The Workforce Solutions Group (WSG) is excited to bring everyone together for the 14th Annual Massachusetts Jobs & Workforce Summit on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at the Devens Conference Center. The summit will feature opportunities for networking, engaging panels and breakout sessions and recognition of leading partners with topics of interest to employers, academia, training providers and practitioners, government partners, non-profits, and more.
This year’s theme, “Scaling System Solutions” will put a spotlight on solutions to improve access to quality training programs, source untapped talent to meet current and future hiring needs, expand pathways for youth employment, and improve the Commonwealth's workforce system. The Summit will also highlight cutting-edge education and training efforts that can play a critical role in building family sustaining wages and the Massachusetts economy.
WSG a statewide advocacy coalition that brings together business, labor, community, and workforce organizations to advance a clear and unified policy agenda for workforce development. WSG advocates for systems change and alignment among workforce, education, and economic development systems in Massachusetts, and serves as the leading advocate for skills training for lower income adults and youth across the Commonwealth. Our focus is to break down barriers to workforce development opportunities and to increase access to job training programs.
This year’s theme, “Scaling System Solutions” will put a spotlight on solutions to improve access to quality training programs, source untapped talent to meet current and future hiring needs, expand pathways for youth employment, and improve the Commonwealth's workforce system. The Summit will also highlight cutting-edge education and training efforts that can play a critical role in building family sustaining wages and the Massachusetts economy.
WSG a statewide advocacy coalition that brings together business, labor, community, and workforce organizations to advance a clear and unified policy agenda for workforce development. WSG advocates for systems change and alignment among workforce, education, and economic development systems in Massachusetts, and serves as the leading advocate for skills training for lower income adults and youth across the Commonwealth. Our focus is to break down barriers to workforce development opportunities and to increase access to job training programs.
Location
Devens Common Center
31 Andrews Pkwy Devens, MA 01434
31 Andrews Pkwy Devens, MA 01434
Date & Time
October 26, 2023
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Registration is now OPEN!
Agenda
9:00 AM
Breakfast, Networking and Registration
10:00 AM
Welcome
Tim Sullivan, Project Director, Workforce Solutions Group
10:05 AM
Opening Remarks
Lauren Jones, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development
10:15 AM
Healey Driscoll Administration Workforce Skills Cabinet: Early Priorities and Action
Lauren Jones, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development
Layla R. D'Emilia, Undersecretary of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Executive Office of Economic Development
Lisa Murray, President, Citizens Massachusetts
Robert LePage, Assistant Secretary for Career Education, Executive Office of Education
Layla R. D'Emilia, Undersecretary of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Executive Office of Economic Development
Lisa Murray, President, Citizens Massachusetts
Robert LePage, Assistant Secretary for Career Education, Executive Office of Education
11:15 AM
Youth Supports: How to Educate and Train the Next Generation of Workers
Alexander Ortiz, Student, Quinsigamond Community College
Ali AL-kinani, Participant, Partnership-After Dark Program | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Che Anderson, Assistant Vice Chancellor, UMass Chan Medical School
Pius Baidoo, Participant, Dynamic Future
Vikiana Petit- Homme, Co-Lead Organizer, I Have A Future
Ali AL-kinani, Participant, Partnership-After Dark Program | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Che Anderson, Assistant Vice Chancellor, UMass Chan Medical School
Pius Baidoo, Participant, Dynamic Future
Vikiana Petit- Homme, Co-Lead Organizer, I Have A Future
12:00 PM
Lunch
12:45 PM
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Future of Work
Liz Schwab, Head of External Affairs, Northeast & Mid-Atlantic, Google
Tom Hooper, Vice President of Sector Pathways, Commonwealth Corporation
Venky Venkatachalam, Dean College of Management, UMass Boston
William Shields, Founder & Principal, Synthminds.AI
Tom Hooper, Vice President of Sector Pathways, Commonwealth Corporation
Venky Venkatachalam, Dean College of Management, UMass Boston
William Shields, Founder & Principal, Synthminds.AI
1:30 PM
WSG Awards Ceremony with Special Guest Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll
2023 Employer of the Year Award: Berkshire Health Systems
2023 Rising Youth Award: Kimora Scott, Participant, YouthGROW | WCAC YouthWorks
2023 Kathie Mainzer Award: Mary Sarris, Executive Director, MassHire North Shore Workforce Board
2023 Rising Youth Award: Kimora Scott, Participant, YouthGROW | WCAC YouthWorks
2023 Kathie Mainzer Award: Mary Sarris, Executive Director, MassHire North Shore Workforce Board
2:00 PM
Making New Friends: Increasing Collaboration and Partnerships to Access to New Funding Opportunities
