DENVER — The recent Rocky Mountain Workforce Development Association (RMWDA) Conference held April 14 - 16 in Vail, Colo., brought together professionals from across the region for a dynamic exchange of ideas, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions in workforce development. The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) was pleased to participate in several impactful sessions. Below are highlights from the event:
Engaging With the K–12 System
Session: Engaging the K–12 System
Presenter: Sami Mooney
This session explored strategies to enhance understanding of K–12 education outcomes and tackle challenges in collaboration between workforce development and education systems. Participants learned effective approaches for engaging with K–12 institutions to support talent pipelines.
Innovative Partnerships
Session: Innovative Partnerships: Scaling Impact With Collaborative, Tech-Enabled Workforce Solutions
Presenters: Kara Johnson, Michelle Foley, Andrew Berchich
Presenters spotlighted a Jefferson County partnership with FreeWorld, a nonprofit operating in eight states with a workforce comprised of 50% justice-involved individuals. The partnership aims to create a seamless user experience for job seekers. The session emphasized the value of strategic partnerships and highlighted FreeWorld’s success in upskilling workers for the trucking industry, showing strong results in CDL-A license attainment and job placement.
Modernizing Career Pathways
Session: Join the Movement: Modernizing Career Pathways
Presenters: Thomas Hartman, Bobbie Wolfe
With 66 attendees, this session received positive feedback for its focus on the Quality Career Pathways Framework. Presenters discussed how the framework can help integrate existing national frameworks with Job Quality metrics.
Career Coaching and Mindset
Session: Career Coaching: Finding Your Ikigai and Having a Challenge Mindset
Presenter: Thomas Hartman
Forty-three attendees engaged in an interactive workshop to map their "Ikigai" — a Japanese concept meaning “reason for being” — and used challenge cards to identify what the world needs from them professionally.
Modernizing Connecting Colorado
Sessions: Modernizing Connecting Colorado: Cultivating Business Success & Building Career Pathways and Support
Presenters: Stephanie Mufic, Julie Palacios, Nicholas Brandt, Aaron Weisser
These sessions focused on the modernization of Connecting Colorado (CoCo), the state’s online career services platform. CoCo now integrates the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) and complements My Colorado Journey, enhancing career exploration. The platform aims to be the central hub of Colorado’s workforce system, with added features for businesses to view key occupational skills.
Evaluation and WIOA Implementation
Session: Evaluation — Who, What, Why, and Next Steps
Presenters: Robin Bauknecht (CDLE), Greg McBoat (Adams County), Yolanda Clark and Brian Richard (Northern Illinois University), Barbara Larsen (Workforce Boulder County), Peter Schmitz (DEDO), Kristin Clark (Jefferson County)
This session offered an overview of workforce program evaluation, highlighting Colorado’s leadership in measuring the impact of public workforce initiatives under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
NoCo Works Initiatives
Session: NoCo Works: Mobilizing a Two-County Region for Strategic Workforce Development
Presenters: Kelsey Baun, Lisa Taylor
This session showcased NoCoWorks.com and its recent publications, including an Economic Inclusion: Inclusive Engagement Guide and an External Barriers Report, which addresses key challenges in child care, housing, and transportation.
The RMWDA Conference provided valuable insights and opportunities for collaboration. We look forward to continuing to work to advance workforce development through a skills-based talent development network in Colorado.