The Central to Success Workforce Solutions Summit is a regional collaboration with seven local Chambers of Commerce, presented by Centergy.
This Summit aims to tackle workforce issues by uniting regional resources to address and take action on the most significant workforce shortage our region has faced in decades. While there have been workforce summits before, this event is uniquely focused on providing practical solutions for your business, community, and organizations.
Collectively we can successfully maneuver this climate with private and public support, by attending this summit you will be equipped with the knowledge, tools, and connections to help you impact your organization's workforce needs.
We are thrilled to announce two of our keynote speakers, with many more to come:
Layla Merrifield, President of the Wisconsin Technical College System
Layla Merrifield was appointed president of the Wisconsin Technical College System in September 2024. Prior to her current role, Layla was the executive director of the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association, an organization representing the trustees of the 16 Wisconsin technical colleges’ district boards, since 2015. Prior to that she served as a fiscal analyst for the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau then a Wisconsin Technical College System policy advisor.
Layla has an extensive background in System-wide leadership and advocacy, and intimate knowledge of local colleges’ operations, student success goals and challenges. Having served in a System-wide leadership role for the past nine years, she is well-practiced in maintaining consistent communication between and among various stakeholder groups.
Layla has a bachelor’s degree in politics from Hendrix College and is pursuing a Master of Education degree, an articulated pathway to Doctor of Education.
Matt Kirchner, President of ATS/LAB Midwest and Host of The TechEd Podcast.
Matt Kirchner is an international speaker, author, and podcast host on topics of interest to educators, public policy makers and private employers.
On a mission to secure the American Dream for the next generation of STEM and Workforce talent, Kirchner hosts the weekly TechEd PodcastTM and serves as President of ATS/LAB Midwest, the leading distributor of world-class curriculum, eLearning and training equipment.
Kirchner writes monthly leadership columns appearing in Products Finishing and Production Machining magazines and is the author of “Teaching the Industrial Internet of Things: Preparing Students and Learners for Industry 4.0.”
Previously Kirchner led three world class manufacturing companies during a 20+ career as an industrial CEO. He and his partners sold their last company, American Finishing Resources, to DuBois Chemicals in 2014.
Kirchner serves on the boards of directors of several American companies and among his many volunteer activities is currently the First-Past President of the Education Dealers Association and holds a seat on the board of the Smart Automation Certification Alliance. He is a graduate of the Marquette University School of Business.
Matthew Kures, Community Economic Development Specialist and Researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension Community Development Institute
Matt Kures is a Community Development Specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension Center for Community and Economic Development. Working in partnership with Extension’s statewide network of Community Resource Development (CRD) educators, he carries out the Wisconsin Idea by assisting communities and organizations in the areas of regional economic analysis, labor force research, socio-economic impact analysis and industry sector competitiveness.
Matt’s current research emphases include industrial cluster policy, labor mobility, and changes to regional commuting patterns. Matt has worked in the Center since 2001. During this time he has authored numerous studies on Wisconsin’s economy and has made over 100 presentations to local, regional and national audiences.
Matt was a regular contributor to the Capitol Region Business Journal and his work is featured in numerous other business and economic development publications. Matt was named to “Madison’s 40 Under 40” by In Business magazine. He and his Center colleagues were also recognized with the 2009 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement. In 2016, he received the Outstanding Specialist Award from UW-Extension’s Community, Natural Resource and Economic Development program. Matt is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Pre-Summit Networking Reception 3/18
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Local Networking Reception
Workforce Solutions Summit Agenda 3/19
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Date & Time
Wed, Mar 19, 2025 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Venue Details
Food + Farm Exploration Center
3400 Innovation Drive Plover, Wisconsin 54467
Centergy
Centergy, Inc. is a 501(c)4 nonprofit regional marketing and economic development organization. Our purpose is to foster collaboration among private and public-sector leaders throughout the five counties of central Wisconsin that make up the Centergy Region: Adams, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage, and Wood Counties.
The Centergy brand provides an effective way to leverage the collective economic power of the region’s five counties. It allows us to unite the region’s efforts in talent attraction and development, regional brand development, business development, and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship within the business community.
Add To Calendar
Share 
