Vision Northwest North Carolina

Economic Development Summit Focused on Northwest North Carolina

The 6th annual Vision Northwest North Carolina summit will take place Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute's Watauga Campus in Boone, NC. 
Join us for a concentrated discussion on Defining the Skilled Labor Needs for Northwest North Carolina Today. 

Vision Northwest North Carolina brings together thought leaders from across the region to discuss current economic development trends impacting businesses, agencies, and communities. This year's event features a group of expert speakers and presenters, bringing thoughtful conversation around the evolution of the skilled trades in our region, and how our workforce development partners are positioned to meet emerging challenges.

Our keynotes and breakouts are designed to feature current best practices in the region, while also paying specific attention to emerging needs and educational emphasis placed on trades that can assist in recovery from Hurricane Helene. 

We are also excited to include a guided walking tour of the expanded trade laboratories at CCC&TI's Watauga Campus, seeing first-hand how new space will grow opportunities for job growth in this important sector of our regional workforce. 

Vision Northwest North Carolina is presented by SkyLine/SkyBest and Carolina West Wireless. 

The event is organized by a regional partnership that includes the Boone Area, Blowing Rock, Alleghany, and Ashe County Chambers of Commerce, Watauga County Economic Development Commission, Appalachian State University Career Development Center, High Country Council of Governments, High Country Workforce Development Board, and Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

Registration

Early Bird Ticket ($90) - Includes event materials, networking opportunities, breakfast, lunch, post-event reception, and recordings of all sessions. Available until April 25, 2025.

General Admission ($110) - Includes event materials, networking opportunities, breakfast, lunch, post-event reception, and recordings of all sessions.

Agenda - At a Glance

8:00-9:00AM  | Registration, Breakfast, & Networking

Sponsored by LifeStore Bank, & Spangler Restoration. 

9:00AM | Welcome to Vision Northwest North Carolina: Defining Today's Skilled Labor Needs

9:10-10:00AM | Morning Keynote Session
Sponsored by Carolina West Wireless

Featured Presenter:  Dr. Kim Case – MyFutureNC

To ensure North Carolina remains economically competitive now and into the future, in 2019, with bipartisan support in the General Assembly and a signature from the Governor, the state adopted one of the most ambitious goals in the nation–to have 2 million North Carolinians aged 25-44 hold an industry-valued credential or postsecondary degree by 2030. Dr. Case will provide updates on the programs goals and outreach along with examples of success in connecting industry and education partners within the region.

Case Study: Matt Makdad, General Manager, New River Light & Power

Workforce challenges impact businesses of all types, and those that identify where talent can be sourced have a better chance of avoiding disruptions due to labor transition. Matt Makdad, General Manager of New River Light & Power will share some industry-specific workforce trends along with strategies his team uses to work with local educators to create a pipeline of readily available talent that can be infused into his business quickly. 

10:00-10:30AM | Break & Networking

Sponsored by DMJPS, PLLC

10:30-Noon | Morning Breakout Sessions

Sponsored by New River Light & Power

• We Have a Program for That - As we consider the needs of today's workforce, many frontline managers are looking for reliable workers with specific skills. Education partners are communicating frequently with industry partners to ensure programs are meeting the current needs. Hear from a panel of educators and industry partners about emerging programs offered within the region, and how evolving labor needs can best be communicated to workforce development partners.

  • Krissy Hensley, Director of Clinical Operations, Graystone Eye

  • Wayne Randall, Director, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, Boone Center

  • Sara Thompson, Program Manager, Catawba County Partnership for Children  

• Crossover Skill Sets - There are numerous education pathways that offer flexibility across a variety of industries. Marketable and transferable skills like welding, CDL, and other certifications are driving wage growth for skilled trade workers. What skills are the most transferable? What is the key for students and parents to see the value in today's skilled trade jobs? Our panel will examine the skills that transcend industry needs, and how to get students interested in these lucrative pathways.
  • Dr. Stacy Buff, Vice President, Workforce Development, McDowell Technical Community College
  • Gary Hudson, Program Director, Welding Technologies, CCC&TI
  • Dr. Tammy Kowalczyk, Director of Accounting & Sustainable Business, Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University 

• Skills for Storm Recovery - Northwest North Carolina will be dealing with recovery from Hurricane Helene for years to come. The nature and impact of the storm has put an increase on demand for skilled laborers in niche areas, like river and land restoration, well and septic installation, road and bridge repair, and many other similar restorative needs. How can industry and education partners work quickly to ensure the pipeline is turning out the workforce that is needed to meet this unique moment? How can Helene be a lesson for workforce partners to mobilize to meet demand? Hear about specific programs that are in place and what jobs will emerge as recovery continues.
  • Derek Buchanan, Wheels Contracting, Inc

  • Aimee Fink, Executive Director, Lansing’s Bridge to Recovery 

  • Jennifer Greene, Director of Public Health, AppHealthCare 

Noon-12:45 | Lunch & Networking

Sponsored by the Watauga County Economic Development Commission

12:45 - 2:20PM | Afternoon Keynote Session
Sponsored by SkyLine/SkyBest

 
Featured Speaker: Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt

Lieutenant Governor Hunt will focus on tackling the child care and early childhood education crisis in North Carolina and champion strong investments in community colleges to bolster workforce development. These priorities will support the Lieutenant Governor’s vision of making North Carolina a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Together, these priorities make up Lieutenant Governor Hunt's Future-Ready North Carolina plan.  ⁠

Featured Panel Discussion: Connecting Educators with Today's Skilled Labor Needs

Our region is among the State's leaders in regularly connecting workforce development and industry partners, to ensure educational attainment strategy meets the current need for skilled laborers. Learn how these partnerships work, and how conversations about new businesses, expanded operations, and retraining can drive quick changes to what is offered from a workforce training standpoint in communities throughout the region. We’ll examine the success of these pathways from the viewpoint of students, educators, and industry representatives.

• • Dash Biles, Valle Crucis Middle School 

  • Chelsea Eldreth, CTE Teacher, Valle Crucis Middle School 

  • David Shack, Science Teacher, Valle Crucis Middle School 

  • Travis Eason, Electrical Trades Instructor, Ashe County High School 

  • Ty Little, Ashe County High School / Wilkes Community College 

  • John Anglin, Business Development Manager, BRANCH 

  • Rob Howard, Lecturer, Building Science, Department of Sustainable Technology & the Built Environment

2:20-2:30PM | Break & Networking

Sponsored by ERX Emergency Restoration Xperts

2:30-3:00PM | Guided Walking Tours

The North Carolina Community College system has been investing in facility upgrades across the state, helping to meet the evolving training needs of today's workforce. We'll break into small groups for a guided tour around the new $6M renovation of the of the expanded Occupational Training Building on the CCC&TI Watauga Campus. Get a first-hand look at the technology that is guiding student learning and success, see lab space that provides exposure to real-life work simulations for students, and see examples of workforce pipelines that are benefited from CTE feeder programs, enroute to a four-year degree. We'll also have staff from the other institutions throughout the region that can discuss workforce training options closer to your specific community.   

3:00-4:00PM | Networking Reception

Additional event support comes from Beech Mountain Resort, DMJPS, ERX Emergency Restoration Xperts, First Horizon, Lifestore Bank, New River Light and Power, and Spangler Restoration.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of Vision Northwest North Carolina? 

Select opportunities are still available, and include admission to the event, along with branding in front of a regional audience. Contact david@boonechamber.com for further details. 

For questions regarding registration, promo codes, or agenda, please contact us at carrie@boonechamber.com or call 828-264-2225.