the conversation

just got more valuable!

Approved for 3.00 SHRM PDCs • 3.0 HRCI Recertification Credit Hours

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

🕚 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

📍 Blue Ridge Community College
Plecker Workforce Center

🍽 Lunch Included

🎓 SHRM & HRCI Credits

Building Tomorrow’s Workforce Starts Today

A workforce is more than headcount or open positions. It is the knowledge, applied experience, skills, capabilities, and commitment an organization relies upon to achieve its goals.

Building tomorrow’s workforce requires more than filling today’s vacancies. It involves anticipating the capabilities an organization will require and considering how people, technology, and available resources might be aligned to meet changing organizational and market demands.

Bringing those elements together intentionally is workforce strategy.

The Shenandoah Valley Workforce Strategy Summit brings employers, workforce leaders, educators, and regional partners together to continue that conversation—and explore the resources, relationships, and collaboration that can help organizations build tomorrow’s workforce.

Why Invest Three Hours?

UNDERSTAND
Today’s workforce challenges, the regional workforce ecosystem, and available resources.

CONNECT
With workforce leaders, educators, employers, and regional partners to exchange perspectives, build relationships, and identify where connections beyond the boundaries of one’s own organization may create added value.

TAKE AWAY
Practical ideas, useful resources, new connections, and perspectives you can apply within your organization.

Your Summit Experience

10:00–11:00 AM | ARRIVE & ENGAGE
Registration • Networking • Pre-Event Workforce Survey • Light Refreshments

Arrive when your schedule permits during the opening hour. Meet fellow participants, connect with regional workforce partners, and contribute your perspective through the pre-event workforce survey.

11:00 AM–2:00 PM | WORKFORCE STRATEGY SUMMIT (Lunch included, providing additional opportunity for conversation, connection, and the exchange of ideas.)

Our Workforce Ecosystem — The Shenandoah Valley and the Commonwealth

Explore how regional and Commonwealth workforce organizations work together—and how employers can connect with workforce resources, information, expertise, and support.

From Workforce Resources to Employer Application

Discover resources available to employers and explore through interactive discussion how intentional workforce ecosystem collaboration may support recruiting, onboarding, training, career development, retention, and other organizational workforce priorities.

Artificial Intelligence and Virginia’s Workforce

Explore Commonwealth research and perspectives on artificial intelligence and its implications for Virginia’s workforce, followed by local employer and educator perspectives on AI adoption, opportunity, and risk.

Building Talent Through Apprenticeships

Learn about the Virginia Apprenticeship Intermediary Network, registered apprenticeship programs, and related resources available to Shenandoah Valley employers as another approach to developing sustainable talent pipelines.

A working lunch provides additional opportunity for conversation, connection, and the exchange of ideas.

2:00–3:30 PM | CONNECT & COLLABORATE RECEPTION

Stay as your schedule permits. Continue conversations begun during the Summit, meet speakers and regional partners, explore available resources, and make connections that may extend beyond the event.

MEET THE SUMMIT SPEAKERS

Regional and Commonwealth workforce leaders guiding the conversation.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to: