Kentucky Workforce Summit - Agenda

8:00 a.m. 
Registration and Continental Breakfast with Sponsors and Exhibitors

8:30 a.m.     
Welcome
LaKisha Miller, Executive Director, Workforce Center, Kentucky Chamber Foundation 
    
8:35 a.m.
The State Opportunity Index: Strengthening the Link Between Education and Opportunity in Kentucky
Stephen Moret, President, Strada 

The inaugural State Opportunity Index is a groundbreaking new resource to help states strengthen the path from education to opportunity. It profiles each of the 50 states on five key dimensions for improving employment outcomes for individuals, regions, and employers: Clear Outcomes, Quality Coaching, Affordability, Work-Based Learning, and Employer Alignment. Kentucky is among the leading states in some of these areas and developing in others. The State Opportunity Index provides a framework that policymakers, education leaders, and the business community can use as a roadmap for strengthening pathways to opportunity for individuals and workforce competitiveness for employers. Strada President Stephen Moret will share new findings for Kentucky and the nation, offer recommendations for further progress in Kentucky, and respond to audience questions.

9:30 a.m.
Introduction by Presenting Sponsor
Marty Hammons, Executive Director, Office of Employer and Apprenticeship Services

The State of Kentucky’s Workforce
Beth Brinly, Deputy Secretary, Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet 
Jamie Link, Secretary, Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet 
Moderator: LaKisha Miller, Executive Director, Workforce Center, Kentucky Chamber Foundation

What is the state of Kentucky’s workforce? Are there enough people to fill all the job openings? With a record number of businesses expanding and locating in Kentucky in the past three years, how will these new positions be filled? Attend this session and learn what the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet is doing to meet the current and future workforce needs of Kentucky, as well as what the business community is doing to help in these workforce efforts.

10:30 a.m.     
Redesigned Jobs, Resilient Workers: A Kentucky Employer Collaboration 
Ann Herd, Associate Professor, University of Louisville 
Aleece Smith, Director of Inclusion and Sector Strategies, Kentuckiana Works 
Trasee Whitaker, Chief Human Resources Officer, Masonic Homes Kentucky 

The critical role of job design and job redesign in helping both individuals and organizations achieve their goals is increasingly being recognized by workforce experts and practitioners. Particularly for frontline workers, job design and job redesign efforts may address a variety of challenges that impact outcomes that are vitally important for both employers and employees. KentuckianaWorks formed a collaborative effort with regional employers to participate in the Redesigned Jobs Resilient Workers (RJRW) grant initiative designed by The National Fund for Workforce Solutions and the Workforce & Organizational Research Center (WORC). The RJRW initiative was designed to assist employers in finding ways to thoughtfully apply and incorporate job design principles to the jobs held by their frontline workers. The goals of the RJRW initiative included increasing worker access to economy-boosting and higher-quality frontline jobs and increasing job outcomes such as employee retention and engagement, about which employers are most concerned. In this presentation, an employer partner in the KentuckianaWorks' RJRW initiative shares their focal job redesign efforts, key learnings, and recommendations for incorporating job design and redesign principles to bring about desired workforce outcomes.

11:30 a.m.     
Strategic Talent Pipeline Building: Navigating Today's Diverse Workforce Landscape
Candra Bryant, Chief Operating Officer, Hanna Resource Group 

I'll dive into the intricacies of building robust talent pipelines tailored to employers of all sizes and industries. From leveraging cutting-edge recruitment technologies to developing agile strategies in response to industry shifts, I'll share insights gained through spearheading initiatives on a national and global scale. Discover the keys to successful talent acquisition, including the implementation of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), recruitment marketing, and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. I'll unveil practical approaches to navigate market and industry challenges, and ensure your organization remains agile in the face of change.

12:00 p.m. 
KAIROS/RECON Champions of Recovery Awards Luncheon 
sponsored by Addiction Recovery Care (ARC)

12:38 p.m.
Introductions
Ryan Bowman, Workforce Development Manager, Kentucky Chamber Foundation

Keynote: Innovating Workforce Strategies: The Business Case for Second Chance Hiring
Anne Loehr, SVP, Center for Human Capital Innovation

Presentation of Kentucky Association of Independent Recovery Organizations (KAIROS) Legislative Champions Awards
Tim Robinson, Founder/CEO, Addiction Recovery Care (ARC)
Recipients: 
Representative Kimberly Poore Moser
Representative Samara Heavrin 
Senator Phillip Wheeler 

