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.
Tentative Schedule of Events
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Schedule Item | Time | Location |
| Check-In, Breakfast Buffet & Networking | 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM | Falcon's Nest |
| Welcome & Introduction from Hosts | 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM | Falcon's Nest |
Presentation TBA Keynote Speaker | 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM | Falcon's Nest |
| Intermission | 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM | - |
| Breakout Speaker: Option 1 | 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM | Kinnickinnic River Theater (Room 320) |
| Breakout Speaker: Option 2 | 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM | Wind River Room (Room 232) |
| Breakout Speaker: Option 3 | 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM | Falcon's Nest |
| Intermission | 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM | - |
| Dr. Marya L. Wilson Making Uncertainty Your Ally Keynote Speaker | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Falcon's Nest |
| Closing Remarks & 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 Speakers
Renee Ernsting
Renee Ernsting is the Executive Director of Child Care Partnership. With extensive experience at the agency, she is dedicated to promoting positive outcomes for young children and their families across 10 western Wisconsin counties. Her work focuses on connecting families with vital child care services, developing professionals in the field, and gathering data to address complex community needs. Renee is committed to developing solutions that address the multifaceted child care challenges in the region.
TBA
TBA
Dr. Heidi Luft
Dr. Heidi Luft, PhD, RN, is the Executive Director of Thriving Wisconsin, which administers the state’s Child Care Resource and Referral and Family Resource Center Networks. A seasoned public health nurse and former academic researcher, Dr. Luft specializes in program implementation, team collaboration, and policy advocacy. She now applies this expertise to lead Thriving Wisconsin, focusing on leveraging the organization's unique statewide platform to facilitate widespread access to quality early childhood programs and support services. Her work is dedicated to leading large-scale improvements in service delivery and health outcomes for Wisconsin's children, families, and providers.
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