One of the biggest challenges facing employers is the availability of a qualified workforce. To tackle this issue, the Greater Dallas Chamber and Fort Worth Chamber have joined forces to present the first-ever D/FW Workforce Development Summit on Thursday, November 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Summit will feature a slate of speakers and panelists to address of current economic trends, future regional industry growth, and local education and training programs. Attendees will leave the Summit with a clear picture of the gaps between regional industry needs and our education and training resources.

The goals of the summit are:

1. To bring industry and education together so that workforce development challenges can be identified by both sides in a common forum.
2. To encourage and support industry to take a long-range approach to workforce development as a key to future economic development (i.e. actively participate in K-16 education so as to "grow their own" future workforce locally).
3. To cause education to see critical gaps in curriculum and address solutions to those gaps with industry.
4. To cause industry and education to form partnerships to pursue an ongoing commitment to implement solutions to identified workforce issues.

Don Jonas of the Hudson Institute will open the conference addressing workforce trends and issues. A panel composed of top leaders from business, education, and workforce development will address key workforce issues culled from a pre-conference survey of all participants. This interactive panel will be moderated by our conference facilitator, Alan St. John, Director of the Missouri Training Institute.

Panelists as of press time are Margaret Jordan of Texas Health Resources, Shaunna Sowell of Texas Instruments, and Steve Palko of XTO Energy representing industry, Dr. Leonardo de la Garza of Tarrant County College respresenting education and Joe Maly of the Fort Worth Opportunity Center representing workforce development.

Summit participants will work in roundtable groups of ten, arranged by industry clusters, and including a cross-section of industry, education, and workforce development representatives at each table. The "Audience Poll," an electronic forum device, will be used to capture input and to determine opinions and preferences on identified workforce issues. In this way, the conference format departs from others of its kind. The output from this conference is expected to provide direction and insight to North Texas leaders in industry, education, and workforce development concerning workforce development needs and future directions.

Major sponsors to date are Fidelity Investments, Verizon, WorkSource, Work Advantage, and the Dallas Business Journal. Several chambers of commerce in the 13-county North Texas region will also participate as partners.

The event will take place at the D/FW Airport Marriott, 8440 Freeport Parkway, Irving. Cost is $125 for Chamber members and $225 for prospective members. For more information, e-mail dfwworkforce@dallaschamber.org or call 214-746-6788.