Virtual

Join us for Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA’s) 2022 Summer Conference and hear firsthand what’s new in Workforce Development, including:

  • micro-credentialing and other “new” initiatives that help with a career path
  • a systematic approach to workforce development
  • strategies for talent recruitment and retention

Speakers and panelists will discuss these topics and be available for Q&As. 

Panel 1: “Future of Workforce Development: Building Local Workforce Development Systems that Produce Talent & Meet the Needs of Businesses”

Moderator: Amanda Wagner, Chief Operating Officer, Employ Prince George’s

Panelists: TBD


Panel 2: “Advancing Workforce Preparation: Adaptive Strategies and Solutions to Current Skills Shortages”

Moderator: Ellen Flowers-Fields, Associate Vice-President for Continuing Education and Workforce Development, College of Southern Maryland

Panelists:

  • Nicholas Dantonio, Workforce Development Strategist, Lockheed Martin
  • Becky Klein-Collins, CAEL’s Vice President of Impact
  • Tim Tatsui, Vice President for workforce development career & technical education, National Education Foundation
  • Kelly Koermer, Vice President of Continuing Education & Training, Carroll Community College


Keynote Speaker:
Bridgette Gray, Chief Customer Officer, Opportunity@Work

Bridgette will be speaking on “STARs: The Strategy to Find The Skilled and Diverse Talent You Need in Today’s Workforce”

Employers today say there’s a talent shortage – but what if they’re just not looking in the right place? There are more than 70+ million workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs), rather than through a bachelor’s degree who are being overlooked today. Nearly half of these STARs have the skills to thrive in in-demand roles, but they’re overlooked and held back by the paper ceiling – the invisible barrier that comes at every turn for workers without a bachelor’s degree – and it’s hurting their upward mobility and employers’ diversity efforts. Learn about the size, demographics, and skills of the STARs talent pool, ways to find them, and how your organization can start supporting STARs.