Presentation of Recovery Consortium of Kentucky (RECON KY) Kentucky Recovery Hall of Fame Awards
Ryan Bowman, Workforce Development Manager, Kentucky Chamber Foundation
Tim Robinson, Founder/CEO, Addiction Recovery Care (ARC) 
Recipients: 
Hal Rogers Hall of Fame Award – Nancy Hale, Former President/CEO, Operation UNITE
Jay Davidson Award for Person in Recovery – Burns Brady, MD posthumous (award accepted by his wife Kasey Brady)
Second Chance Employer of the Year – Logan Aluminum (award accepted by Teresa White, Employee Relations and Teresa Hayes, Human Resource Manager)

2:00 p.m.         
Labor Force Participation: Trends and Opportunities for the Commonwealth
Samuel Keathley, Senior Workforce Analyst, Kentucky Center for Statistics

In Kentucky, and across the country, fewer individuals belong to the labor force in rural areas than urban areas. More specifically, in Kentucky low overall labor force participation is largely driven by its 54 Appalachian counties, which collectively exhibit a median participation rate nearly ten percentage points below that of the state. In fact, 16 Appalachian Kentucky counties exhibit lower participation rates than the lowest rate of a non-Appalachian County. I will review the Kentucky Center for Statistics analysis that explores this trend and examine the decline of coal mining employment which has particularly impacted Appalachian Kentucky.

2:30 p.m.     
Youth Registered Apprenticeship: Three Employers' Perspectives 
Laura Arnold, Director Workforce Development, Nelson County Schools
Kenneth Hammons, Assistant Director, The Department of Workplace Standards, Division of Wages and Hours, Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet 
Hope Harp, Outreach Specialist, Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters 
Heather Stevenson, Workforce Development Coordinator, Kentucky Rural Water Association 
Mary Taylor, Industry Training and Development Specialist, Office of Career and Technical Education, Kentucky Department of Education

For today's workforce to grow and remain competitive, employee training and development programs must attract and retain talented workers. The U.S. Department of Labor awards a national certificate to Registered Apprenticeship, which is the highest level of talent recruitment, training, and retention. We’ll feature youth registered apprenticeship expert Mary Taylor, child labor law expert Duane Hammons, and Heather Stevenson from Kentucky Rural Water, who oversees the registered apprenticeship program and other efforts to help utilities employ, educate, and retain staff. Hope Harp, Outreach Specialist, who is dedicated to providing excellent services for the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters, and Laura Arnold, director of workforce development for Nelson County Schools, where she is instrumental in creating a model for collaborative education experiences with local businesses and community partners, will share youth registered apprenticeship facts and how they lead a successful youth registered apprenticeship program. Discover for yourself what Youth Registered Apprenticeship is about.

4:00 p.m.
Day One Adjourns
LaKisha Miller, Executive Director, Workforce Center, Kentucky Chamber Foundation

8:00 a.m. 
Registration and Continental Breakfast with Sponsors and Exhibitors

8:30 a.m.     
Welcome
LaKisha Miller, Executive Director, Workforce Center, Kentucky Chamber Foundation

8:30 a.m.     
Cracking the Code of Employee Satisfaction: Key Insights and Strategies 
Kelley Bright, Office Leader, Mercer 
Kaylan Caufield, Compensation Analyst, Mercer

Do you ever wonder what your employees are thinking? Well worry no more because we asked them! We’ll be digging into insights from Mercer's Inside Employees' Minds© research. We’ll discuss a wide range of topics, including attraction and retention, financial health, pay transparency, flexibility and well-being, technology, and more.

9:15 a.m.     
Removing Barriers to Employment Within Kentucky's Workforce
Scott Koloms, Founder & CEO, Canopy

Is your business struggling to find talent? Is your turnover rate unsustainable? Join Scott Koloms, Canopy founder and FMS CEO, to hear his story as a business owner on a journey to solve these business problems while improving the quality of life for his employees. Learn how a compassionate approach to leadership and problem solving can lead to better turnover rates, higher quality of work, greater employee culture, and ultimately greater profit. Scott will walk you through the ways that business owners can solve their companies’ larger barriers to success by listening to what applicants and employees need. Scott's innovative programming at FMS includes opportunities for employees to work their way into home ownership, car ownership and access to nutritional food. Join him to learn how to create opportunities like these and more in your own business!

