Unlock Your Potential: Insights for a Changing Workforce
Our Annual Workforce Summit brings together leaders, professionals, and experts from a wide range of industries to discuss and explore the key challenges and opportunities shaping today’s workforce.
The event features insightful presentations, interactive breakouts, and networking opportunities - all aimed at fostering collaboration and driving innovation. Attendees gain valuable insights into workforce trends, emerging technologies, and best practices, helping organizations navigate the evolving landscape and prepare for the future.
Whether you’re looking to build your leadership skills, connect with peers, or stay ahead of industry shifts, the Workforce Summit provides the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, October 30, 2025
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Schedule Item | Time | Location |
| Check-In, Breakfast Buffet & Networking | 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM | Falcon's Nest |
| Welcome & Introduction from Hosts River Falls Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau Business, Education, Leadership Link Committee | 8:00 AM - 8:20 AM | Falcon's Nest |
Letting Go: The Myth of Workplace Retention Keynote Speaker | 8:20 AM - 9:20 AM | Falcon's Nest |
| Intermission | 9:20 AM - 9:35 AM | - |
Jill Gorres & Alicia Schwartz The Whack-a-Mole Game of Healthcare Costs Breakout Speaker | 9:35 AM - 10:35 AM | Kinnickinnic River Theater (Room 320) |
| Rachelle Haroldson & Denise Woodford AI isn't scary - AI Basics/Tips/Tricks Breakout Speaker | 9:35 AM - 10:35 AM | Wind River Room (Room 232) |
| Dr. Heidi Luft & Renee Ernsting Employer Engagement in Child Care Breakout Speaker | 9:35 AM - 10:35 AM | Falcon's Nest |
| Intermission | 10:35 AM - 10:50 AM | - |
| Dr. Marya L. Wilson Making Uncertainty Your Ally Keynote Speaker | 10:50 AM - 11:50 PM | Falcon's Nest |
| Closing Remarks & Networking | 11:50 PM - 12:00 PM | Falcon's Nest |
| Post-Event Networking | 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM | Falcon's Nest |
Thank You Sponsors!
Meet the Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Jack Stahlmann
Jack Stahlmann is a professional speaker who leverages his experience as a Hollywood actor, producer, and director to help organizations with employee retention. His entertaining and informative talks reveal how to build a stronger team by inspiring creativity and improving morale—much like the cast of a successful film. Jack provides a unique and actionable message for a more engaged and loyal workforce. He is also an accomplished filmmaker, having produced several internationally successful films, and has been featured on the CBS drama Cold Case.
Dr. Marya L. Wilson
Dr. Marya Wilson is a seasoned professional with a diverse career spanning manufacturing, information management, and Silicon Valley's semiconductor industry. With leadership experience at 3M, Imation, and Pentagon Technologies, she now teaches organizational leadership, operations, and quality management. Her research explores psychological contracts, workplace trust, and the emotional impact of career transitions. She holds multiple degrees, including a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems.
Breakout Session Topics
AI Isn't Scary - AI Basics/Tips/Tricks
Ghosts, goblins, and vampires might be scary, but AI shouldn’t give you the heebie-jeebies. Come learn more about what AI is (and isn’t) and ways to actively integrate generative AI in your personal life or professional workflow. Through interactive exercises we will practice prompt engineering (re: getting the AI tool to produce the result you want) and critique the outputs for accuracy. Spooky costumes optional!
The Whack-a-Mole Game of Healthcare Costs
Health-care costs are creeping up like your streaming subscriptions—one click at a time. In this fast, funny, and ruthlessly practical session, we’ll unpack what’s actually driving 2026 medical renewals (specialty Rx, unit-cost inflation, site-of-care creep, stop-loss “surprises,” and the mysterious line item called “trend”). Then we’ll translate actuarial into English and give you a game plan to bend the curve—without punishing your people.
Perfect for: HR leaders, CFOs, owners—and anyone who’s tired of budget meetings that feel like horror movies.
Employer Engagement in Child Care
Child care shortages—often called child care deserts—are one of the biggest barriers to keeping parents in the workforce. In this session, business leaders will learn why these deserts exist, how they directly impact recruitment and retention, and what local solutions are emerging to address them. You’ll walk away with a clearer picture of the challenges families face, the ripple effects on your business and community, and practical steps employers can take to be part of strengthening Wisconsin’s workforce.
Meet the Partners
Partner Organizations
River Falls Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau
The River Falls Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau is a membership-based nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting, promoting, and supporting its members to enhance the local economy and cultivate a strong sense of community. The Chamber serves as a vital resource for both businesses and residents, providing opportunities for networking, professional development, and community engagement. As a leader in tourism, the organization also promotes River Falls as a vibrant destination to live, work, and visit. Its work focuses on driving economic growth and creating a dynamic business environment that benefits everyone in the region.
Family Friendly Workplaces
Family Friendly Workplaces is a membership-based nonprofit organization that addresses workforce shortages by strengthening families and certifying employers who prioritize work-life balance. Their mission is to make western Wisconsin a premier destination to raise a family. By encouraging businesses to adopt policies and practices that support early childhood and family bonding, they help employers recruit and retain talent. Through their certification program, they provide a platform for businesses to showcase their commitment to a positive work culture, proving that a focus on family benefits the entire community.
Business Education Leadership Link - BELL Committee
Chelsea Will
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Melissa Wilson
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Dawn Johnson
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Jenna Hanson
River Falls School District
Melisa Hansen
River Falls School District
Neil Kline
Family Friendly Workplaces