April Lookahead

March 31, 2026

APRIL IS FULL OF OPPORTUNITY AND We're LEANING IN

April is full of opportunities. From executive-level conversations on employer engagement to career-connected learning in the San Luis Valley, The Attainment Network team continues to lead, learn, and collaborate in spaces shaping the future of education-to-workforce systems.


Here’s where you can find us this April:


๐Ÿ—“๏ธ March 31 – April 2
๐Ÿ”น Axim Collaborative: Employer Engagement CoLab – Cambridge, MA
Rana and partners from MSU Denver, CCD, and Colorado Thrives will join senior leaders from higher education, workforce, and technology sectors across the country for this working session focused on building talent pipelines that work, with specific goals of shortening time-to-hire and improving early-career performance.


 ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ April 1
๐Ÿ”น Illuminate the Possibilities: SLV CTE & ICAP Summit – Alamosa
Ashley and Wes will join educators from across the San Luis Valley for this full-day learning event focused on strengthening student pathways and career readiness, including an opportunity to participate in CTE specialists' credentials training exploring the potential of ICAP. 


๐Ÿ—“๏ธ April 3
๐Ÿ”น CACEP Conference – Colorado Springs
Michelle and Emily will join K-12,higher education leaders, advocates from across the state to explore best practices, emerging opportunities, and challenges in expanding access to concurrent enrollment.

๐Ÿ”น Northern Colorado Intersections Report Community Check-In – Windsor
Libby is participating in this community event, hosted by the NoCo Foundation, convening partners to reflect on regional progress and shared goals for improving well-being across Northern Colorado.


๐Ÿ—“๏ธ April 7
๐Ÿ”น CoData Feedback Session – Denver
In partnership with the Better Data for Better Decisions coalition, Stefan will lead a small stakeholder session with Colorado Succeeds to share updates and gather feedback on Colorado’s Statewide Longitudinal Data System.


๐Ÿ—“๏ธ April 7–9
๐Ÿ”น CDLE Career Summit – Denver
Ashley will join workforce leaders from across Colorado for this annual summit focused on aligning strategy, services, and outcomes across the workforce system.


๐Ÿ—“๏ธ April 13–15
๐Ÿ”น ASU + GSV Summit – San Diego, CA
Rana will attend this global convening of leaders focused on innovation in education and workforce systems, exploring how to expand access to opportunity across the learning lifecycle.


๐Ÿ—“๏ธ April 13
๐Ÿ”น Space Symposium International Teacher Liaison Workshop – Colorado Springs
Emily will join educators from around the world to explore new approaches to STEM and space science and how to inspire learners toward careers in the space industry.


๐Ÿ—“๏ธ April 20
๐Ÿ”น Think BIGGER: Building the Talent that Builds Denver | A Joint Initiative of the City and School District to Expand Youth Workforce Opportunities – Denver
The Attainment Network team will support this event bringing together local, state, and national leaders to strengthen Denver’s youth workforce ecosystem and expand access to meaningful career development opportunities.


๐Ÿ—“๏ธ April 22
๐Ÿ”น Community College of Aurora CAST Building Tour – Aurora
Libby, Michelle, and Rana will join partners for a tour of the new Center for Applied Science and Technology, exploring innovative learning environments and workforce-aligned programming.


๐Ÿ—“๏ธ April 27
๐Ÿ”น Professional Learning Series: Commission on Purposeful Pathways – Virtual
The Attainment Network team is hosting a virtual professional learning session focused on advancing career navigation and purpose-driven pathways across education and workforce systems. Register for the free webinar here. 


๐Ÿ—“๏ธ April 29
๐Ÿ”น Entrepreneurship and Innovation Expo – Alamosa
Ashley and Wes will support this hands-on event providing learners with hands-on opportunities to explore careers in healthcare. Learners will engage directly with professionals, explore the mobile healthcare lab, and showcase their entrepreneurial projects through a Shark Tank-style presentation experience.


๏ปฟ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ April 30
๐Ÿ”น Partners in Construction Debut Meeting – San Luis Valley
Wes will join partners for the kickoff of this new collaborative effort focused on strengthening construction career pathways in the San Luis Valley.