10:15 a.m. 
Enhancing Workforce Strategies: Insights from Kentucky's Business Leaders 
Gary Blinth, Director of Talent Acquisition, Humana 
Kim Halbauer, Kentucky Regional President, Fifth Third Bank 
Kristen Kaelin-Campbell, SHRM-CP, Director, Talent & Culture, HJI Supply Chain Solutions
Moderator: Beth Davisson, Senior Vice President, Kentucky Chamber Foundation

Workforce remains a paramount concern for Kentucky Chamber members. With the evolving landscape, employers are consistently adapting their workforce strategies to attract and retain talent. Join us for an insightful session where key business leaders will share their experiences navigating workforce challenges and exemplifying essential leadership qualities. Throughout our discussion, we'll delve into the requirements of the private sector and explore how these leaders are innovatively addressing talent attraction and development through employer-driven initiatives.

11:00 a.m. 
The Business Case for Community-Based Grassroots Partnerships
Gina Stough, VP Human Resources, CVG Airport Authority

Highlighting a community partnership between CVG Airport Authority and Kentucky Refugee Ministries, I will review how community outreach can successfully result in filling critical workforce needs and allow employers to tap into new talent.

12:00 p.m.
Lunch 
sponsored by RETAIN Kentucky

Introductions
LaKisha Miller, Executive Director, Workforce Center, Kentucky Chamber Foundation

Keynote: Let’s Stay at Work, Kentucky!
Cora McNabb, Executive Director, Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation 
Mykal Leslie, PhD, LPC, CRC, Director of Evaluation and Data, Human Development Institute, University of Kentucky

Kentucky is committed to a high-quality workforce equipped with the education and skills needed to compete in a global economy. This is further evidenced by Kentucky’s policy that competitive integrated employment shall be considered the first and primary option for people with disabilities. We will share important lessons learned from the U.S. Department of Labor funded research study, RETAIN Kentucky, that help Kentuckians stay at work after an injury or illness. Communities and employers representing different areas of the state will receive information that will help them engage, develop, and retain employees that can contribute to a diverse workforce across all employment sectors.

1:30 p.m. 
Unlocking the Potential: Strategies for Attracting, Hiring, and Retaining Military Talent and Spouses
Kellie Burke, Diverse Strategy Advancement Talent Lead, Humana 
Tiffany Purrington, Senior Program Manager, Amazon
Gina Stough, Vice President of Human Resources, CVG Airport Authority 
Tim Vibbert, Executive Director of Plant Management, GE Appliances 
Moderator: Callie Miracle, Workforce Development Manager, Kentucky Chamber Foundation 

Cultivating a workforce enriched with military talent requires more than just recruitment—it demands a comprehensive approach encompassing finding, hiring, and, crucially, retaining these valuable individuals. Join us for an enlightening panel session where you'll gain invaluable insights from forward-thinking Kentucky employers who are pioneers in this domain. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the experiences and strategies of these trailblazing Kentucky employers as they share their insights, challenges, and successes in leveraging military talent to drive organizational excellence and innovation. Gain practical takeaways and actionable steps to enhance your own recruitment and retention efforts and empower your organization to thrive in today's competitive landscape.

2:15 p.m.     
Equitable Inclusion: Embracing Blindness in the Workplace
Montreece Payton-Hardy, Director of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, American Printing House for the Blind
Bruce Sexton, Director of Access and Belonging, American Printing House for the Blind
Moderator: Erin Sigmund, Community Relations and Policy Advisor, American Printing House for the Blind
Moderator: Greg Gibbons, Business Development Manager at American Printing House for the Blind

This session aims to challenge traditional hiring norms by advocating for the inclusion of blind individuals in the workforce. Through an exploration of misconceptions and the promotion of inclusive practices, participants will gain insights into the value blind individuals bring to organizations. Practical strategies for accommodating blindness in various job roles will be discussed, fostering a more diverse and equitable workplace culture.

2:45 p.m. 
Creating and Maintaining Infrastructure for Job Quality Recognition
Aleece Smith, Director of Inclusion and Sector Strategies, KentuckianaWorks 
Correy Eimer, Director, Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board

We will highlight burgeoning examples of recognition for high-quality jobs from the public workforce system. Local workforce development boards play a key role in driving employment practices, and this session gives an overview of how some are outlining a value proposition for job-quality programs. You will learn how staff to these boards are focusing on building the notoriety of select employers within their community and real-life impact to business. At the beginning of this session, we will provide a brief primer on the rationale behind job quality work.

3:30 p.m. 
9th Annual Kentucky Workforce Summit Adjourns