Workforce Development Summit set at UWA

LIVINGSTON — Rural Alabama business leaders will gather at the University of West Alabama Nov. 1 for the Alabama Summit on Rural Workforce Development.

UWA is joining with Alabama Power Company and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to host the event at Bell Conference Center on the UWA campus in Livingston. It will feature a broad slate of experts who bring unique outlooks to address rural Alabama’s need for building a workforce pipeline and economic development system.

“Following the impact and success of the recent Alabama Summit on Rural Technology earlier this year, we decided to continue to expand our efforts in rural workforce development,” said Dr. Tina Jones, vice president of UWA’s Division of Economic and Workforce Development.

“UWA has grown into one of the state’s leading institutions of higher learning in fostering rural development.  This is a natural next step in our strategic efforts.”

The Summit’s featured speakers include Dr. Jim Purcell, executive director of the ACHE, who will address “Building Alabama’s Economy & Workforce”; Jay Moon, president and CEO of the Mississippi Manufacturers’ Association, who will speak on “The Future of Work”; and Nick Moore, education and workforce policy adviser to Gov. Kay Ivey, who will present a call to action for building Alabama’s rural economy.  Roy Clem, executive director of Alabama Public Television, will be the event’s moderator.

A slate of regional and statewide leaders will take part in panels on Public Policy and Rural Workforce, Impact of Alabama’s Regional Workforce Councils, Manufacturing and the Future of Workforce, and the overall future of workforce preparation as applied specifically to Alabama’s rural counties.

Purcell, the keynote speaker, previously served as the lead executive officer in Rhode Island, Louisiana and Arkansas. He is a strong advocate for institutional research and planning as a way to implement policies and programs related to higher education. This organized approach provides a blueprint for expanding access to higher education and improving student success as well as influencing the future workforce of Alabama.

Moon will be the lunch speaker. With more than 25 years of economic development experience, he is known nationally for his progressive approach to economic and workforce issues. He is a Certified Economic Developer and serves on the board of the International Economic Development Council, the largest economic development organization in the world.

Moore will close the event. His professional experiences include being a high school teacher, public policy analyst and as a community developer. Moore is coordinator of the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation.

A session on public policy and rural technology features Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington, Ed Castile, deputy secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce and director of AIDT; Moore, and Joseph Brown, Western Division area manager of Alabama Power Company, who will moderate the session.

Panel members for “Building Alabama’s Workforce System” will discuss resources, programming and opportunities for rural counties. Ed Castile,  director of Alabama Industrial Development Training, will lead the session and feature three regional workforce council leaders: Donny Jones, executive director of West Alabama Works; Dr. Josh Duplantis, executive director of Southwest Alabama Works, and Aubrey Carr, chairman of Central Alabama Works.

From an employer’s perspective, a panel will focus on manufacturing and the future workforce. Jim Searcy, CEO of the Economic Development Association of Alabama, will lead the conversation. It will feature George Clark, CEO of Manufacture Alabama; Ron Davis, president of the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association, and Chris Isaacson, executive vice president of the Alabama Forestry Association.

Registration deadline is Oct. 25 at RuralWorkfoceSummit.eventbrite.com. Event registration is $25 and includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day. Seating is limited.

Alabama Power Company, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and the University of West Alabama are the presenting sponsors of the Summit. 

Other partners for the event include Alabama Public Television; Economic Development Association of Alabama; Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association; Alabama Forestry Association; AIDT; Alabama Works; West Alabama Works; Southwest Alabama Works; Central Alabama Works; and Auburn Extension Service.


For more information, contact the UWA Division of Economic & Workforce Development. Call 1.833.UWA.WORK.