Tuesday, May 13th
7:30-9 AM Registration and networking.
Location – The Meridian Room
9-9:30 AM Welcome and event overview.
Location – The Meridian Room
9:30-10:30 AM Demystifying AI: a Look at Past, Present and Future – KEYNOTE
Explore the evolution of AI—from its origins to today’s groundbreaking advancements in generative AI—and discover its transformative impact on business, education, and workforce development. This engaging, non-technical session will unpack key trends, real-world applications, and future opportunities, equipping attendees with the knowledge to harness AI for innovation and success in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Joshua Jones, CEO, QuantHub.
Location – The Meridian Room
10:30-11 AM Break
11-12 PM Scaling Professional Development with Conversational AI.
Discover how conversational AI is transforming career coaching and professional development at scale. This session will showcase Theo, an AI career coach that personalizes guidance, enhances human coaching, and helps individuals refine their skills through instant feedback and interactive conversations. Join us for live demos and real-world insights into how AI is shaping the future of career services and workforce development.
Sumanta Chakraborty, Founder & CEO, nSpire AI
(other speakers TBA).
Location – The Meridian Room
12-1:30 PM Lunch.
Location – The Meridian Room
1:30-2:15 PM Unifying the Talent Ecosystem with AI – A Futuristic Look for Students, Employers & Educators.
AI is transforming the talent ecosystem by bridging gaps between students, employers, and educators to create a more connected, efficient, and personalized career development experience. This session explores how AI-powered career coaching, smart recruiting solutions, and personalized learning tools are revolutionizing education, employment, and lifelong upskilling. Join industry experts to discover the future of AI-driven talent development and workforce readiness.
Sumanta Chakraborty, Founder & CEO, nSpire AI
(other speakers TBA).
Location – The Meridian Room
1:30-2:15 PM Understanding the Workforce Development Ecosystem.
Workforce development is evolving rapidly, requiring stronger collaboration between educators, employers, and policymakers to bridge skills gaps and drive economic growth. This panel will explore key trends, stakeholder roles, and innovative models shaping the future of workforce development, equipping attendees with strategies to enhance talent pipelines, improve accessibility, and future-proof career pathways.
Bramley Crisco, Director of Talent Development, Action Greensboro
Sara Tracey, VP of Workforce and Education, TPMA
Toni Cunningham, President and CEO, Godman Guild.
Location – TBA
1:30-2:15 PM Skills-Based Hiring and the Evolution of Credentials.
As skills-based hiring gains momentum, how are employers, educators, and workforce leaders adapting to a shifting talent landscape? This panel will explore the rise of alternative credentials, employer-education collaboration, and the challenges and opportunities in moving toward a skills-first economy. Join experts to discuss the future of hiring, learning, and credentialing in an evolving workforce
Ben Williams, PhD, Director, Solutions Design & Discovery, Jobs for the Future
Bradley Ransom, Associate Director of Employer Relations, The Washington Center
Location – TBA
2:15-3 PM All Things Experiential Learning (internships, co-ops, work-based learning for youth).
Experiential learning is a game-changer in career readiness and workforce development—but how can we ensure it is accessible, scalable, and future-proof? This session brings together experts from education, workforce development, and corporate talent management to explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in internships, co-ops, and work-based learning. Join us for a dynamic discussion on building stronger partnerships, overcoming barriers, and shaping the future of experiential learning for all learners.
Kelsey Bickett, Program Manager, Alabama Data Scholars QuantHub
Jama Cobb, Work-Based Learning Coordinator, The Educational Service Center of Central Ohio
Michael Green, Internship Coordinator, MiraCosta College.
Location – TBA
2:15-3 PM nSpire Product Roadmap Review. Sumanta Chakraborty: Founder & CEO, nSpire AI. Location – TBA
2:15-3 PM Creating Career Pathways through Industry-Education Partnerships.
