Agenda
Wednesday, October 28th
8:30 am
Doors Open + Registration
9:15 am
Opening Welcome Remarks
Chris Berry: President & CEO @ OhioX
Jeff Harris: President & Co-Founder, Xello
9:30 am
What Ohio’s Innovation Economy Actually Needs
The workforce is changing faster than traditional education and training systems can adapt. AI, automation, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies are reshaping jobs across Ohio — including what employers expect from the people they hire.
This opening conversation puts workforce leaders at the center of the discussion: What skills, experiences, and capabilities will Ohio's innovation economy actually require from the next generation of workers? And what should education leaders know today about where work is headed?
Key discussion areas: changing skill requirements; technical vs. durable skills; AI fluency; what employers see missing today; and what industry needs from K–12, higher education, and workforce partners.
Moderator:
Steve Russell: Chief Partnerships Officer, Bowling Green State University
Speakers:
Todd Hoadley: CEO / Superintendent, Tolles Career and Technical Center
Lisa Patt-McDaniel: CEO, Aspyr
Lisa M. Chambers: CEO, TECH CORPS
10:15 am
Ohio’s Innovation Economy Starts in K–12: Building a Connected Education-to-Workforce System
Ohio is building an extraordinary future. From advanced manufacturing and semiconductors to AI and emerging technologies, the state's growing innovation economy is creating new career opportunities and reshaping the skills its future workforce will need.
With significant investments from JobsOhio and new initiatives connecting education, industry and workforce development, Ohio has tremendous momentum. The opportunity now is to build on that progress by connecting the education-to-workforce journey, helping students discover emerging careers, develop relevant skills, gain real-world experiences and prepare for the opportunities being created in their own state.
Jeff Harris will share Xello's perspective on the opportunity to build on Ohio's momentum by connecting education, industry and workforce development, helping more students discover, prepare for and pursue the careers and opportunities emerging across the state.
Speaker:
Jeff Harris: President & Co-Founder, Xello
10:45 am
Networking Break
11:00 am
Ohio AI Workforce Lab: Findings and the Path Forward
What does AI mean for Ohio's workforce — and how prepared are our institutions, employers, and workers for what's coming?
Developed in partnership with universities across the state, the OhioX’s AI Workforce Lab brings together higher education and industry to better understand how artificial intelligence is changing jobs, skills, and workforce needs across Ohio. Deloitte will share findings from the Lab and move the conversation from research to action: what the findings mean for employers, educators, policymakers, and workforce leaders — and where Ohio has opportunities to lead.
Speaker:
Jeremy Jackson: Managing Director, Deloitte
11:20 am
Ohio's $300 Million Workforce Investment
Ohio is making one of its largest-ever investments in building the talent needed to compete for jobs and investment.
This conversation will explore JobsOhio's $300 million workforce commitment, the challenge it is designed to address, and what it means for employers, students, educators, and communities across the state. More broadly, the session will examine how Ohio can build a talent system capable of keeping pace with the industries and technologies driving the state's next generation of economic growth.
Moderator:
Chris Berry: President & CEO, OhioX
Speaker:
Molly Moses: Managing Director, Talent, JobsOhio
12:00 pm
Lunch + Break
1:00 pm
From Classroom to Career: High School Internships That Work
Everyone agrees students need more exposure to real-world careers. This session focuses on organizations actually making that happen.
Leaders behind high school technology internship programs will share how they connect students with meaningful workplace experiences, what they've learned building and operating these programs, and what it takes to create partnerships between schools and employers.
Moderator:
Stephen White: Chief Strategy Officer, SVP of Partnerships, General Counsel, COSI - Center of Science and Industry
Speakers:
Keith Koehne: Executive Director, INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati
Chuck DeRee: Math and Pre-Engineering Teacher, Hilliard City School District
Duane Powell: Chief Information Officer, City of Hilliard
1:50 pm
Networking Break
2:00 pm
From Education to Employment: Building Pathways That Actually Work
If we know where the economy is going and what employers need, how do we build pathways that actually get students there?
The closing conversation brings together leaders across education and workforce development to examine the transition from classroom to career. Where are today's pathways working? Where do students fall through the cracks? How should career-tech education, credentials, work-based learning, higher education, and employers fit together?
Most importantly, the panel will explore what each part of the system needs from the others to create clearer, more accessible pathways from education into meaningful careers.
Moderator:
Rich Granger: Director of Workforce and Workplace Innovation, Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Speakers:
Valarie Jacobsen: Director of Employer Relations, Center for Career Exploration and Success, Miami University
Chris Woolard: Chief Integration Officer, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
Megan Noble: Executive Director CTE, HEP, ACE & Workforce, Columbus City Schools
2:50 pm
Closing Remarks + Program Ends
3:00 pm
Closing Networking Reception
2026 Summit Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
