OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission announced Monday that Oklahoma City will host the National Governors Association Summer 2022 Workforce Symposium this month.
“Time and time again, Oklahomans have proven that our state’s workforce is one of the strongest in the nation,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt. “We are excited to showcase our great state to our friends from across the country.”
The NGA Center for Best Practices Summer 2022 Symposium brings together workforce leaders across the nation to highlight best practices across the country. The event will run from Aug. 14-17.
Oklahoma’s innovative and impactful initiatives and programs developed to support employers and workers across the state will be highlighted throughout the symposium, Stitt said.
Panel topics range from addressing barriers to the workforce and the state’s growing film and entertainment industry. The week’s theme is Oklahoma: The Comeback Capital, a nod to Oklahoma’s recovery from the pandemic.
“The theme we chose, the Comeback Capital, reflects that resilient spirit and highlights the fact that our state didn’t just recover from the pandemic, we came back better than before,” OESC Executive Director Shelley Zumwalt said.
Speakers and guests will include Gov. Stitt, First Lady Sarah Stitt, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. Zumwalt will participate in a panel highlighting Oklahoma’s efforts to bridge the digital skills gap in the workforce.
“We are grateful to Governor Stitt for hosting this important convening which will serve as a valuable opportunity for governors’ workforce development leaders to share bipartisan best practices and innovative solutions to today’s most pressing workforce challenges,” said NGA Executive Director Bill McBride. “Workforce development is a key priority for governors across the country, and as a new member of NGA’s Executive Committee, we are excited to highlight Governor Stitt’s leadership on economic development on a national stage.”
Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association is the voice of the nation’s governors. The association’s members are the governors of the 55 states, territories and commonwealths. Members come to the association from across the political spectrum, but NGA itself is bipartisan.