October Brings Opportunities for Leadership, Connection, and Learning

We are so excited about the month ahead! We have so many opportunities to connect with our brilliant partners here in Colorado and beyond to learn, explore, and design what’s next for preparing learners and earners for in-demand careers. And the biggest opportunity of all is our Career-Connected L/Earning Conference, Oct. 29-30 in Colorado Springs. We’ve been working on this conference all year, and we can’t wait to see you there!

Here’s where you can find us this October:

🗓️ October 7
🔹 Boettcher State of Leadership: San Luis Valley Convening — Fort Garland
Who will be the “Next Ten” leaders stepping up in the San Luis Valley? Ashley and Wes will join current and emerging community leaders for a conversation about strengthening the region’s leadership pipeline, building new connections and addressing the “Same Ten People” challenge identified through the Boettcher Foundation’s State of Leadership initiative.

🗓️ October 8
🔹 Postsecondary Talent Development System Transition Advisory Committee — Edwards
Michelle Camacho Liu will reconvene with fellow committee members to continue developing recommendations that will guide Colorado’s new unified postsecondary talent development system. If you'd like to join sign up through the RSVP link.

🗓️ October 12-14
🔹 CFO Leadership Conference — Westminster
Finance executives from across the country, including our own Michelle Payne, will explore emerging trends in leadership, AI and technology, economic conditions, and strategies for strengthening organizational performance.

🗓️ October 13
🔹 Superintendent Meeting — Monte Vista
Ashley and Wes will connect with San Luis Valley superintendents to continue strengthening regional collaboration needed for pathways that lead to in-demand careers and economic mobility.

🗓️ October 14-16
🔹 Leading with Value, Building Trust: Lumina State Policy Retreat — Philadelphia
Rana will join state teams from across the country for this invite-only convening focused on value-centered postsecondary attainment goals, better alignment between higher education and workforce needs, and how states define and measure credentials of value.

🗓️ October 20
🔹 Human Capital Summit — Arvada
As AI and emerging technologies reshape the workplace, what human skills will matter most? Katherine will join employers, executives, HR professionals and community leaders for this Greater Arvada Chamber and Colorado Inclusive Economy event exploring how organizations are staying competitive by investing in people, culture, and innovation.

🔹 Making Pathways Data Useful: Pathways Impact Community Workshop — Virtual
Michelle will join partners for a working session focused on making pathways data more useful and actionable.

🔹 CDE Technical Advisory Panel for PWR Accountability Metrics — Virtual
Stefan will join his fellow TAP member to work on designing Colorado’s Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness accountability metrics.

🗓️ October 21
🔹 Postsecondary Talent Development System Transition Advisory Committee — Virtual
The Transition Advisory Committee reconvenes.

🗓️ October 29-30
🔹 Career-Connected L/Earning Conference — Colorado Springs
It’s the event we’ve been looking forward to all year! The entire Attainment Network team will join hundreds of leaders from education, workforce, industry, government, philanthropy and community organizations for two days of learning, connection and collaboration focused on building stronger education-to-career pathways. We hope you’ll join us!

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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: 🔹 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. 🔹 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. 🔹 Sept. 10 | Homegrown Talent Coalition Steering Committee Michelle Camacho Liu and Stefan Richarz will join partners working to strengthen Colorado’s homegrown talent pipelines. 🔹 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. 🔹 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. 🔹 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. 🔹 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. 🔹 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. 🔹 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.