-Based Learning into Client Training

Discussion Leader:

Spencer Murray, Buffalo & Erie County Workforce Investment Board

Presenter:

Jason Scales, Lincoln Electric

Sean Murphy, Walmart

Lisa Schumacher, Director, Education Strategies, McDonald's Corp.

Earn and learn experiences provide an effective pathway for individuals to become proficient and move along a career pathway while being paid. At the same time, employers can provide training to individuals within their culture, on their equipment, using company-focused processes. This session explores successful work-based learning strategies and how workforce boards can integrate them into their training plans.

Reimagining Partnerships to Meet Goals



Discussion Leader:

Shelby Kohn, Director, The Community Outreach Fund, Macomb Capital

To effectively serve clients it is critical that workforce boards build strong partnerships that contribute to the success of the board.  It is important that these relationships contribute to the effectiveness of the programs which contribute to the goals of the board, and accountability measures.  This includes the development of foundations and transitions to a non-profit board to enable the building of new partnerships and funding sources.  This session will focus on creating strategies that increase the development of partnerships within and outside of the community.

Career Support For Refugees 

Join us to better understand why it's difficult for refugee and immigrant professionals with English proficiency and in-demand skills to find work in the U.S., learn about the free career resources available to job seekers, and how workforce development boards can help refugees in their community. 

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

8:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Breakfast

DOL Technical Assistance Sessions

Diverse Talent Pipelines through Pre-Apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship

This session will feature tools, evidence-based strategies, and examples to build a diverse and equitable talent pipeline using pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship.  Hear from promising pre-apprenticeship programs on how they have operationalized and built pipelines to Registered Apprenticeship, while also learning about tools to connect people with quality apprenticeship jobs and employers to quality talent, and promising practices from recent DOL-funded evaluations that support using pre-apprenticeship as a key strategy in expanding diversity of Registered Apprenticeship.   

WIOA by the Numbers: Leveraging Performance Data for Continuous Improvement and Equitable Service Delivery 

Join ETA performance staff for a discussion of the latest WIOA performance data and trends, and a walk through of new public-facing interactive data tools. How well are you serving individuals with barriers to employment and those receiving public assistance? How might you use demographic data to determine gaps in services? This workshop will feature both national WIOA data experts and local workforce boards who are using data-driven insights to inform their services and their education and training investments.

Building Job Quality in the Workforce Development System 

Job Quality means workers are paid fair wages and benefits; those workers have a voice in their work environment and workplace conditions without fear of retribution; and those entry-level jobs can be a path to promotion and advancement as your skills grow. Workforce Development Boards play a major role in jobseekers’ success in moving into jobs with family-supporting wages that become great career opportunities.  This session is an opportunity to learn about strategies some local boards made in their industry focus, labor-management partnerships, training providers, career counseling, case management, and more to result in more jobseekers getting good jobs. The session will spotlight local boards leading this work and will include tips for any workforce board around the country. 

WIOA by the Numbers: Leveraging Performance Data for Continuous Improvement and Equitable Service Delivery

Join ETA performance staff for a discussion of the latest WIOA performance data and trends, and a walk through of new public-facing interactive data tools. How well are you serving individuals with barriers to employment and those receiving public assistance?  How might you use demographic data to determine gaps in services?  This workshop will feature both national WIOA data experts and local workforce boards who are using data-driven insights to inform their services and their education and training investments.

Transitioning to and Enhancing Virtual Service Delivery 

In the last two years, many local areas pivoted service-delivery away from traditional in-person, brick and mortal operations to a combination of remote and virtual services that leveraged a wide range of online tools and communication technologies.  In some instances, this transition was relatively easy and based on resources and policy changes that were already in development prior to the national pandemic response. In contrast, the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program was previously limited to in-person services and faced the significant challenge of having to quickly and radically transform services and processes to meet new demands. This session will take a closer, research-based look at RESEA implementation and adaptation during the pandemic, with insights that can apply to WIOA and any AJC program.

9:45 AM - 10:15 AM

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Networking Break

DOL Technical Assistance Sessions

Delivering Quality Services to Refugees and Immigrant Populations

How can AJCs connect with federal and state resources to effectively support refugee and immigrant populations in their community?  Snohomish County, WA is doing significant work in this area, and will share information about their trauma-informed care approach to providing WIOA Title I services in a panel discussion. The panel will highlight the importance of Federal-state-local relationships in preparing for and delivering services to immigrant populations including English language learners. The session will also discuss how local areas in Washington participated in a statewide Afghani Arrivals Workgroup. 

