NC Chamber Education & Workforce Conference - August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic altered the way we live, work, and connect. Walls that once housed the learner and worker were removed, giving way to increased usage of technology, innovation, and altered spaces. This age of transformation is a time of rapid change and uncertainty. Technology is advancing at an exponential rate, and the global economy is becoming increasingly interconnected. This means that students and workers need to be adaptable and lifelong learners to keep up with the pace and ultimately succeed.

Join the NC Chamber on August 8th as they convene our state’s key stakeholders in education, business, government, and nonprofit sectors to explore the resulting changes that exist today and examine the possibilities of tomorrow by looking “Beyond the Wall: Working & Learning in the Age of Transformation.”

Register for the event here.

Agenda

Tuesday, August 8

8:45 am	Registration and Networking
9:15 am	Welcome Remarks Debra Derr, Director of Government Affairs, NC Chamber
9:30 am	Talent Pipeline Management and Project Kitty Hawk Discussion Meredith Archie, President, NC Chamber Foundation Wil Zemp, CEO, Project Kitty Hawk
10:00 am	Networking Break
10:30 am	Breakout Sessions The 21st Century Workplace The workplace is a dynamic and ever-changing environment. In the past, employees worked in offices, followed set hours, and had little flexibility in their work arrangements. Now, that environment is much more fluid. Technology is rapidly evolving, and the global economy is becoming increasingly interconnected. This has led to several changes in the way we work. What are those changes? How are employers and employees adapting? Does the future workforce have the proper training to enter the 21st Century Workplace? Anne Claire Broughton, Principal, Broughton Consulting, LLC Maureen Conway, Vice President, Aspen Institute John Healy, Managing Partner & Expert in Residence, Center for the Transformation of Work Moderator: Shaylah Nunn Jones, Novo Nordisk The 21st Century Talent Pipeline Critical thinking, communication, collaboration, problem solving, adaptability. Employees who possess these skills are more likely to be successful in their careers and contribute to the success of their organizations. Businesses need access to workforce ready applicants. By working together and building strategic alliances, employers, educators, and government can ensure that the 21st century talent pipeline is strong, effective, and future focused. Lori Fox, Principal, Haywood Early College Lilly Seymour, Student, Haywood Early College Shelley White, President, Haywood Community College Moderator: Mebane Rash, Founding CEO and Editor-in-Chief, EducationNC The 21st Century Community The combination of population and economic growth is expected to lead to significant changes in North Carolina’s landscape. More people are moving to the state for its low cost of living and its natural beauty spurring growth in urban and rural areas. Technology has made it easier to connect with each other, regardless of the location. The anatomy and soul of “community” is changing. What will communities look like in the future? What challenges does it present? Are we preparing our students and workforce to thrive in the 21st Century Community? Zach Barricklow, Ed.D., Vice President of Rural Innovation & Organizational Change, Wilkes Community College Anita Brown-Graham, Gladys Hall Coates Distinguished Professor of Public Law & Government and Director of the ncIMPACT Initiative, UNC School of Government Chris Chung, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Meaghan Dennison, Chief Executive Officer, Cape Fear Collective Moderator: Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, Hon. ASLA, Principal, Urban Planning, McAdams
11:30 am	Lunch and Keynote Dr. Bill Daggett, Founder, International Center of Leadership in Education
1:00 pm	Networking Break
1:30 pm	Trends in Tech, Teaching, and Tasks Dr. Steve Ritter, Founder and Chief Scientist, Carnegie Learning Bill Spruill, First Speaker, 2ndF Moderator: Karl Rectanus, CEO & Co-Founder of Learn Platform and SVP of K12 Strategy at Instructure
2:15 pm	Learning in the Age of Transformation Dr. Jeff Cox, President, NC Community College System Peter Hans, President, The University of North Carolina System Gary Salamido, President and CEO, NC Chamber Catherine Truitt, Superintendent, NC Department of Public Instruction Dr. Hope Williams, President, NC Independent Colleges & Universities Moderator: Susan Gates, Special Advisor on Education, SAS Institute Inc.
3:00 pm	Closing Remarks