Symposium Agenda

The 2026 Workforce Symposium
Logo for the Northern Colorado Workforce Symposium

The Workforce Symposium is presented each year through a partnership between Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development and Weld County Workforce Center. It promises insightful discussions on the ever-changing talent landscape, networking opportunities, and tactical tools to help with hiring, training, culture-building, and retaining your workforce.

 

 

Workforce Symposium Agenda

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

7:30 – 8:00 am
Registration, Breakfast & Exhibits
8:00 – 9:00 am

Welcome & Opening Session - State of the Workforce in Northern Colorado

  • State of the Workforce and Employment Landscape in NoCO - Adam Crowe
  • Workforce Center Services - Jess Dyrdahl and Andrew Chadwick
  • Aims - New Center Opening and Sponsor Remarks
9:15 – 10:15 am

Breakout Session #1 (4 concurrent sessions)

  • BREAK OUT 1: Beyond AI Literacy: How to Identify Real AI Capability in Hiring - Hope Hartman
  • BREAK OUT 2: Connecting Across Cultures - Samantha Borrego
  • BREAK OUT 3: From Interest to Action: Your Roadmap to Registered Apprenticeship -  Nancy Murray, Marcus Weathersby, Carter Hill, Julia Nelson, and Ruth Prosko
  • BREAK OUT 4: The Human Side of Change: Leading People Through Uncertainty - Elizabeth Mahoney and Betzy Valdez
10:15 – 10:45 am
Networking & Exhibits
10:45 – 11:45 am

Breakout Session #2 (4 concurrent sessions)

  • BREAK OUT 1: The Pocket: Why the Best Teams Sound Like a Great Band - Stu Crair 
  • BREAK OUT 2: De-escalation: Dealing with Difficult Customers - Chad Olms
  • BREAK OUT 3: Neurodiversity 101: Building More Neuroinclusive Workplaces - Leslie Espinoza
  • BREAK OUT 4: Creating a Culture of Feedback that Works - Diana Hutchinson
11:45 am – 12:30 pm
Lunch, Sponsor Remarks & Exhibits
12:35 – 1:20 pm
Keynote Session - Edgar Papke
1:30 – 2:30 pm

Breakout Session #3 (4 concurrent sessions)

  • BREAK OUT 1: The Coach Approach to Leadership (aka what Ted Lasso can teach you about keeping your best people) - Nick Armstrong
  • BREAK OUT 2: From Doing It All to Developing Leaders: How Empowerment Builds Stronger Leaders and Teams - Jessica Dizmang
  • BREAK OUT 3: From Talent Shortages to Talent Solutions: A Skills-Based Hiring Problem Lab - Dominique Bravo and Rebecca Turner
  • BREAK OUT 4: From Avoidance to Action: Building Your Conflict Conversation Toolkit - Stephanie Cuevas
2:40 – 2:45 pm
Sponsor Remarks
2:45 – 3:30 pm
Closing Panel - Moderated by Janine Ledingham
3:30 – 4:30 pm
Happy Hour & Networking (Mocktails)
Expand All Collapse All

Q: Where is accessible parking located?

A: Designated accessible parking spots are located in Lot AA, directly adjacent to the Welcome Center for short and easy access to the main entrance. (See parking map for exact entry points).

 

Q: Is the Welcome Center fully wheelchair accessible?

A: Yes. All exterior entrances to the Welcome Center feature automatic/power-assisted wheelchair-accessible doors, and elevators provide full access to every floor of the building.

 

Q: Are the restrooms accessible?

A: Yes, all public restrooms throughout the Welcome Center are fully wheelchair accessible. Single-occupancy/family restrooms are also available on-site.

 

Q: Is there a lactation room available during the event?

A: Yes, a private lactation room is located on the second floor on the south side of the building, near the break room.

 

Q: Who can I contact on event day if I need physical assistance or accommodations?

A: Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations with seven business days’ notice by emailing  cdegrave@larimer.org. Accommodation requests will be honored when possible but may be unavailable if advance notice is not provided.