Identifying and Addressing Mental Health Issues for Youth in Workforce Development Programming

The U.S. Surgeon General recently released an alarming report on youth and mental health. Young people disconnected from school and work, systems-involved youth, and youth experiencing homelessness live with trauma and have been over-represented in mental health needs but underserved in mental health treatment. The pandemic has intensified the need for mental health services while also adversely impacting the delivery of quality mental health services. We know there is a crisis, and we need to do better. In this session, local systems can learn about important resources, strategies, and partnerships to address the mental health pandemic impacting the youth we serve.

Applying Evidence, Resources, Tools, and Evaluations to Local Practices

Every local board wants to spend its resources on interventions that work for its customers. This session will recap what evidence says about workforce services that work, how to apply that evidence to the services in you’re American Job Center, and easy ways to stay on top of the latest evidence. 

Workshop Development Engagement in Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Training

Workers are re-evaluating what they want out of their professional life, and what new self-employment opportunities are taking shape. The public workforce development system is in a key position to support entrepreneurial training services and business incentives to the job changers in their community. There is a need to explore the types of training the workforce system might offer to help individuals transition into new self-employment opportunities in the local communities. This session is an opportunity for workforce development leaders to learn about strategies to enhance entrepreneurship training support, as well as practical tips about how WIOA resources can be used to support these initiatives.

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Issue Sessions

Navigating the Supply Chain Disruption in 2022

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many people took the supply chain for granted. Many news outlets did not even have a newsbeat covering this topic as they do today. Today, manufacturers, warehouses, transportation providers, distribution centers, and retailers are all topics of mainstream media with respect to the supply chain disruption, and what must be done to resolve this national emergency. Join us for a conversation with industry leaders as we discuss the complexities of the current situation and how best to address it. This will be a moderated discussion with Q&A to follow.

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Networking Break

General Session, Award Presentation and Lunch

Trailblazer Award - Prince George’s County Workforce Development Board

Dessert and Networking

Strategic Solutions Workshops

Workforce Blueprint: Identifying current and future workforce needs through data-driven regional collaboration

Discussion Leader:

Irene Bustamante-Adams, Deputy Director and Chief Strategy Officer, Workforce Connections

Before the pandemic, competition for highly skilled workers in Southern Nevada was increasing rapidly. Workforce leaders knew identifying workforce needs to align education and training would be foundational to economic development success. Now the stakes are even higher. Learn how partnerships between Southern Nevada’s local workforce development board, the regional development authority, and the state’s largest chamber of commerce created a strategically aligned, data-driven, regional tool called Workforce Blueprint 2.0 in 2019. An updated blueprint will be released in 2022, and additional chambers of commerce joined the effort. The Workforce Blueprint identifies in-demand occupations and the capacity to meet workforce needs of target industries, including gaps or surpluses in training or education, accompanied by a report card to monitor progress.

Engaging with Local Elected Officials 101

Discussion Leader:

Portia Hurtt, Policy and Compliance, Employ Prince George’s

A primer on the importance and some easy tactics to implement to engage local elected officials at the city, county, and state level to educate on workforce development, explain the critical role of local workforce boards, and ultimately convert them into workforce champions during the legislative process.  Why and how was practice developed and what has been the impact? Include who was involved, key challenges and what a made difference for success.

My role did not exist before my organization was created, so unless a legislator had another reason to understand workforce- working with community colleges, for example- they often did not. That was reflected in attention and funding. We have really been able to make our presence known in a short time in Maryland.

Workforce Realigned: How New Partnerships Are Advancing Economic Mobility

Discussion Leader:

Sandra Salstrom, Vice President, Government Relations, Social Finance

Presenters: 

Tyrone Hampton Jr., Manager of the Workforce Systems Initiative, Philadelphia Works 

Saah Miller, Senior Advisor for Community and Economic Development, Atlanta Federal Reserve Center for Workforce and Economic Opportunity

Declining economic mobility is one of the defining challenges of our time. We’re seeing a promising response across the country: innovative, accountable workforce partnerships that are delivering results for U.S. workers and businesses. In this session, a panel of speakers from Workforce Realigned: How New Partnerships Are Advancing Economic Mobility—a new book by Social Finance and the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Philadelphia—will discuss partnerships that rethink the way we finance worker upskilling. Thirty authors contributed to this book, including Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, and Governor Charlie Baker. Participants will gain insight into how workforce leaders can partner across sectors to rebalance risk, realign financial incentives, and jumpstart economic mobility.

