VCCS Chancellor David Dore speaks at the System’s Hire Education Conference, Nov. 14 in Roanoke.
“The theme of this year’s conference, ‘Mission Employable: Agents of Workforce Development,’ reflects our shared commitment to equipping students with the skills and experiences they need to thrive in an ever-evolving workforce. It’s a call to action—a reminder that each of us plays a vital role in building pathways to opportunity and prosperity.” VCCS Chancellor David Doré encouraged and thanked the 275 educators, policymakers and professionals who gathered at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center November 13-14 for the 2025 Hire Education Conference.
The annual meet-up provides an opportunity to share strategies and spark innovation. Attendees heard success stories from colleagues and presentations from thought leaders in apprenticeships, workplace readiness, and more.
McKay
The goal, of course, is to create better economic opportunities and outcomes for students. Heather McKay of the Strada Institute for the Future of Work said states and educators need to adopt policies and practices that lead to better alignment of postsecondary education to the needs of the labor market. She told the conference that Virginia received positive marks in the Institute’s most recent State Opportunity Index.
Megan Healy, Senior VP of Talent and Workforce Strategy at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, told the conference that Virginia’s Community Colleges will play an important role as Virginia continues its mission to be one of the nation’s top states for talent, noting that data-driven insights will inform strategic moves toward better alignment between educators and employers.
Healey
Baker
Liz Baker, a national leader on artificial intelligence, ethics and business, urged attendees to recognize that AI is a fact of life that can no longer be ignored.
“Stop debating AI,” said Baker. “You won’t have perfect understanding at first. You don’t need a 200-page plan, you need movement.” Baker acknowledged the need for a strong ethical framework and argued students and faculty must be prepared to use AI responsibly.
The VCCS AI Task Force has established a website to provide direction about AI resources that can be implemented with confidence.
Nicole Overly, Commissioner of Virginia Works, the state’s newly reorganized agency that coordinates workforce development, agrees that AI and emerging technologies will play outsized roles in the evolution of Virginia’s economy.
Overly
Noting the essential role that community colleges play in preparing workers, Overly said the Commonwealth will need to devote extraordinary efforts (she called them “moon shots”) to ensure that Virginia continues to rank as a top state for workforce talent in the next five years:
- Produce more “future-ready” workers
- Improved workforce availability/agility
- Better match of workforce training programs to employer needs
- Boost work-based learning experiences
She also told the conference that the state has set up a website that can act as a launchpad for people who want to learn about tech-forward careers.
Organizers of the Hire Education Conference wish to express their thanks to generous sponsors who helped to make the event possible: Presenting Sponsors, AccessU and the Hodges Partnership, and Bronze Sponsors, Kennedy & Company and Bluegrass Educational Technologies, LLC.
You can view and download photos from this year’s Hire Education Conference.
