Future-Proofing Your Workforce

CAEL's 2026 Virtual Convening

In a rapidly evolving economic landscape, the bridge between education and employment has never been more critical for local business communities. For chamber executives, workforce development is no longer just a committee item; it is the cornerstone of regional competitiveness.

On April 21-22, 2026, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is hosting its 2026 Virtual Convening, a premier two-day event designed to help leaders navigate the "education-to-work" ecosystem. For members of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), this convening offers a unique opportunity to gain actionable insights into how your chamber can lead the charge in talent retention, skill alignment and equitable economic growth.

Why This Matters for Chambers
As a chamber of commerce, you are the ultimate convener. You sit at the intersection of employers who are hungry for talent and educational institutions tasked with preparing the workforce. However, the traditional "pipeline" is shifting. Today’s economy demands a more responsive and seamless ecosystem that serves adult learners, veterans, and workers looking to upskill.

The CAEL Virtual Convening is specifically structured to address these modern workforce challenges. By attending, chamber professionals can bring home proven strategies to:

Solve the Talent Pipeline Crisis: Explore "Postsecondary Transition" strategies that tackle enrollment and retention challenges, ensuring your local businesses have a steady flow of qualified candidates.
Validate the ROI of Skills: Learn how to analyze the Return on Investment of various credentials. This allows chambers to better advise their business members on which certifications and degrees actually drive value in the local market.
Scale "Earn-and-Learn" Models: Dive deep into workforce integration through modern apprenticeship models and the potential of workforce Pell Grants—tools that allow your local workforce to gain skills while remaining employed.

A Focus on Collaborative Ecosystems
The theme of the 2026 convening emphasizes that no single entity can solve the workforce puzzle alone. CAEL’s mission aligns perfectly with the chamber mission: building organizational partnerships that center on the learner and the worker.

The agenda includes visionary keynotes on the future of work, practical case studies from successful regional partnerships, and toolkits for implementing Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)—a vital tool for recognizing the skills veterans and experienced workers already possess. For chambers, these sessions offer a blueprint for building "Military-Ready Ecosystems" and "Priority-Sector Research" initiatives that can inspire transformative funding and policy reform at the local and state levels.

Deep Dives and Practical Takeaways
Chamber leaders will find immense value in sessions dedicated to:

Building Sustainable Career Pathways: Collaborative models between industry and education that drive rapid outcomes for employers.
Equitable Economic Mobility: Strategies to support untapped talent pools, including multilingual employees and immigrants, helping them transition into family-sustaining wages.
Strategic Data Insights: Learning how to use data-driven insights to inform program design and secure regional funding.

Join the Conversation
The CAEL 2026 Virtual Convening is more than just a series of webinars; it is a collaborative space for those of us dedicated to the intersection of learning and work. Whether you are looking to revitalize your chamber’s workforce development task force or seeking new ways to support your region’s major employers, this event provides the "how-to" for the year ahead.

Don't miss this opportunity to help shape a more responsive and equitable workforce ecosystem in your community.
Register today to secure your spot and lead your community toward a more prosperous future.

Recognizing that adult learners are the backbone of the U.S. economy, CAEL helps forge a clear, viable connection between education and career success, providing solutions that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. CAEL opens doors to opportunity in collaboration with workforce and economic developers, postsecondary educators, employers and industry groups, and foundations and other mission-aligned organizations. Learn more at cael.org.