Talent Development is Focus of Upcoming Major Events

Is your organization challenged with attracting, retaining and developing talent? Don’t miss the opportunity to take advantage of Greater Des Moines Partnership resources and attend two upcoming Summits.

For several years, The Partnership has run a national digital marketing campaign to market the Greater Des Moines (DSM) region to prospective residents in markets across the country. This campaign has contributed to more than 325,000 people visiting the talent attraction pages on The Partnership’s website over the past five years.

Attracting talent is part of the equation, along with ensuring the people who already live here are prepared for jobs of the future and cultivating a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds to grow their life and career in DSM. The Partnership has a pair of major events approaching focused on those goals.

Future World of Work Summit

The inaugural Future World of Work Summit will take place on Monday, Oct. 24 at the FFA Enrichment Center at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Ankeny Campus. The event’s theme is “Strengthening Today for a Powerful Tomorrow.” Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from experts who highlight ways employers can adapt and thrive in the work and learning ecosystems of tomorrow.

Kermit Kaleba, Strategy Director for Employer Aligned Programs at Lumina Foundation, will present a keynote presentation on the topic of Human Work. The presentation will focus on giving employers a roadmap for the large-scale, radical changes people must make to find meaningful work in the 21st century. Casey Welch, Co-Founder, President & CEO at Tallo, will present on Generation Z and the Emerging Workforce, including an Iowa-specific report on attracting Gen Z to your workforce. The event will also include a local industry panel and a panel on adapting and thriving in tomorrow’s work and learning ecosystem.

Inclusion Summit

The 10th annual Inclusion Summit is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Nov. 9, also at the FFA Enrichment Center at DMACC. Attendees will have the opportunity to discover tools and resources to build equity-centered practices, systems and organizations. Speaker information will be finalized and shared in coming days.

The Inclusion Summit will also celebrate the winners of the Inclusion Awards. It is always inspiring to see the companies and organizations large and small that are emphasizing an inclusive and welcoming environment for people of diverse backgrounds.

Each of these events will not only advance important conversations in our community, but will also give employers tangible takeaways to help build workplaces that provide a welcoming environment for team members and prepare them for the future.

While you are at the summits, we encourage you to connect with The Partnership's new Senior Vice President of Talent, Jenae Sikkink. Jenae brings extensive experience from working in higher education at Central College as well as in several volunteer roles related to The Partnership’s work. Jenae’s leadership will help build on significant work that is already happening on the talent development front.

Please join us and register for the Future World of Work Summit and the Inclusion Summit by visiting DSMpartnership.com/events.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.