Our Focus in May: Skills, Strategy, and Shared Solutions

April 30, 2026

May is packed with conversations about workforce innovation, civic leadership, and community connection. From national convenings on skills-based hiring and apprenticeship to regional events in the San Luis Valley and statewide strategy discussions, The Attainment Network team is showing up in spaces where ideas turn into action. We’re excited to keep building partnerships, elevating learner voice, and shaping the future of education-to-workforce systems. 

 

🗓️ May 1 
🔹
Future Ready Apprenticeship Center Launch — Virtual
Katherine will join leaders from across the country for the launch of the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center. Hosted by CareerWise, the event will feature the unveiling of 10 states leading the future of workforce opportunity through Apprenticeship America. 

 

🗓️ May 3–5 
🔹 Close It Summit — Santa Fe, N.M.

Leaders from across the country will gather at this national convening to explore strategies for closing gaps between education, training, and employment. Stefan and Ashley will join our career navigator,
@Okany Rivas, to present our work in the San Luis Valley and join conversations on skills-based hiring, stronger data sharing, and cross-sector partnerships that build a more equitable and effective workforce system. 

 

🗓️ May 4 
🔹
Colorado Future Systems Forum: Shaping the Future of Colorado’s Workforce — Denver
Rana will join leaders from across Colorado to explore the the social, economic, and behavioral barriers to upskilling and reskilling — and discuss policies needed to strengthen the workforce system. 

 

🗓️ May 7 
🔹 Care and Share Recipe for Hope — Monte Vista
Bringing together local businesses, organizations, and supporters, this community fundraiser raises awareness and support to address food insecurity across Southern Colorado. Ashley and Wes will attend to support programs that provide meals to individuals and families across the region while connecting with regional partners. 

 

🗓️ May 8 
🔹 Alamosa Chamber Arts and Awards Gala — Alamosa
Ashley will join community leaders and partners to celebrate leadership, economic development, and cultural contributions in the San Luis Valley. 


🗓️ May 11 

🔹 EGTC Apprenticeships for All Cohort Session – Denver
Libby is facilitating the second session with employers who are focused on strengthening their apprenticeship programs and expanding opportunity for learners and earners. 
🔹 Colorado Project Cohort Launch — Virtual
A new cohort of civic, political, and private sector leaders from across Colorado will come together to explore challenging policy issues and identify common ground for action. Rana has been invited to participate in the initiative, which aims to turn civil discourse into practical, collaborative solutions for Colorado’s future. 


🗓️ May 18 
🔹 L/Earner Voice Symposium — Virtual
Join us for this interactive session highlighting the power of learner and earner voices through a series of short Ted Talk-style presentations from learners and earners sharing their own experiences navigating education and career pathways. Our presenters are leading the way with development of programs and policies that support career-connected Learning outcomes.
Learn more and register. 


🗓️ May 19 
🔹 Future of Work: From Data Signals to Strategy — Denver
Rana and Stefan will join employers, talent leaders, and higher education partners to explore labor market signals and employer-led strategies to keep Colorado competitive. 


🗓️ May 21 
🔹 CDHE Career and Workforce Development Leaders Convening – Virtual
Rana will join this statewide convening focused on career and workforce priorities across Colorado’s higher education system. 


🗓️ May 27 
🔹 CEEMI Post-Session Legislative Briefing and Recap – Virtual
What happened at the Capitol this session—and what does it mean moving forward? This CEEMI briefing will unpack key legislative developments, including updates on HB 1317 and other action affecting education, workforce, and economic mobility. Rana will join partners for the discussion. 

RECENT ARTICLES

By Stefan Richarz • October 5, 2026
Colorado’s new Education and Workforce Pathways Dashboard is the first public look at COdata — and the beginning of a bigger shift toward better decisions for learners, employers, and communities.
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SENIOR MANAGER, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS 
October 1, 2026
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!