Ticket Prices: College Student Prices: $25.00 | General Attendee - Early Prices: $100.00 | General Attendee - March 1st: $125.00
The Central to Success Workforce Solutions Summit is a regional collaboration with eight local Chambers of Commerce, presented by Centergy.
This Summit aims to tackle workforce issues by uniting regional resources to address and take action on the most significant workforce shortage our region has faced in decades. While there have been workforce summits before, this event is uniquely focused on providing practical solutions for your business, community, and organizations.
Collectively we can successfully maneuver this climate with private and public support, by attending this summit you will be equipped with the knowledge, tools, and connections to help you impact your organization's workforce needs.
Pre-Summit Networking Reception
Tuesday, March 18 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Kick off your summit experience with an evening of connection and conversation! Join us for a local networking reception, where you’ll have the chance to meet fellow professionals, exchange ideas, and build valuable relationships in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your network before the main event!
Meet the Keynotes Powering the 2025 Workforce Solutions Summit!
We are thrilled to introduce our four leading speakers, each bringing a unique perspective on workforce challenges and opportunities to leverage our region's talent and strengths!
Layla Merrifield, President of the Wisconsin Technical College System
Layla Merrifield was appointed president of the Wisconsin Technical College System in September 2024. Prior to her current role, Layla was the executive director of the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association, an organization representing the trustees of the 16 Wisconsin technical colleges’ district boards, since 2015. Prior to that she served as a fiscal analyst for the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau then a Wisconsin Technical College System policy advisor.
Layla has an extensive background in System-wide leadership and advocacy, and intimate knowledge of local colleges’ operations, student success goals and challenges. Having served in a System-wide leadership role for the past nine years, she is well-practiced in maintaining consistent communication between and among various stakeholder groups.
Layla has a bachelor’s degree in politics from Hendrix College and is pursuing a Master of Education degree, an articulated pathway to Doctor of Education.
Matt Kirchner, President of ATS/LAB Midwest and Host of The TechEd Podcast.
Matt Kirchner is an international speaker, author, and podcast host on topics of interest to educators, public policy makers and private employers.
On a mission to secure the American Dream for the next generation of STEM and Workforce talent, Kirchner hosts the weekly TechEd PodcastTM and serves as President of ATS/LAB Midwest, the leading distributor of world-class curriculum, eLearning and training equipment.
Kirchner writes monthly leadership columns appearing in Products Finishing and Production Machining magazines and is the author of “Teaching the Industrial Internet of Things: Preparing Students and Learners for Industry 4.0.”
Previously Kirchner led three world class manufacturing companies during a 20+ career as an industrial CEO. He and his partners sold their last company, American Finishing Resources, to DuBois Chemicals in 2014.
Kirchner serves on the boards of directors of several American companies and among his many volunteer activities is currently the First-Past President of the Education Dealers Association and holds a seat on the board of the Smart Automation Certification Alliance. He is a graduate of the Marquette University School of Business.
Matthew Kures, Community Economic Development Specialist and Researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension Community Development Institute
Matt Kures is a Community Development Specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension Center for Community and Economic Development. Working in partnership with Extension’s statewide network of Community Resource Development (CRD) educators, he carries out the Wisconsin Idea by assisting communities and organizations in the areas of regional economic analysis, labor force research, socio-economic impact analysis and industry sector competitiveness.
Matt’s current research emphases include industrial cluster policy, labor mobility, and changes to regional commuting patterns. Matt has worked in the Center since 2001. During this time he has authored numerous studies on Wisconsin’s economy and has made over 100 presentations to local, regional and national audiences.
Matt was a regular contributor to the Capitol Region Business Journal and his work is featured in numerous other business and economic development publications. Matt was named to “Madison’s 40 Under 40” by In Business magazine. He and his Center colleagues were also recognized with the 2009 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement. In 2016, he received the Outstanding Specialist Award from UW-Extension’s Community, Natural Resource and Economic Development program. Matt is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Edward Erfurt, Director of Community Action at Strong Towns
Edward Erfurt is the Director of Community Action at Strong Towns. He is a trained architect and passionate urban designer with over 20 years of public- and private-sector experience focused on the management, design, and successful implementation of development and placemaking projects that enrich the tapestry of place.
He believes in community-focused processes that are founded on diverse viewpoints, a concern for equity, and guided through time-tested, traditional town-planning principles and development patterns that result in sustainable growth with the community character embraced by the communities which he serves.
Remarks from Centergy President and CEO Angel Laidlaw and featured Speaker Edward Kurfurt, and Layla Merrifield
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Networking, Appetizers, Bar
Workforce Solutions Summit Agenda 3/19
One-Day Workforce Solutions Summit Agenda
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
Event Registration and Breakfast
Room: Foyer and Grand Hall
8:45 AM - 9:00 AM
Opening Remarks
Room: Grand Hall
9:00 AM - 9:40 AM
Opening Keynote: Layla Merrifield, President of the Wisconsin Technical College System
Room: Grand Hall
9:40 AM - 10:25 am
Second Keynote: Matt Kirchner, Present of ATS/LAB Midwest and Host of the TechEd Podcast
“Wisconsin is a Hub of Artificial Intelligence Innovation: Harnessing the Power of AI”
Room: Grand Hall
10:25 am - 10:40 AM
Networking Morning Break
Room: Foyer
10:40 AM - 11:25 AM
Breakout Session:
Track A: AI in the Workplace
Room: Kitchen Lab
Track B: The Rise of Outdoor Recreation Communities – How Access to Outdoor Recreation is Helping Communities to Attract and Retain Talent
Room: Farm Shed
Track C: Central Command - Navigating to Success in Central Wisconsin
Room: Makers Space
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Breakout Session:
Track A:AI’s transformative potential for Central Wisconsin
Room: Kitchen Lab
Track B: Employee Benefits Strategy – Unlocking Opportunity with Technology
Room: Farm Shed
Track C: Welcoming Our New Neighbors: Refugee Resettlement 101
Room: Makers Space
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Lunch Break
Room: Grand Hall
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
Breakout Session:
Track A: Bridging Education and Industry: Mid-State Technical College’s Role in Workforce Development and the AMETA Center
Room: Kitchen Lab
Track B: Know the Numbers – Central Wisconsin Housing g
Room: Farm Shed
Track C: Wood County Broadband
Room: Makers Space
2:05 PM - 2:50 PM
Session 2: Building Stronger Communities: Collaborative Solutions for Employers and Public Sectors to Support Childcare Needs
Room: Grand Hall
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Third Keynote: Matt Kures, Community Economic Development Specialist and Researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension Community Development Institute
“Central Wisconsin by the Numbers: Workforce and Economic Trends”
Room: Grand Hall
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM
Closing Keynote: Edward Erfurt, Director of Community Actions at Strong Towns
Date & Time
Wed, Mar 19, 2025 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Venue Details
Food + Farm Exploration Center
3400 Innovation Drive Plover, Wisconsin 54467
Centergy
Centergy, Inc. is a 501(c)4 nonprofit regional marketing and economic development organization. Our purpose is to foster collaboration among private and public-sector leaders throughout the five counties of central Wisconsin that make up the Centergy Region: Adams, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage, and Wood Counties.
The Centergy brand provides an effective way to leverage the collective economic power of the region’s five counties. It allows us to unite the region’s efforts in talent attraction and development, regional brand development, business development, and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship within the business community.
