The Kentucky Chamber hosted the 10th annual Workforce Summit, presented by the Kentucky Career Center, on March 18-19 in Lexington. The summit brought together business leaders, policymakers, and education and workforce experts to discuss innovative strategies for growing and strengthening Kentucky’s labor force.
Public-Private Collaboration for Workforce Growth
Kentucky Chamber Foundation Workforce Center Executive Director LaKisha Miller and Alisher Burikhanov, the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board executive director, highlighted the importance of employer-led workforce solutions. The discussion focused on the Statewide Workforce and Talent Team (SWATT) and efforts to simplify Kentucky’s workforce system while enhancing public-private collaboration.
Burikhanov reinforced Kentucky’s leadership in supporting formerly incarcerated individuals in reentering the workforce as a solution for growth and public-private partnerships.
“Workforce development isn’t about a single organization, sector, or initiative—it thrives on true collaboration, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to building a stronger Kentucky, “Miller emphasized.
Expanding Opportunities for Underserved Populations
Showcasing the success of the Another Way program, Sharon Allgeier, senior manager of homeless initiatives for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, and Pharra Burleson, career coach for Goodwill, shared that more than 5,500 individuals have been connected to resources, employment opportunities, and permanent housing since 2021.
“These programs are not just about getting a job,” Burleson said. “It’s about giving people the skills and support to succeed, heal, and move forward with confidence and dignity.”
Additionally, Kerry Harvey, special advisor to the Governor on reentry programs, discussed the newly formed Governor’s Council of Second Chance Employers, which aims to reduce recidivism and expand workforce opportunities for returning citizens.
Adapting to an Evolving Workforce
During the luncheon keynote, Danny Nelms, CEO of the Work Institute, provided insights into changing workforce dynamics and employee retention challenges. He underscored that employers must rethink traditional talent management approaches to adapt to a workforce shaped by remote work, shifting employee expectations, and economic uncertainty.
Shirley Kron, director of outreach and engagement for RETAIN Kentucky, Dr. Dennis McClain, Medical Director of Norton Occupational Medicine, Dr. Ashley Montgomery-Yates, senior vice chair for the department of internal medicine and director of the UK ICU Recovery Clinic for UK HealthCare, and Jessica Sass, executive director of Population Health and UK HealthCare Family and Community Medicine nurse practitioner, examined work as a social determinant of health.
Panelists stressed the role of employment in influencing health outcomes and discussed ways to create inclusive workplaces that support workers with disabilities and chronic health conditions.
Kellie Burke, diverse strategy advancement talent lead at Humana, focused on trauma-informed leadership, in which empathy-driven leadership practices can improve workplace engagement, efficiency, and resilience.
In their respective presentations, Vitale Buford Hardin, president and CEO of Vitale & Company, and Kelley Bright, partner and Kentucky and Tennessee office leader at Mercer, and Kaylan Caufield, compensation analyst for Mercer, outlined employee engagement and culture building.
Preparing Workers for High-Demand Industries
Michelle DeJohn, Deputy Commissioner of the Kentucky Career Center, Department of Workforce Development, and Chriss Cazayoux of eDynamic Learning introduced the Ready for Industry training tool. This virtual career preparation platform provides industry insights and credentials for manufacturing, health care, IT, transportation, logistics, architecture, and construction sectors.
Designed to supplement traditional education, the tool equips workers with the skills necessary to secure jobs, enhance their abilities, and advance in their careers. DeJohn and Cazayoux emphasized that a well-prepared workforce is essential to economic growth, and initiatives like Ready for Industry ensure Kentucky businesses have access to skilled talent.
Strengthening School-Business Partnerships
Bridging the gap between education and workforce readiness was a key focus during the Workforce Summit. Data from the Kentucky 2024 Meaningful Diploma Employer Survey revealed that while 84 percent of employers believe school partnerships are essential for workforce development, only 20 percent report frequent collaboration with schools.
In response, Todd Baldwin, vice president and director of the Center for Best Practice and Innovation at the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, Delaney Stephens, director of policy for Meaningful Diplomas at the Prichard Committee, Fleming County Schools Superintendent Brian Creasman, Micheal Hesketh, vice president and co-owner of Superb IPC, JP Kelly, president and CEO of Triangle Enterprises, and Michelle Rozanski, executive vice president of operations for the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, shared successful models for connecting high school students with career opportunities.
The panel accentuated the need for expanded work-based learning programs, employer engagement in schools, and the development of durable skills to better prepare students for the workforce. Speaking on how students are a curious, captive audience for employers, Rozanski said employers need to be engaged to remain relevant to students.
Employer-Led Workforce Development
Charlie Mercer, senior institutional advisor with the Truist Foundation, Amanda Wooldridge, career development assistant manager with Commonwealth Credit Union, and Charles Aull, executive director of the Kentucky Chamber Center for Policy and Research, spoke with Kentucky Chamber Foundation Rising Leaders interns Kimbo Mafuta and Shanice White on the importance of mentorship and leadership training for young professionals.
Mafuta and White shared their experiences as first-generation college students and how the Rising Leaders program helped them focus on a career path.
“It helped me to learn how to be out there, communicate, collaborate with a team or new people I’ve never met before, and kind of step out of my comfort zone,” Mafuta said.
A panel of Best Places to Work in Kentucky award-winning employers detailed successful employee engagement, recruitment, and retention strategies. Michelle Evans, group manager of HR for Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Chase Adams, director of organizational effectiveness and HR leader for US Hunter Jumper Association, Marty Keith, market vice president of human resources operations for CommonSpirit Health, Kimberly J. O’Donnell, managing partner of the Lexington office for Dentons, and Candra Bryant, COO of Hanna Resource Group, emphasized the value of data-driven hiring, reskilling programs, and community-based workforce initiatives in attracting top talent.
“I think one of the fun things I see in Best Places to Work in Kentucky companies is once you get those critical HR elements right, it builds your employment brand within the workforce,” O’Donnell said.
The event also featured panels on growing specific workforce sectors, particularly in the health care and education fields, recovery-focused workforce training, and using apprenticeships to attract talent. As Kentucky’s workforce landscape evolves, collaboration between businesses, educators, and policymakers remains essential to addressing workforce challenges.
Stay tuned to The Bottom Line for more on workforce development and Kentucky Chamber events.