The Art of Innovation: How to Create High Impact and Position Your Organization to Draw New Resources

Discussion Leader:

Julie Sanon, COO, Agape Child & Family Services

Successful Strategies for Coordinating High School Internships



Discussion Leader:

Denver Supinger, State Policy Advocate

American Student Assistance

Presenters:

Nina Pande, Executive Director, Skills for Rhode Island's Future

Luke Rhine, Director, Career & Technical Education and STEM Initiatives, Delaware Department of Education

Developing Data-Driven and Flexible Workforce Strategies for the Future Workforce Needs

Discussion Leader:

Martie Telepo ManpowerGroup, Public Sector Business Development Director

Raleen Gagnon, Manpower Group, VP-Global Market Intelligence.

State of Tech and Three Thriving Trends: Workforce System 2022 

Discussion Leader:

Josh Copus, Director, JFF

Presenters:

Ben Sommer, Senior Manager, JFF

Alex Swartsel, Deputy Director, Acceleration at JFFLabs

Transforming Today's Workforce Training Programs into Tomorrow's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Talent Solutions

Presenters:

Mr. Joseph Seymour, KRA Manager of Operational Excellence

Dr. Kordilia Noble, KRA Director of Partnerships & Market Development

Dr. Brian Johnson, KRA Consultant 

Dr. Jon Mott, CEO Aspire Ability

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Issue Sessions

Gaining Insight into Industry Needs and Expectations

Discussion Leader:

Jane Oates, Working Nation

Panelists:

Jennifer Kincaid, Director, Customer Success and Strategic Relationships, CompTIA

Janice Fidalgo, Project Manager, Grow with Google

Jason Straczewski, VP, Government Relations and Political Affairs, National Retail Federation

IT Apprenticeships - Expanding to Cloud

Discussion Leader:

Tan Moorthy, Executive Vice President, Head - US Delivery Operations and Global Head Education, Training & Assessments, Infosys

Presenters:

Jorge Marquez, Senior Vice President Program Leader, Apprenticeship and Workforce Innovation, Robert Half

Eric Robertson, Digital Skills Lead, Americas, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

4:45 PM - 5:45 PM

4:45 PM - 5:45 PM

5:30 PM - 6:00 PM

How to Apply for DOL Grants

Small group networking sessions

Grantee Meetings

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM



9:30 AM - 10:45 AM

Regional Convenings and Breakfast

Including DOL Regional Administration)

Issue Sessions

Workforce in a New Era-Reimagining the Possible

Presenters:

Chris Guidry, Vice President, Mission Advancement & Philanthropy, Strada

Jake Hirsh-Allen, LinkedIn

Chris Laney, Senior Workforce Strategist, EMSI Burning Glass

As society is constantly evolving, influenced by expected and unexpected factors, so should the workforce system.  In response to constant change, workforce boards need to be proactive in their response, rather than reactive. The best thing is to have these conversations early. In this interactive session issues will be identified-including those that MAY be in our future-and participants will brainstorm solutions to imagine success in a future environment.  Building on future of work concepts, the session will identify how workforce boards can be better prepared to meet challenges.

Building an Entrepreneurial WDB



Discussion Leader:

Marlena Sessions, NOVAWorks

Panelists:

Nick Schultz, Executive Director, Pacific Gateway

Walter Simmons, President and CEO, Prince George’s County WDB

Sharon Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board, Inc. 

Whether it is due to evolving technology, demographics, refocusing by industry or pandemics, change is a constant that directly impacts how workforce boards carry the work to foster prosperity for individuals, communities and businesses. To continue being the economic tool for your community, workforce boards need to employ and retain an entrepreneurial system and mindset.  WDBs need to move beyond the foundation of workforce legislation and policy and think differently about partnerships, training models, wrap around support services and federal, state and private funding streams.  This session addresses strategies to transform the workforce board system and operations to become an entrepreneurial organization.

The Outlook for Outcomes, and our Opportunity Now

Discussion Leader:

Josh Copus, Director, JFF

Panelists:

Nilda Blanco, Sr. Director Business Intelligence, CareerSource Central Florida

Tameshia Bridges Mansfield, VP, Workforce Innovation, JFF

Kelly Folks, Director of Employment and Training, Colorado Department of Labor and Education

Marie Kurose, CEO, Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County

Workforce boards across the country are adopting sophisticated tools that support the collection and analysis of more robust and reliable datasets that go far beyond the common measures. Greater insight into how participant and program characteristics translate to outcomes can improve decision-making capabilities and help workforce systems demonstrate their impact and influence within their communities. Outcomes for Opportunity (O4O) began in 2020 as a pilot initiative focused on identifying critical data metrics necessary for decision-making and the creation of easy-to-use data tools that show workforce boards and training providers how to create compelling data stories. Two years later, JFF has launched the O4O beta site with the help of seven data-driven workforce boards committed to using data more effectively to promote and improve their programs, services, and regional advantages.  This session will provide attendees with a brief demo of the O4O beta site followed up with a thoughtful discussion that examines current innovations, challenges, and opportunities for data analytics within the public workforce system.

