SKILLS SUMMIT VIDEOS

Mainstage Plenary at the 2025 Skills Summit

Stories shape how we see the world—and they influence public perceptions of work, education, and society as a whole. How we talk about skills, learners, workers, and opportunity can shape policy decisions and public support. This panel brings together narrative change experts to share key insights, messaging strategies, and the latest research on how narratives around work and education are evolving.

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Featuring:  

• Carrie Schum, Executive Vice President, Hattaway Communications 

• Andrew Volmert, Senior Vice President, Frameworks Institute 

• Carlos Diaz Barriga, Managing Director of Communications and Narrative Change, National Skills Coalition 

Mainstage Plenary at the 2025 Skills Summit

When workers and learners have a seat at the table, workforce and education policies are stronger and more effective. This session will explore innovative strategies to ensure workers are heard, valued, and positioned as decision-makers across all sectors—especially in a time when many feel unheard. Featuring workers, learners, and advocates, the discussion will highlight how diverse voices can help shape workforce and higher education policies that reflect real needs and opportunities.   

Featuring:  

• Saba Waheed, Director, UCLA Labor Center  

• Rachel Korberg, Executive Director, Families and Workers Fund 

• Michael Richardson, Director for Student and Worker Voice, National Skills Coalition 

• Rachel Wilkerson, NSC Student Advisory Council Member 

• Atheena “TT” Martinez, NSC Student Advisory Council Member 

• Brooke DeRenzis, Chief Strategy Officer, National Skills Coalition

Mainstage Plenary at the 2025 Skills Summit

State leaders and advocates are driving bold workforce and skills policies that create real opportunities for workers and businesses. This session will highlight effective strategies for advancing skills agendas, engaging policymakers, and building momentum. Attendees will hear state perspectives, gain insights from on-the-ground successes, and walk away with actionable ideas to strengthen their own advocacy efforts.   

Featuring:  

• Sarita Nair, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions 

• Danielle Barringer-Payton, Director of the Opportunity Youth Coalition, Invest in Louisiana 

• Therese Daly, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of New York State. 

• Melissa Johnson, Managing Director, State Strategies, National Skills Coalition

Mainstage Plenary at the 2025 Skills Summit

As AI reshapes industries, workforce policies must evolve to ensure workers have the skills needed to adapt and thrive. This session will explore AI’s real-world impact on workers and communities, highlighting both challenges and opportunities. Through a candid discussion, attendees will gain insights into how AI is changing the workforce today—and what policies can help workers adapt and succeed in this new era.    

Featuring :  

• Sheila Ireland, President and CEO, OIC Philadelphia 

• Molly Kinder, Fellow, Brookings Institute 

• Brent Orrell, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute 

• Yasmin Fallahkhair, Senior State Network Manager, National Skills Coalition 

• Brooke DeRenzis, Chief Strategy Officer, National Skills Coalition

Mainstage Plenary at the 2025 Skills Summit

From trade and tariffs to workforce investments, economic policies set the stage for job creation, business success and worker opportunities. This session will feature a dynamic Q&A with national experts on the impact of economic policy areas on the workforce. It will also include an interview with a leading policymaker, offering insights on the legislative landscape, economic policy priorities, and what’s next for workers and businesses.   

Featuring: 

• ​Congressman Steven Horsford, Nevada

• Harin Contractor, Director of Workforce Innovation, Burning Glass Institute 

• Chandler Morse, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Workday 

• Scott Paul, Alliance for American Manufacturing

National Skills Coalition Wraps up the annual three-day Skills Summit, where skills advocates from across the nation gather in Washington, D.C to elevate skills policy agendas and promote an inclusive economic recovery.

