2026 Future of Talent Summit Encourages Enthusiasm, Curiosity, and Bravery
Dr. Frank Shushok, Paul Hudgins, and John Hull kick off the 2026 Future of Talent Summit at Roanoke College.
What happens when educators, employers, and workforce partners come together with one goal: strengthening the talent pipeline for our region?
You get real conversations, new partnerships, and a clearer understanding of what it will take to prepare the next generation for the future of work.
Hosted at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, the 2026 Get2KnowNoke Future of Talent Summit brought together more than 150 regional leaders, from employers and colleges to K-12 partners and workforce organizations, all focused on one question: How do we build a stronger talent pipeline for the Roanoke Region?
A Workforce Changing Faster Than Ever
Paul Hudgins of Carilion Clinic delivers his keynote address at the 2026 Future of Talent Summit.
Roanoke College President Dr. Frank Shushok and Carilion Clinic CHRO Paul Hudgins opened the summit with a clear message: the systems built for stability and predictability are no longer enough. Technology, automation, and AI are compressing workforce timelines. Skills are changing faster than ever. And both employers and educators are being asked to adapt in real time.
Hudgins shared how Carilion is already responding — from pension policy changes that allow retirees to reenter the workforce, to accelerated certification pathways for entry-level employees. Flexible schedules, hybrid roles, and new staffing models are reshaping how organizations recruit and retain talent.
But beyond any single program, Shushok emphasized a shift in mindset: preparing for the future of work requires enthusiasm, curiosity, and the courage to innovate together. We must meet this new reality with excitement and bravery.
These conversations are so important for the sustainability of talent in our region. I’m looking forward to seeing how I can carry this passion and momentum into my job and help this region thrive!
Devan Kessler, HR Manager, CBIZ
Collaboration Is the Talent Pipeline
The employer panel addresses the crowd at the 2026 Future of Talent Summit at Roanoke College.
One theme emerged again and again throughout the program day: no single organization can solve the talent challenge alone.
Employers shared how workforce strategies increasingly rely on partnerships with educational institutions to help develop the skills needed for modern industries. Educators discussed how programs are evolving to embed work-based learning, internships, and applied experiences into the student journey.
The conversations reflected a broader shift in how talent pipelines are being built.
Instead of operating in separate systems, education and industry are increasingly co-designing solutions together by aligning programs, sharing insights, and building relationships that help students move more seamlessly from classroom to career.
Devan Kessler, a Human Resources Manager at CBIZ, attended the summit. When asked about her thoughts, she said, “These conversations are so important for the sustainability of talent in our region. I’m looking forward to seeing how I can carry this passion and momentum into my job and help this region thrive!”
The summit concluded with a structured networking session designed to turn ideas into action, giving participants time to connect with new partners, explore internship and experiential learning opportunities, and identify ways to collaborate moving forward. Click here for the agenda and full list of speakers for the event.
Speed networking session at the 2026 Future of Talent Summit.
Why This Matters
The Future of Talent Summit isn’t just about conversation. It’s about strengthening the systems that support long-term economic growth in the Roanoke Region.
When regional employers and educators work together to align skills training with industry needs, the result is stronger career pathways for students, more reliable talent pipelines here at home, and greater opportunity for people who want to build their careers in Roanoke.
Perhaps most importantly, the summit reinforced a key reality for regions competing in today’s economy: Talent strategies must move as quickly as the workforce itself.
That means staying curious about what’s changing, having the courage to rethink long-standing systems, and committing to collaboration across industries and institutions.
Because when it comes to building the future workforce, the Roanoke Region’s greatest advantage isn’t any single organization. It’s the willingness to work together.
