The Future of Talent Summit 2026
Shaping tomorrow's talent pipeline through employer-education alignment, practical conversations, and meaningful connections.
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Register for the 2026 Future of Talent Summit
What is the Future of Talent Summit?
The Future of Talent Summit brings together regional leaders from the public and private sectors to actively shape how talent is taught, developed, and hired across our region.
Employers consistently share a need for:
- Stronger alignment between curriculum and job-ready skills
- More hands-on experience for students and recent grads
- Deeper relationships with higher education beyond career fairs
Educators and workforce partners also emphasize the importance of collaboration, transparency, and opportunities to learn directly from one another.
The annual summit is your opportunity to build new partnerships, strengthen existing ones, and set the tone for how we work together in the year ahead.
Event Details
LOCATION: Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia (Further building and parking directions will be distributed to registrants)
DATE: Thursday, March 5, from 8 AM to 1:30 PM. Check-in begins at 7:30.
Agenda:
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Check-In & Coffee | Lobby – Mezzanine |
| 8:00 AM | Light Breakfast Fare | TBD |
| 8:30 AM | Keynote Address | TBD |
| 9:30 AM | Coffee Break | Lobby – Mezzanine |
| 9:45 AM | Employer Panel – Inventive partnerships with big impact. | TBD |
| 10:40 AM | Educator Panel – What do educators need from employers to train future talent? | TBD |
| 11:25 AM | Coffee Break | Lobby – Mezzanine |
| 11:35 AM | Facilitated Employer-Educator-Resource Partner Networking – Make connections! | Breakout Location |
| 12:30 PM | Boxed Lunch – Take it to go or stay and continue your conversations. | Lobby – Mezzanine |
| 1:30 PM | Official Close | — |
**Details are subject to slight changes (location, time, etc.).
HOSTS: The event is hosted by the Roanoke Regional Partnership, Onward NRV, Roanoke College, ADP, and all area higher education institutions.
COST: $55 for General Registration; Discounts available for education faculty (please reach out to your career service department).
Who Should Attend the Future of Talent Summit?
This event is not just for HR. The Summit is designed for anyone who influences talent in our region, including:
| Employers
Senior leadership & decision-makers HR & talent acquisition Hiring managers & supervisors Internship & early-career program leads |
Higher Education & Training Developers
Faculty & department chairs Career services & internship coordinators Curriculum & program developers Experiential learning coordinators |
Workforce & Regional Resource Partners
Workforce development boards Economic development organizations Regional initiatives (VTOP, GO Virginia Region 2, etc.) Nonprofits and training providers |
Event Sponsors
This collaborative effort includes career-service professionals from every major college and higher education institution in the region to ensure buy-in from students, with incentives and transportation offered, and extra effort taken campus-wide to encourage participation.
REGISTRATION
Questions? Please email the Talent Strategy Manager at the Roanoke Regional Partnership, Michelle Williams, or call 540-655-9364 during normal business hours.
Want Better Access to Regional Talent?
Leverage Get2KnowNoke to help your company engage with young talent. We are looking for sponsors to invest in talent attraction events and programs including;
- Quarterly Networking Socials
- Talent Ambassador Program
- Summer Intern Onboarding Program
- Student Events + On-Campus Events
Please reach out to Michelle Williams ASAP with interest. We can customize options and are flexible regarding budget and scope.