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Meet the Ingredients in our Secret Sauce

September 4, 2026
Behind every great partnership, successful initiative and ambitious idea is an incredible team of people who make it happen. As The Attainment Network continues to grow, we're evolving our team to better support our partners, communities and the work ahead. Please join us in congratulating these team members on their new roles — and getting to know a few of the superpowers they bring to the table. Libby Klingsmith, Vice President for Strategic Partnerships Libby leads with kindness and brings a joyful energy to every partnership. As Vice President for Strategic Partnerships, she'll lead our strategic partnership work, strengthening relationships across sectors and regions, cultivating new partnerships and funding opportunities, and helping translate what we learn through regional implementation into broader learning and impact across Colorado. Michelle Camacho Liu, Director of Partnerships and Systems Strategy Where others see complexity, Michelle sees opportunity. As Director of Partnerships and Systems Strategy, she'll provide strategic leadership across some of The Attainment Network's most important initiatives, including the Denver Metro Regional Partnership, while advancing statewide policy and systems alignment and strengthening partnerships across agencies and sectors. Katherine Stewart, Director of Partnerships and Engagement With her special brand of gentle yet firm leadership, Katherine keeps all our ducks in a row. In her role as Director of Partnerships and Engagement, she'll strengthen collaboration across our regional partnerships through operational leadership while guiding strategic initiatives, consulting services, new business development and grants management. If there are a dozen moving pieces, chances are Katherine already has them organized. Ashley Maestas, Director of Rural Partnerships Ashley has a gift for energizing people around a shared vision. As Director of Rural Partnerships, she'll continue leading the San Luis Valley regional partnership and its healthcare and construction pathway initiatives while helping other rural communities build the partnerships and systems needed to expand opportunity for learners and earners while meeting critical workforce needs. Wes DeVaul, Coordinator of Operations and Rural Partnerships Wes reminds us to laugh while he rolls up his sleeves and makes things happen. As Coordinator of Operations and Rural Partnerships, he'll help expand the San Luis Valley's successful healthcare pathways model into construction and other high-demand industries while supporting the partnerships that make this work possible. Emily Chatburn, Coordinator of Operations and Professional Learning Emily is our behind-the-scenes mastermind, turning ambitious plans into seamless execution. As Coordinator of Operations and Professional Learning, she'll lead our professional learning and events strategy, provide project management for key strategic initiatives and strengthen the day-to-day operations that keep our work moving forward.

On the Road this September

September 4, 2026
While we’re busily planning the Career-Connected L/Earning Conference with our partners, we’re also looking at a busy month ahead of connecting, listening and collaborating across Colorado. From strengthening career advising and navigation to advancing regional workforce strategies, improving the use of education and workforce data, and helping shape Colorado’s evolving postsecondary talent development system, The Attainment Network team will be in conversations across the state this month. Here’s a look at where we’ll be: ๐Ÿ”น Sept. 1-2 | Construction Collaboration Event | Alamosa Ashley Maestas and Wes DeVaul will connect with regional partners as the Colorado Attorney General’s Office visits the San Luis Valley to learn more about the work underway across Southeast Colorado. ๐Ÿ”น Sept. 2 | Economic Summit | Monte Vista Wes will join regional leaders for conversations focused on economic opportunity and the future of the San Luis Valley. ๐Ÿ”น Sept. 10 | Homegrown Talent Coalition Steering Committee Michelle Camacho Liu and Stefan Richarz will join partners working to strengthen Colorado’s homegrown talent pipelines. ๐Ÿ”น Sept. 11 and Sept. 24 | Postsecondary Talent Development System Transition Advisory Committee | Denver Michelle and her fellow TAC committee members will continue working on recommendations for Colorado’s reenvisioned unified postsecondary talent development system. ๐Ÿ”น Sept. 16 | Welcome for Dr. Keith Richard, CCCS | Denver Rana Tarkenton will join education and workforce leaders in welcoming Dr. Keith Richard to Colorado as he steps into his new role as the Vice Chancellor for Workforce Solutions and Innovation at CCCS. ๐Ÿ”น Sept. 16 | Rocky Mountain Partnership Community Leadership Council Rana will join leaders from education, business, government and community organizations working toward a shared regional goal of putting 71,000 more young people on track for economic mobility by 2030. ๐Ÿ”น Sept. 17 | Better Data for Better Decisions Coalition Stefan will lead the coalition’s bi-monthly meeting as education and workforce partners continue working toward a more relevant, accurate and user-centered longitudinal data system for Colorado. ๐Ÿ”น Sept. 18–19 | SLV Collaboration Summit | Monte Vista Ashley and Wes will join leaders and community partners from across the San Luis Valley to strengthen connections, celebrate progress, and align around shared priorities that create greater opportunity for learners, earners, employers, and communities. ๐Ÿ”น Sept. 24 | At the Center: Education in the Pikes Peak Region | Colorado Springs Emily Chatburn will join Peak Education and community partners to explore the challenges and opportunities facing local students and the future of education in the Pikes Peak region. We’re looking forward to the conversations ahead this month. Be sure to reach out to us if you’ll be at any of these events. We’d love to connect.