News Releases

Who:   

Zoë Baird, CEO & President, Markle Foundation - Opening Keynote
Tamara Christensen, Founder, Idea Farm
Mindy Grossman, CEO, HSN, Inc., Chairman, National Retail Federation
Ellie Bertani, Director, HR Strategy & Learning, Walmart US
Gretchen Stroud, VP Global Talent & Learning, Hilton Worldwide
Ellen Torbert, VP Diversity & Inclusion, Southwest Airlines
Mark Wagner, VP of Learning, The Hartford
Ron Painter, CEO, National Association of Workforce Boards
Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Chairman & CEO, McKeon Group LLC
George Miller III, Senior Education Advisor, Cengage Learning

Where:  

Washington Hilton
1919 Connecticut Ave., NW 
Washington, District of Columbia - USA 20009

When:  

March 25, 2017 – Pre-conference Sessions 
March 26 – March 28, 2017 – Forum General Sessions, Plenary Panels and Keynote Speakers

Why:   

The U.S. continues to experience a mismatch between industry skills needs and  workers' skills. There are 5.5 million U.S. job vacancies, but at the same time, 7.6 million Americans are unemployed, and an additional 5.8 million individuals are considered underemployed in part time work. Additionally, young people aged 18 to 24 continue to struggle with unemployment rates more than double that of the overall population, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  These challenges demonstrate why business and industry need labor market information and workers need job training to ensure they have the skills needed for open positions. The Forum 2017, presented by the National Association of Workforce Boards, is a national conversation between the public and private sector to define key challenges and shape opportunities that drive the growth of their organizations, their regions, and our collective economic and community health. More than 1450 private sector business representatives and public sector employees from education, economic development, workforce development, and local government are expected to attend.

Photo Opp:  

Corporate keynoters and NAWB Board members. Members of the media should check-in at
registration for a no-fee pass.