View NSC's Legislative Agenda for the 118th Congress: https://nationalskillscoalition.org/resource/publications/legislative-agenda-for-the-118th-congress/

2023 Skills Summit

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Panelists:

• Broderick Johnson, Executive Vice President, Public Policy & Executive Vice President, Digital Equity, Comcast 

• Representative Andy Levin, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

• Stephanie Martinez-Ruckman, Legislative Director for Human Development, National League of Cities

• Melissa Wells, Special Assistant to the President, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) & Elected Member, Maryland House of Delegates  
   

Moderated by Andy Van Kleunen, Chief Executive Officer, National Skills Coalition
 

2023 Skills Summit

Realizing the Equity Promise of Infrastructure Jobs Plenary 

2023 Skills Summit
 

Worker Story

Miguel Hernandez, Fresno, California

Remarks from Members of Congress:

Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Senator, United States Senate

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Panelists:

• Nicole Barcliff, Senior Policy Director, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)

• Allison Dembeck, Vice President of Education and Labor Advocacy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

• Eric Rodriguez, Senior Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, UnidosUS 
   

Moderated by Katie Spiker, Managing Director of Government Affairs, National Skills Coalition

2023 Skills Summit

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Remarks from Members of Congress

• Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Congresswoman, United States House of Representatives

• Mike Braun (R-IN), Senator, United States Senate

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Panelists: 

• Indivar Dutta-Gupta, President & Executive Director, The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)

• Dr. Anne Kress, President, Northern Virginia Community College

• Jennifer Stiddard, Senior Fellow, National Skills Coalition

• Dr. Jermaine Williams, President, Montgomery College

Moderated by Paul Fain, Journalist, The Job

2023 Skills Summit

Worker Story

Khaija Faulk, New Orleans, Louisiana

Q & A with Union Leader

• Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO (AFT)

• Brooke DeRenzis, Chief Strategy Officer, National Skills Coalition (moderator)​

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Panelists: 

• Tameshia Bridges Mansfield, Vice President, Workforce and Regional Economies, Jobs for the Future (JFF)

• Angela Hanks, Chief of Programs, Dēmos

• Abby Snay, Deputy Secretary for the Future of Work, California Labor and Workforce Development Agency

Moderated by Brooke DeRenzis, Chief Strategy Officer, National Skills Coalition

2022 Skills Summit

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Speakers: 

• Secretary Miguel Cardona, U.S. Department of Education

• Secretary Gina Raimondo, U.S. Department of Commerce

• Secretary Marty Walsh, U.S. Department of Labor
   

Moderated by Andy Van Kleunen, Chief Executive Officer, National Skills Coalition

2022 Skills Summit

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Opening remarks by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)

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Speakers: 

• Donald R. Cravins, Jr., Esq., Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, National Urban League

• Portia Wu, Managing Director of U.S. Public Policy, Microsoft 

• Dr. Sekou Siby, President and CEO, ROC United

Moderated by Rachel Unruh, Chief of External Affairs, National Skills Coalition

2022 Skills Summit
 

Opening remarks by Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA 3) and Representative Virginia Foxx

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Speakers: 

• Melissa Johnson, Managing Director, State Strategies, National Skills Coalition

• Jeannine LaPrad, Managing Director, Policy and Research, National Skills Coalition 
   

Moderated by Katie Spiker, Managing Director, Government Affairs, National Skills Coalition

2022 Skills Summit

Fireside Chat and Plenary Panel

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Speaker: 
Ambassador Susan E. Rice, Domestic Policy Advisor in the Biden Administration 

Response Panel: 

• Alex Camardelle, Director of Workforce Policy, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

• Derrick Figures, Labor and Economic Justice Director, Sierra Club

• Jee Hang Lee, President and CEO, Association of Community College Trustees

• Jennie Sparandara, Head of Programs, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
   

Moderated by Andy Van Kleunen, Chief Executive Officer, National Skills Coalition

National Skills Coalition Wraps up Three Day Skills Summit to Elevate Skills Policy Agendas and Promote an Inclusive Economic Recovery

2022 Skills Summit

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Speakers: 

• Daniel Bustillo, Executive Director, Healthcare Career Advancement Program (H-CAP)

• Alejandro Mendoza, Director, Human Resources, Optimax

• Luis Sandoval, Executive Director, Building Skills Partnership

• Dr. Beverly A. Scott, Founder, Introducing Youth to American Infrastructure, Inc

Moderated by Brooke DeRenzis, Chief Strategy Officer, National Skills Coalition

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Closing remarks by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)