2024 Minnesota Workforce Summit

2024 Minnesota Workforce Summit!

September 12, 2024

Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
350 Harbor Dr.
Duluth, MN 55802

The 2024 Minnesota Workforce Summit will bring together stakeholders from across Minnesota’s workforce development landscape to focus on key factors in Minnesota’s equitable economic growth: growing the labor force to meet the needs of Minnesota employers and connecting Minnesotans with family-sustaining employment.

Registration fee: $25

For questions, contact MNDEEDevents@state.mn.us.

Agenda
Agenda

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Holiday Inn and Suites

Great Lakes Ballroom

4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Networking Reception

This reception with appetizers and refreshments is sponsored by ECMC Group.

Registered attendees may check in during this evening event and bypass morning check in.

Thursday, September 12, 2024

Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)

Harbor Side

7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Check-in/Continental Breakfast

8:40 - 9:00 a.m.

Introduction
- Marc Majors, Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Duluth Welcome
- Matt Baumgartner, President, Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
- Elena Foshay, Director, City of Duluth Workforce Development
9:00 - 9:15 a.m.

Opening Remarks
- Marc Majors, Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Matt Varilek, Commissioner Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
9:15 - 10:00 a.m.

Collaboration. Innovation. Inclusion: Coming Together to Strengthen Minnesota's Workforce
- Nicole Blissenbach, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
- Angela Mansfield, Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Educational Opportunity, Minnesota Department of Education
- Matt Varilek, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Winnie Sullivan, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Office of Higher Education
- Moderator: Chris Farrell, Senior Economics Contributor, Marketplace and Minnesota Public Radio
10:00 - 10:45 a.m.

Importance of Public/Private Partnership in Workforce Development to Address Business Needs
- Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
- Surya Iyer, President and COO, Polar Semiconductor; Chair, Governors Workforce Development Board
- Bria Shea, Regional Vice President, Regulatory Policy, Xcel Energy
- Moderator: Chris Farrell, Senior Economics Contributor, Marketplace and Minnesota Public Radio
10:45 - 11:00 a.m.

Break

11:00 - 11:45 a.m.

Minnesota's Labor Force: Demographic Changes, Migration and More
- Lauren Bennett McGinty, Executive Director, Explore Minnesota
- Megan Dayton, Senior Demographer, Minnesota State Demographic Center at the Minnesota Department of Administration
- Angelina Nguyễn, Director Labor Market Information Office, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Moderator: Chris Farrell, Senior Economics Contributor, Marketplace and Minnesota Public Radio
11:45 - 12:30 p.m.

Inclusive Economy and Employment for All Minnesotans
- Dr. Bruce Corrie, Associate Vice President for Government & Community Relations Professor of Economics, Concordia University, St. Paul
- Whitney Harvey, Senior Director, Workforce Diversity and Inclusion, Minnesota Chamber Foundation
- Dr. Joe Hobot, President and CEO, American Indian OIC
- Moderator: Maureen Ramirez, Chief of Staff, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
12:30 - 1:00 p.m.

Buffet Lunch/Networking Time

1:00 - 1:45 p.m.

Lunch Keynote - Advancing Strong Workforce Policies to Help Employees and Businesses Thrive
- Introduction: Evan Rowe, Deputy Commissioner, Workforce Services and Transformation, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Matt Varilek, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Bernie Burnham, President, Minnesota AFL-CIO
- Senator Bobby Champion, President of the Senate, Minnesota Senate District 59 (DFL)
- Moderator: Deven Bowdry, Government Relations Director, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
1:45 - 2:00 p.m.

Break

2:00- 2:45 p.m.

Break Out Sessions 1
- Panel A: Preparing the Next Generation: Youth Workforce Services Best Practices
  - Marcus Pope, President, Youthprise
  - Carrie Bendix, Executive Director, Southwest MN PIC
  - Beth Christensen, Operations Director, Workforce Development, Inc.
  - Ann Anderson, Student, Augsburg University
  - Moderator: Heidi Johnson, Chief of Staff, ECMC Group
- Panel B: Reaching Underserved Populations: Women in Non-traditional Employment, Veterans and Justice-Involved Job Seekers
  - Jeremiah Carter, Director of Re-Entry Services, CareerForce Division, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
  - Ray Douha, Director, Veterans Employment Services, CareerForce Division, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
  - Yolanda McIntosh, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Associated General Contractors
  - Moderator Jeanna Fortney, CareerForce Division Director, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Panel C: Clean Equitable Energy Workforce
  - Oriane Casale, Assistant Director, Labor Market Information Office, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
  - Terri Thao, Program Director, Local Initiatives and Opportunities, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
  - Robert Blake, Executive Director, Native Sun Community Power Development
  - Moderator: Kevion Ellis, Program Manager, Grid Catalyst
2:45 - 3:00 p.m.

Break

3:00 - 3:45 p.m.

Break Out Sessions 2
- Panel A: Welcoming New Americans to Minnesota's Workforce
  - Abdiwahab Mohamed, Assistant Commissioner, Office of New Americans, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
  - Marissa Hill-Dongre, Immigration Law Specialist, Minnesota Department of Human Services
  - Violeta Hernández, Catalyst Coalition Administrator, Latino Economic Development Center
  - Moderator: Henry Jimễnez, President and CEO, Propel Nonprofits
- Panel B: AI and Workforce Development in Minnesota
  - Luke Greiner, Labor Market Information Office Regional Analyst, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
  - Bill McMahon, Project Manager, CareerOneStop
  - Mike Kutzke, Vice President of Student Success, Ridgewater College
  - Moderator: Mike Lang, Director of Workforce Development Strategy and Innovation, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Panel C: Connecting People with Disabilities to Employment
  - Amanda Jensen-Stahl, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
  - Kim Feller, Consultant, Lanterna Consulting
  - Ray McCoy, Program Coordinator, Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF), Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
  - Michael Kollar, Owner and Manager, Four Dunn Brothers Coffee Shops
  - Moderator: Chris McVey, Deputy Director, Disability Employment Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
3:45 - 4:00 p.m.

Break

4:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks: Next Steps to Moving Minnesota's Workforce Forward
- Preparing our Workforce for Federal Investments
  - Katie McClelland, Director, Governor's Workforce Development Board
  - Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Our Work Together Going Forward
  - Marc Majors, Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
4:30 p.m.

Conclude
Registration

Registration

Those registered for the Workforce Summit are also invited to attend a networking event the evening of September 11 in the Great Lakes Ballroom at the Holiday Inn from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Registered attendees may check in during this evening event and avoid morning check in. This reception with appetizers and refreshments is sponsored by ECMC Group.

Registration fee: $25

Register for the 2024 Minnesota Workforce Summit.
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