New information about the 2020 Conference is confirmed every day, so be sure to check back often!
Registration will be opening October 1.

If you would like to receive updates about the 2020 Conference as soon as they are announced,
please utilize the button below to sign up for our newsletter.

Conference Announcements

Identify and highlight innovative and effective solutions to one of the most pressing challenges in our society

The Conference is an annual, action-oriented event where bipartisan state teams and individuals work together to address the issues facing our education and workforce development system, tackling topics such as:

• the crisis of the skills gap

• strengthening connections between business and education

• advocating for public policy changes

• providing high-quality career development

• creating career pathways within the education system

• and much more!

Join us June 10-12, 2020 in Kansas City to be part of the growing movement to align education with workforce needs.

More information on the 2020 Conference is coming soon, so please check back with us often. You can get a taste of what’s in store next year by exploring previous conferences above.

Connect with top leaders from across the country in education, business, government, and philanthropy

Unlike most conferences which are designed for a single sector, Western Pathways attracts leaders from multiple sectors, with over 100 cross-sector leaders speaking at each annual conference.

During the three-day event, there is a focus on interactive sessions and networking opportunities. At the Western Pathways Conference, you are not only learning about the issues, but you are making the connections you need to drive actionable change in your organization and community.

Previous presenters and participants have included…

• Current or former governors from six states: Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Montana, South Dakota and Oregon

• Deborah Herron, Director of Public and Government Affairs for Walmart

• Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University

• Beth W. Bean, Director of Research, Strada Institute for the Future of Work

• Brad Smith, President of Microsoft

• Becky Takenda-Tinker, President of Colorado State University

• Brian Hutchinson, Treasurer of the National Career Development Association

• Allen Blue, Co-Founder of LinkedIn

• Tammy Thieman, Senior Manager of Amazon Career Choice North America at Amazon

• Gabriela Gonzalez, Deputy Director of the Intel Foundation

• and many more!

Explore videos and presentation materials from the 2019 Conference here. Information about 2020 speakers coming soon, so be sure to check back with us often.

Learn cutting-edge ideas and best practices from exemplary programs across the Western states, and present your own

Each conference has more than 100 speakers who present in a multitude of formats so that all kinds of learners have the ability to understand the issues, make connections with industry leaders, and deepen their understanding of the task at hand.

Join the conversation on workforce development and education reform by registering as a regular attendee for the 2020 Conference, or consider the benefits of presenting:

• Showcase your brand or product before a highly-influential audience of education, business, government and philanthropic leaders.

• Position your organization as a leader in the movement to improve education and career and workforce development.

• Deepen your relationships with the states that will send prominent teams to the Conference.

• Network with influential regional and national leaders in an effort to create a more effective education and workforce development system.

• Help develop a robust talent pipeline for your business or industry.

Interested in being a speaker, sponsor, or partner of the 2020 Western Pathways Conference? Visit our contact page to learn how you can get involved.

Despite our “Western” name, the Conference welcomes leaders and attendees from across the nation who are involved in these issues. In 2019, 41 of 50 states were represented at the Conference.

More information about registration for the 2020 Conference coming soon, so be sure to check back with us often!