Keynote
OPENING SESSION
Wednesday, July 29, 8:30–9:45 - (Continental Breakfast: 7:45–8:30)
Unleashing Passion, Purpose & Performance in Younger Generations
Mark C. Perna
Founder and CEO of TFS Results
Join dynamic performance expert Mark C. Perna as he unveils the groundbreaking innovations for working with today’s younger generations. Educators, employers, parents, and community leaders will benefit from these proven strategies to bridge the generational divide, engage and retain young people, and equip them with a powerful competitive advantage.
Purposeful education is the heartbeat of this inspiring call to action. Students who experience education with purpose can then pursue passion-driven employment at all levels of learning and experience. Though they’re often painted in a negative light, they have incredible potential to change the world. We just have to unleash it. As the skills gap widens, we must tap into the vast creativity, intelligence, and potential of the next generation.
Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a strategic consulting firm at the forefront of the North American paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As a generational and performance expert, Mark has addressed Harvard University and today delivers 90+ keynotes annually across North America. He has written weekly for Forbes.com since 2019, where he reaches an audience of over 4 million. His podcast, The Perna Syndicate, has listeners in 70+ countries. Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, founded the Education with Purpose & Employment with Passion movement to help communities connect education, business, and economic pipelines. His bestselling book, Answering Why, has won eight national awards, including the Nautilus Award which is given to books that make a positive difference in the world. Find out more at MarkCPerna.com.
Closing Panel Luncheon
Thursday, July 30, 12:15-1:30
Changing Landscapes: ATE Center PIs on Navigating the Impacts of AI
Preparing the nation’s skilled technological workforce has always required technical educators to stay alert to emerging technologies, and to be nimble in creating educational pathways that align with evolving industry needs, and the ATE National Centers have long prioritized supporting this work. Few advances, however, have reached across all industry sectors as broadly as the rapid rise and widespread adoption of AI and AI-driven technologies. Join this lunchtime panel with four ATE National Center PIs as they share insights and thoughts on preparing workers for the AI-driven workplace.
Moderator:
Mary Slowinski
Bellevue College
Panelists
Jonathan Beck, PI – National Center for Autonomous Technologies (NCAT)
Andrew McMahan, PI – Environmental and Natural Resource Technology Center (EARTh Center)
Michele Robinson, PI – National Cybersecurity Training and Education Center (NCyTE)
Karen Wosczyna-Birch, PI – National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing (NCNGN)