Dave Koffman, Senior Executive and Legislative Director, Mass Municipal Association
Jennifer Applebaum, Managing Director Workforce Development, MA Clean Energy Center
Josh Eichen, Program Manager, Partnerships, Massachusetts Broadband Institute
Patrick Mortiere, State Strategies Policy Analyst, National Skills Coalition
Trayce Whitfield, Executive Director, Coalition for an Equitable Economy | Springfield City Councilor
Jennifer Applebaum, Managing Director Workforce Development, MA Clean Energy Center
Josh Eichen, Program Manager, Partnerships, Massachusetts Broadband Institute
Patrick Mortiere, State Strategies Policy Analyst, National Skills Coalition
Trayce Whitfield, Executive Director, Coalition for an Equitable Economy | Springfield City Councilor
2:45 PM
Tapping into New Talent and Supporting Immigrant Workers in Massachusetts
Emmanuel Owusu, Executive Director, African Bridge Network
Dr. Geralde Gabeau, Founder and Executive Director, Immigrant Families Services Institute
Kira Khazatsky, Chief Executive Officer and President, JVS
Dr. Geralde Gabeau, Founder and Executive Director, Immigrant Families Services Institute
Kira Khazatsky, Chief Executive Officer and President, JVS
3:30 PM
Closing
Lauren E. Jones
Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development
Layla R. D'Emilia
Undersecretary of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
Executive Office of Economic Development
Lisa R. Murray
President
Citizens Massachusetts
Che Anderson
Assistant Vice Chancellor
UMass Chan Medical School
Dave Koffman
Senior Executive and Legislative Director
Massachusetts Municipal Association
Jennifer Applebaum
Managing Director Workforce Development
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Liz Schwab
Head of External Affairs, Northeast
& Mid-Atlantic
& Mid-Atlantic
Google
Tracye Whitfield
Executive Director | Springfield City Councilor
Coalition for an Equitable Economy
Patrick Mortiere
State Strategies Policy Analyst
National Skills Coalition
Joshua Eichen
Program Manager, Partnerships
Massachusetts Broadband Institute
Vikiana Petit- Homme
Co-Lead Organizer
I Have A Future
Ali AL-kinani
Partnership-After Dark Program | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Venky Venkatachalam
Dean
College of Management, UMass Boston
Kira Khazatsky
Chief Executive Officer and President
Jewish Vocational Services (JVS)
Tom Hooper
Vice President of Sector Pathways
Commonwealth Corporation
Emmanuel Owusu
Executive Director
African Bridge Network
Geralde Gabeau
Founder and Executive Director
Immigrant Families Services Institute
William Shields
Founder & Principal
Synthminds.AI
Pius Baidoo
participant
Dynamic Future
Robert LePage
Assistant Secretary for Career Education
Executive Office of Education
Each year the Workforce Solutions Group honors individuals and an organization who have contributed significantly to enhancing workforce development. The award winners will be recognized at the Summit during the luncheon program.
2023 Awards Winners
2023 Rising Workforce Leader
Kimora Scott
Kimora Scott was born and raised in Worcester Massachusetts and graduated with honors from Worcester North High School. Before graduating, she worked as a youth intern at the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC). During her internship, she created a transit-focused project. Kimora’s project resulted in her high school gaining an additional after school bus route making it easier for her peers to travel to and from school. In 2021, Kimora joined the Regional Environmental Council’s YouthGROW program as a core youth. In a few years, she advanced her position to a junior staff member and developed an interest in social justice and agriculture. Currently, Kimora attends Quinsigamond Community College where she is pursuing an associates degree in human services.
2023 Employer of the Year
Berkshire Health Sysytems
Berkshire Health Systems is the leading provider of comprehensive healthcare services for residents and visitors to Berkshire County. From inpatient surgery and cancer care to provider visits and imaging, Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) offers a continuum of programs and services that help patients to connect to the care they need, no matter where they are located in the rural Berkshire community.
Berkshire Health Systems is a leader in Berkshire County and the Commonwealth and is committed to supporting its existing workforce. BHS partnered with community-based organizations and the workforce system to create pathways for meaningful careers in your industry. From addressing food insecurity, working to reopen the North Adams Regional Hospital, and their partnership with MassHire, MCLA, and BCC to address your health care workforce challenges, Berkshire Health Systems has been an exemplary business leader whose priorities align with the Workforce Solutions Group’s mission.
Berkshire Health Systems is a leader in Berkshire County and the Commonwealth and is committed to supporting its existing workforce. BHS partnered with community-based organizations and the workforce system to create pathways for meaningful careers in your industry. From addressing food insecurity, working to reopen the North Adams Regional Hospital, and their partnership with MassHire, MCLA, and BCC to address your health care workforce challenges, Berkshire Health Systems has been an exemplary business leader whose priorities align with the Workforce Solutions Group’s mission.
