The Northern Colorado Workforce Symposium
September 9, 2026 | 8:00 am - 3:30 pm | Aims Community College Welcome Center
The Workforce Symposium is presented each year through a partnership between Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development and Employment Services of Weld County. It promises insightful discussions around the ever-changing talent landscape, networking opportunities, and tactical tools to help with hiring, training, culture creation, and retaining your workforce.
HR and management professionals, entrepreneurs, and those supporting talent pipeline development are invited to gain valuable knowledge, tactical tools, and make meaningful connections.
Call for Presentation Proposals
We invite workforce professionals, employers, educators, economic development leaders, HR professionals, and community partners to submit presentation proposals for the 2026 Northern Colorado Workforce Symposium.
The Symposium is designed to explore innovative workforce strategies, share real-world solutions, and engage in interactive learning experiences that strengthen our regional workforce ecosystem.
For 2026, we are especially seeking highly interactive sessions, workshops, employer case studies, and practical “build-it”-style experiences that provide attendees with actionable tools they can implement immediately in their organizations.
2026 Symposium Focus Areas & Session Topics
Skills-Based Hiring & Talent Pipeline Redesign
As employers move away from degree requirements, organizations are looking for practical ways to implement skills-first hiring practices.
Suggested Topics & Workshop Ideas:
- Rewriting traditional job descriptions into skills-based postings
- Building skills matrices for hard-to-fill positions
- Candidate screening strategies focusing on competencies over credentials
- Employer case studies highlighting implementation successes
Retention in a High-Cost Region
Northern Colorado employers continue to face retention challenges tied to housing costs, transportation, childcare, and workforce mobility.
Suggested Topics & Workshop Ideas:
- Building retention strategy toolkits
- Compensation, culture, flexibility, and career pathway strategies
- Peer-led discussions on successful retention practices
- Identifying turnover drivers and building action plans
Supervisor & Frontline Leadership Development
Strong leadership remains one of the most critical drivers of employee retention and engagement.
Suggested Topics & Workshop Ideas:
- Conducting difficult conversations and delivering feedback
- Coaching and mentorship strategies for frontline leaders
- Building 30-60-90 onboarding plans for supervisors
High-Impact Session Formats Encouraged
To create a more engaging and action-oriented experience, we strongly encourage proposals that incorporate interactive formats:
“Build-It” Sessions
Hands-on workshops where participants leave with completed tools or strategies (e.g., job descriptions, retention plans, or engagement action playbooks).
Employer Problem Labs
Collaborative sessions where employers bring real workforce challenges and work in small groups with experts to identify practical solutions.
Ready to Submit Your Proposal?
Please click below to fill out our online proposal application.
