Call for Presenters

NYATEP 2026 Fall Conference:

Strength in the Face of Change: Building a More Responsive, Skilled, and Resilient Workforce System

NYATEP is pleased to announce its fall 2026 conference, “Strength in the Face of Change: Building a More Responsive, Skilled, and Resilient Workforce System.” The conference will take place October 5 to 7 in Albany, New York, at the Hilton Albany. We will share more details about how to register soon.

For this conference, NYATEP seeks speakers who can inform and inspire the workforce development field by sharing innovative approaches, providing concrete understanding of key trends in industries or populations, or delivering practical skills and knowledge to participants.

PRESENTER THEMES AND TOPICS 

More specifically, we are looking for presenters interested in addressing the following themes and topics, although we are open to proposals outside this list:

1. Policy and Systems Change

• Initiatives driving changes to elements of New York state’s workforce development system, which could include state or federal policies or even practices. 
• Innovative programs, models, or initiatives responding to the new federal work requirements for SNAP and Medicaid recipients.

2. Employer-Informed Workforce Strategies

• Programs or initiatives that effectively link economic development and workforce development by leveraging economic growth to create new job opportunities for New Yorkers. 
• Employer-informed training models: programs that leverage insights from employers and labor market data to develop effective training programs with robust outcomes, including Registered Apprenticeships. 
• Sector-based programs or initiatives that are successfully filling the needs of employers in a key sector, including the semiconductor industry (or advanced manufacturing more broadly), healthcare, technology, child care (social assistance), or other priority or in-demand industry. 

3. Partnerships with Higher Education

• Programs or initiatives that leverage higher education resources (including future Workforce Pell opportunities) and institutional capacity to expand high-quality, industry-aligned training opportunities, including short-term credentials, career pathways, and programs that support learners’ transitions from education to employment and career advancement. 
• Model partnerships among colleges and universities, local Workforce Development Boards, employers, and community partners that align training programs with regional workforce priorities.

4. Effective Strategies for Serving Priority Populations

Programs or initiatives that successfully increase employment and/or reduce barriers for a target population, with emphasis on: 

• New Yorkers with disabilities 
• New Yorkers who are justice-involved 
• Other target populations  

5. AI (Artificial Intelligence): Tools for Workforce Development and Impact on the Labor Market

• The impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the future of work and ways the current workforce can prepare. 
• Leveraging AI in responsible, ethical ways into education, training, and employment programs to expand staff capacity and accelerate customer progress. 

6. Professional Development for the “Workforce Behind the Workforce”

• Novel techniques or programs for delivering professional development to workforce professionals.
• Innovative, formal credentials, including certifications or degrees specifically for workforce development or related fields. 

SESSION FORMATS

We are looking for presenters for any of the following formats: 

• Moderated Panel (90 minutes): Moderated discussion featuring two to four subject matter experts with diverse perspectives. 
• Breakout Workshop (60 minutes): Interactive, deep-dive sessions that encourage audience participation, case studies, and hands-on learning. 
• Lightning Talk (10 minutes): Short, high-impact presentations focused on emerging trends, data, or quick-win strategies. We plan to feature a few of these talks at this conference. 

Apply Now

NYATEP looks forward to reviewing proposals for presenting seeking to share innovative models, compelling trends, and practical skills to elevate the workforce development field. 

If you are interested, please submit one or more applications to present by August 15, 2026.