The Future of Talent Summit 2026

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: The Cregger Center at Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia (Further 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:

HOSTS: The event is hosted by the Roanoke Regional Partnership, Onward NRV, Roanoke College, and all area higher education institutions.

COST: $55 for General Registration; Discounts available for education faculty (please reach out to your career service department).

Keynote Speakers for the Future of Talent Summit

Dr. Frank Shushok, President of Roanoke College

Dr. Frank Shushok Jr. became the 12th president of Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, in 2022. He collaborates with the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and regional partners to position the College as an agile, innovative, and learner-centered institution. Under his leadership, the College launched Imagine Roanoke, a strategic plan that includes creating four transdisciplinary schools and transforming the residential campus into a 21st-century learning laboratory. The plan’s signature initiative, Roanoke College–Roanoke Valley (RC-RV), expands access to continuing education and workforce development. The College has launched new programs, begun construction on the McConnon Discovery Center, and revitalized student life. President Shushok came to Roanoke College with over 30 years of experience in higher education.

Immediately prior to coming to Roanoke College, Shushok served 13 years in several executive roles at Virginia Tech, including Vice President of Student Affairs. He was also a tenured professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Early on, he served at his alma mater, Baylor University, in several capacities, including the dean for student learning and engagement, associate dean for Campus Living and Learning, and a faculty member and program director for the graduate program in Higher Education and Student Affairs.

Paul Hudgins, Senior VP & CHRO of Carilion Clinic

As a Virginia native, Paul Hudgins joined Carilion in November 2016 as senior vice president and Chief Human Resource Officer and is responsible for all of Human Resources. Paul launched his career in human resources leadership at Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, VA, and at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., then moved on to become Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States. He eventually took the position of senior vice president and CHRO at the University of Miami Medical Center and Healthsystem, then became the vice president of human resources for Amerigroup, Inc. Most recently, Paul served as vice president of human resources for Dignity Health in Sacramento, CA – the fifth largest health system in the U.S. with over 50,000 employees.

Paul obtained his certification in advanced executive leadership from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina. He has served on the board of the Prince William Chapter of the American Red Cross, as the chair of Workforce Task Force for the South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association, and is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management.

Future of Talent Summit Panelists

Employer Panel: Building the Talent Pipeline
Hear directly from some of the region’s leading employers as they share real-world strategies for developing strong, sustainable talent pipelines. This conversation will spotlight innovative partnerships with educators across the full spectrum, from K-12 to higher education, and explore how collaboration, workforce alignment, and long-term investment are shaping the future of talent in our region.

	Cynthia Lawrence, Director of the Office of Workforce Development at Carilion Clinic Cynthia Lawrence serves as Director of Workforce Development at Carilion Clinic and is the founding President of the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers, a nonprofit focused on strengthening the region’s healthcare workforce. A former entrepreneur who founded and led two companies, she is an active leader on several statewide workforce, education, and business advisory boards.
	Stephanie Byers, Regional Internship Manager, GO Virginia Regions 1 & 2 for EO Stephanie Byers works to strengthen Southwest Virginia’s workforce by expanding access to high-quality, paid internships through the InternshipsVA initiative. She partners with employers, colleges, and community leaders to build sustainable talent pipelines and connect students with meaningful, hands-on career experiences.
	Chase Parker, Electrical Engineer, Steel Dynamics, Inc.  Chase Parker is an electrical engineer at Steel Dynamics, Inc., where he has advanced through multiple technical leadership roles since 2018. A U.S. Navy veteran and trained nuclear electrician, he brings hands-on industry expertise and a strong focus on applied engineering and workforce readiness.
	Paul Bixel, Vice President of Technology, TMEIC  Paul Bixel has been with TMEIC since its inception in 2003. His roles have included engineer, chief specialist, Manager of Product Development, and now VP of Technology. Paul is a long-time IEEE member, holds a PE license in 12 states, and has been awarded over 40 patents in the USA and abroad.

Educator Panel: Rethinking Education for Workforce Readiness
Hear from the region’s top higher education institutions as they discuss how they are transforming traditional models to better prepare students for today’s evolving workforce. Learn how they are aligning coursework with industry demand, integrating hands-on learning experiences, and driving agile, career-connected education that equips graduates with the skills employers need now and in the future.

	Dr. Michelle Seref, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs; Collegiate Professor, Business İnformation Technology; Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech Dr. Michelle Seref oversees undergraduate business programs at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business, supporting curriculum development, student success initiatives, and experiential learning opportunities. Her work focuses on advancing career readiness, data-informed education, and industry-aligned programming, alongside a highly cited research portfolio in operations management and decision support systems.
	Dr. David Berry, Associate Professor and Program Head of the Mechatronics Program at Virginia Western Community College  Dr. David Berry leads the Mechatronics Program at Virginia Western Community College, where he teaches automation, PLCs, and engineering design. With a background in advanced materials research and power electronics, he is deeply engaged in workforce development and collaborates closely with industry partners to prepare students for modern manufacturing careers.
	Dr. Bryan Cobb, Associate Professor of Math, Computer Science, and Physics at Roanoke College  Bryan Cobb, Ph.D., is in his third year as professor and program coordinator for the Engineering Science program at Roanoke College. As program coordinator, one of his areas of focus is to develop industry partnerships that help ensure the College’s program aligns with industry needs and connects students with professional opportunities in the region. This is especially exciting as Roanoke’s new science discovery center nears completion.
	Carl York, Coordinator of School/Business Relations, Career & Technical Education at Roanoke County Pubic Schools Carl York leads strategic partnerships between education and industry to expand real-world learning opportunities for students. He supports the CTE team in building relationships with regional businesses to explore internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing programs, and workforce pipelines that align classroom instruction with high-demand career pathways for students in Roanoke County Public Schools.

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:

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.