Dynamic Advocacy in an Evolving Landscape 

Discussion Leader:

Steve Voytek, Foresight Law + Policy

The COVID-19 Pandemic caused major disruptions in labor markets compelling workers, businesses, thought leaders, and lawmakers to reevaluate the concept of work in America. With fresh attention on workforce development the opportunity to advance innovative concepts is prime. This session will explore the wide array of tools, talking points, and strategies to effectively advocate for workforce development in both online and in-person mediums. 

9:30 AM - 10:45 AM

Strategic Solution Workshops

CareerVerse, an Innovative Tool to Inspire Your Next Generation of Talent 

Discussion Leader:

Cass Hensley IDEAS, Interactive Producer

Presenters:

Shernita Taylor, Assistant Executive Director, Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council (SAWDC) 

Mark Edson, IDEAS, Director, Business Development

IDEAS is a brand and experience design firm that has effectively delivered award-winning state workforce system brands and solutions in Florida, Alabama, Virginia, and Massachusetts. We understand the struggles of local boards to deliver a talent pipeline that aligns with local industry needs. To that end, we have designed and launched an innovative online experience that ignites passion in secondary students to pursue careers aligned with local needs. Launched within Alabama’s SAWDC partnering school districts, the game replaced their “Worlds of Opportunity” eighth-grader field trips and engaged more than 13,000 students in a recent two-week trial. We will demonstrate the tool and show how students can be creatively engaged in new ways to provide a sustainable talent solution.

Paving the Pathway to Success: A collective approach to guide students with disabilities through Pre-Employment Training, Business Mentorship, and Real-World Work Experience

Discussion Leader:

Cheryl Guido, Texas Workforce Solutions- Vocational Rehabilitation Services, VR Manager

NAWB participants will gain a roadmap to Paving the Pathway to Success, a proven strategy to effectively engage and expose students with disabilities with the necessary skills and access of finding a pathway to a lucrative future and career. The Gulf Coast Workforce Board, in a collective approach with Vocational Rehabilitation, community employers, and job trainers have created a cost effective, replicable, and unique 7-month experience for students between the ages of 16-22years old. Participants will hear data that supports the completion rate from students, success stories from alumni, and employer testimonies.  Participants will gain employer training tools and how employers utilize the Paving the Pathway to Success program to create/maintain an inclusive work environment.

Improving employability skills through entrepreneurship: Helping displaced participants return to the workforce

Discussion Leader:

Ferdi Serim, CIO, Startup Generation LLC

Presenters:

Beth Elias, Executive Director, New Mexico Eastern Area Workforce Development Board

Project-based and deliverables-based learning methods in the pilot program resulted in successful outcomes for New Mexico participants. Entrepreneurial skills are workplace skills: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity/innovation, and project management. Beyond their value in launching startups, employers seek the same skills in new hires. Startup Generation’s curriculum enables adult learners to attain these skills as they create and pitch their new business ideas as teams, guided by trained facilitators. Data gathered and analyzed during the past year show substantial increases in learning skills based on self-reflections from more than 52 learners who enrolled in two program cohorts (Spring and Fall), and 28 who successfully completed the program.

Build, Manage and Expand Agile Processes in Workforce Board Operations

Discussion Leader:

Wendy Walker-Fox, Executive Director, Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Board

Presenter:

Jessica Raby, Program Manager, Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Board

Michelle Slaton, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Board

The Piedmont Triad Regional Workforce Development Board (PTRWDB) has created an internal project management tool that provides our Programmatic and Business Services teams with processes that are data-driven. The Board is able to manage strategy, providing a platform that builds internal knowledge bases. By utilizing real time labor market data and project management productivity tools the PTRWDB has created a replicable system that can be shared as a best practice with regional boards. The PTRWDB can outline how data-driven recommendations to employers; along with the implementation of project management software, has created an elevated solution that the PTRWDB sees as imperative to its long-range vision planning. This is a blueprint for providing hyper-focused workforce specific data at a regional level.

12:15 PM - 1:30 PM

ETA Listening Session

What's Next: What to do on Monday Morning