About

THE OBJECTIVES

CREATE A UNIFIED
COALITION

Industry leaders, policymakers, educators, labor unions, and trade organizations will unite to advocate for critical policy changes—including Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) reauthorization—and establish a collective action plan to increase participation across the built environment workforce.

SHARE BEST
PRACTICES

Identify and document successful workforce development models, including apprenticeship programs, public-private partnerships, and educational initiatives, that can be replicated across the country to create sustainable career pathways and attract new talent pipelines across the built environment

COMMUNICATE A
CLEAR ROADMAP

Introduce a roadmap for transforming how we attract, train, and retain new talent in the built environment workforce, focusing on creating high-quality, long-term careers rather than just filling immediate job openings.

THE SCHEDULE

PART 1

By the Data: Decoding America’s Labor Market Shortage
Join us for a data-driven exploration of America’s workforce challenges. Through research, industry intelligence, and demographic analysis, uncover how shifting populations, retirement patterns, and worker expectations are revolutionizing our labor market. Examine impacts across critical sectors, track workforce trends, and understand the evolution of compensation and workplace culture—with special focus on new participation in the built environment workforce. These sessions equip leaders with strategic insights to navigate the most profound labor market transformation of our time.

PART 2

The Built Environment Workforce: Industry Leaders Address the Labor Crisis
Top executives across the built environment share frontline insights into diversifying the workforce and addressing the critical labor shortage. Through compelling case studies, these industry leaders will reveal innovative programs that are successfully attracting and elevating participation in the building trades—from successful apprenticeship initiatives to strategic partnerships with technical schools. Learn how organizations and labor unions are dismantling traditional barriers through reimagined compensation structures, flexible work arrangements, and clear advancement paths. These speakers will showcase how their companies are transforming workplace culture, implementing inclusive mentorship programs, and creating more opportunities across the trades.

PART 3

Policy Solutions for Advancing America’s Built Environment Workforce
Join local government leaders, state legislators, and congressional representatives for a critical examination of policy initiatives addressing untapped talent pools in the built environment workforce. Speakers will explore how the reauthorization of WIOA and emerging state-level programs can break down systemic barriers and create new opportunities. Learn how policymakers are expanding access to technical education, incentivizing inclusive apprenticeships, and fostering public-private partnerships that create sustainable career pathways. Speakers will showcase innovative policies that are successfully increasing participation across the built environment through strategic government action, from targeted funding initiatives to transformative workforce development programs.

Closing Panel Moderating Partner

PUNCHBOWL NEWS is a membership-based news community founded by journalists and best-selling authors Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer, and co-founded by veteran Capitol Hill reporter John Bresnahan. Punchbowl is the Secret Service nickname for the Capitol. Our credo is Power, People, Politics. We focus relentlessly on the people in Washington who make decisions, and on the news and events that will move political markets. Punchbowl events will bring you closer to the news, and help you better understand Washington's leadership.

Mica Soellner, Senior Congressional Reporter, will moderate this session