NCWorks Partnership Conference

October 9 - 10, 2024

Sheraton Four Seasons - Greensboro, NC

The NCWorks Partnership Conference traditionally draws hundreds of Workforce Development Professionals from across the state.  Attendees represent labor, state and federal government, education, community-based organizations, community colleges and the private sector.  In its 37th year, the Conference continues to offer timely topics and networking opportunities.

Theme and Goals

Unleash the Power of Tomorrow:

A Future Shaped by Ideas, Connections, and Community

This year our event will continue efforts on inclusion, with an additional focus on North Carolina’s booming economy and how the workforce system ensures opportunities for everyone to participate in and benefit from that economic growth. Our goals are: 

• Build an inclusive workforce: Continue to share ideas and strategies that lead to inclusion in the growing workforce for untapped demographic groups, with emphasis on the justice-involved, Opportunity Youth, those on public assistance (including Medicaid Expansion), people with disabilities, and veterans.   
• Increase community outreach: Identify and use new ideas and strategies to educate the community – job seekers, businesses, and workforce partners - about our services.    
• Highlight the critical role of quality workforce services: Educate staff and the public about how workforce services intersect with and support NC's robust economic growth.   
• Understand the clean energy sector: Inform staff and the public about employer needs, available jobs at all skill levels, training for jobs, and impact on areas of the state where a manufacturer is not located. Includes: EV, wind, solar, green construction.  

Conference Agenda

• Updated Agenda at a Glance
• Note: Given the tremendous impact of Hurricane Helene on the state of North Carolina, this year’s NCWorks Partnership Conference has been condensed. The conference will start on Wednesday, October 9, as originally planned, and will wrap up at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 10. 

Exhibitors

Join the 37th NCWorks Partnership Conference and connect with hundreds of workforce development professionals from across NC! 

Governor’s NCWorks Awards of Distinction

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Governor's NCWorks Awards of Distinction. View the narratives HERE to learn more about each of the award recipients.

This year’s award recipients are:

• Outstanding Adult: Jason Walker (Vilas, NC)

• Outstanding Young Adult: Lyric Brown (Gastonia, NC)

• Outstanding Teen: Sarah Campo (Monroe, NC)

• Outstanding Family-Friendly Employer: Loba-Wakol, LLC (Wadesboro, NC)

• Outstanding Employer: Blum, Inc. (Stanley, NC)

• Outstanding Innovative Partnership: OPT-IN Innovative Partnership (Morganton, NC)

• Bill Ragland – Private Sector: Brian Holland (Cary, NC)

• Wayne Daves – Customer Service: Cynthia Holloman (North Wilkesboro, NC)

View the full list of Award Recipients and Nominees HERE.

For more information about this year's conference, contact us at ncworksconference@commerce.nc.gov