2023 Kathie Mainzer Award
Mary Sarris
Mary Sarris is the Executive Director of the MassHire-North Shore Workforce Board (the WB). The WB, one of 16 across the state of Massachusetts, is charged with developing and supporting our workforce development system so that individuals and employers needing labor market services, (i.e., education, training, job placement, etc.) can access them quickly and successfully. Current projects of the North Shore WB include Mental Health, Manufacturing, and Off Shore Wind training.
Previous to this, Mary spent over 20 years in the workforce development and education reform arenas, managing various public and private initiatives including school-to-career, job training, professional and curriculum development projects, and public information campaigns. Before coming to the WB, she was the Executive Director of the Lynn Business/Education Foundation, a private, non-profit local education fund designed to be a vehicle for business involvement in the Lynn schools.
Currently Mary is on the Board of the North Shore Community College Foundation, the Bertolon School of Business at Salem State University, and the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development.
Previous to this, Mary spent over 20 years in the workforce development and education reform arenas, managing various public and private initiatives including school-to-career, job training, professional and curriculum development projects, and public information campaigns. Before coming to the WB, she was the Executive Director of the Lynn Business/Education Foundation, a private, non-profit local education fund designed to be a vehicle for business involvement in the Lynn schools.
Currently Mary is on the Board of the North Shore Community College Foundation, the Bertolon School of Business at Salem State University, and the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development.
13th Annual MA Jobs and Workforce Summit
Summit Recap
On Tuesday, October 25th we hosted our 13th Annual Massachusetts Jobs and Workforce Summit, returning to an in-person conference for the first time since 2019. Nearly 250 attendees attended from business, labor, workforce development providers and administrations, community organizations and other non-profits invested in the workforce development system.
The program opened up with a discussion between Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta and Jill Ashton, Northeast Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau. They provided insights into the current trends in the MA and national labor markets, with a particular focus on the realities facing women and people of color in today’s economy.
The conference also included panels on the economic impacts of accessible affordable child care and early education on job seekers and employers, scaling effective programs to build future talent, and connecting with untapped talent to overcome post-pandemic recruitment challenges.
The program's closing keynote, former Mayor of Boston and now President and CEO of EMPath, Kim Janey, focused on creating equity in workforce development. In small groups attendees worked together to develop policy ideas that help address inequities in job training and the economy.
The conference was highlighted by an awards ceremony celebrating the contributions of the Employer of the Year, the Rising Workforce Leader, a Lifetime Achievement Award for a longtime legislative champion, and an inaugural award named after and presented to the long-time former Executive Director of the Workforce Solutions Group.
WSG Workforce awardees:
2022 Employer of the Year Award - Citizens
2022 Rising Workforce Leader Award - Amelia Diaz, I Have A Future MA
2022 Lifetime Achievement Award - State Representative Joseph F. Wagner
2022 Kathie Mainzer Award - Kathie Mainzer
The program opened up with a discussion between Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta and Jill Ashton, Northeast Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau. They provided insights into the current trends in the MA and national labor markets, with a particular focus on the realities facing women and people of color in today’s economy.
The conference also included panels on the economic impacts of accessible affordable child care and early education on job seekers and employers, scaling effective programs to build future talent, and connecting with untapped talent to overcome post-pandemic recruitment challenges.
The program's closing keynote, former Mayor of Boston and now President and CEO of EMPath, Kim Janey, focused on creating equity in workforce development. In small groups attendees worked together to develop policy ideas that help address inequities in job training and the economy.
The conference was highlighted by an awards ceremony celebrating the contributions of the Employer of the Year, the Rising Workforce Leader, a Lifetime Achievement Award for a longtime legislative champion, and an inaugural award named after and presented to the long-time former Executive Director of the Workforce Solutions Group.
WSG Workforce awardees:
2022 Employer of the Year Award - Citizens
2022 Rising Workforce Leader Award - Amelia Diaz, I Have A Future MA
2022 Lifetime Achievement Award - State Representative Joseph F. Wagner
2022 Kathie Mainzer Award - Kathie Mainzer
The 2022 award recipients. From left to right: State Representative Joseph Wagner, Amelia Diaz, Kathie Mainzer and Lisa Murray.
The 2022 Summit sponsors organized by their level of sponsorship.
Check out more of our past Summits here!
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The Workforce Solutions Group (WSG) is a statewide advocacy coalition that advocates for systems change and alignment among workforce, education, and economic development systems in Massachusetts.