Strong industry-education partnerships are essential for building sustainable career pathways that align with workforce needs and student aspirations. This session will explore best practices for collaboration, strategies to bridge equity gaps, and innovative approaches to workforce readiness, ensuring that learners of all backgrounds can access meaningful career opportunities. Join us to discuss how employers, educators, and workforce leaders can work together to create a future-ready talent pipeline.
Alex Gandy, Director of Career Services, Missouri Southern State University
John Hambrick, Work-Based Learning Coordinator, The Educational Service Center of Central Ohio
Bryan Barts, Career Services Director, University of Wisconsin-Stout
Kelly Fuller, SVP, Columbus Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Location – TBA
3-3:45 PM AI Agents for the Workforce of Tomorrow – Powering Candidates, Entrepreneurs, & Recruiters.
AI agents are redefining how job seekers, entrepreneurs, and recruiters connect in the workforce of tomorrow. This session explores the role of AI-driven career coaches and recruiting assistants in streamlining talent discovery, enhancing skill assessment, and creating more efficient, personalized, and bias-free hiring processes. Join us to see the future of AI-powered workforce transformation in action.
Sumanta Chakraborty, Founder & CEO, nSpire AI
(other speakers TBA).
Location – The Meridian Room
3:45-4 PM Break
4-5 PM Mini module/product overviews with Dave Hoy and nSpire AI.
Location – The Meridian Room
4-5 PM Optional pre-scheduled GradLeaders client relationship manager meetings.
Location – TBA
6-9 PM Networking, food, drinks, and fun.
Location – Star Lanes
Wednesday, May 14th
8-9 AM Coffee and Networking.
Location – The Meridian Room
9-10 AM The Future of Coaching – Scaling Impact with AI in Higher Ed & Corporate L&D.
AI is revolutionizing career coaching by making personalized guidance more scalable and accessible across higher education and corporate L&D. This session explores how AI-powered coaching tools enhance career services, expand coaching beyond executives, and empower professionals at all levels with continuous, just-in-time career support. Join experts to discover how AI is transforming coaching for lifelong career success.
Sumanta Chakraborty, Founder & CEO, nSpire AI
(other speakers TBA).
Location – The Meridian Room
9-10 AM Bridging Education and Industry: Scaling Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeships for Future-Ready Talent.
Work-based learning and apprenticeships are key to building a future-ready workforce, but how can organizations successfully start, scale, and optimize these programs? This session will explore best practices for launching and expanding WBL initiatives, leveraging technology and policy support, and ensuring long-term impact for learners, employers, and workforce development leaders.
Ronald Jacobs, Principal at SiTUATE and LSU professor, The Ohio State University, Professor Emeritus
Karley Fernandez Conley, Workforce Development Program Manager, University of Alabama.
Location – TBA
9-10 AM Preparing Gen Z for Workforce Success.
As Gen Z enters the workforce, how can educators, employers, and workforce leaders better prepare them for success in a rapidly changing job market? This session will explore emerging trends, skills-based hiring, work-based learning, and the role of mentorship and digital literacy in equipping today’s youth with the tools they need to thrive in their careers. Join experts for a discussion on innovative strategies to bridge the gap between education and employment.
Aaron Klein, Assistant Director Industry Connections, College of Arts and Sciences Center for Career and Professional Success, The Ohio State University
Holden Scyster, Chief Information Officer, Read USA.
Location – TBA
10-10:15 AM Break
10:15-11:45 AM AI and the Workforce: Insights, Challenges, and the Future Ahead.
As AI continues to transform career services, workforce development, and talent management, what lessons can we take forward? This closing panel synthesizes key insights from Connections 2025: AI and the Workforce Evolution, exploring AI’s current impact, challenges, and future potential in shaping the workforce. Join industry experts for a thought-provoking discussion on the evolving role of AI and actionable strategies for the road ahead.
Location – The Meridian Room
12-1:30 PM Lunch.
Location – The Meridian Room
1:30-2:30 PM Open Air Chat.
Location – The Meridian Room
2:30-3 PM Connections Wrap Up and Goodbyes.
Location – The Meridian Room
