Thursday, April 9, 2026
1:30-6 p.m.
CADE 219 and CALT

Join leaders from academia, government and industry to explore how Maryland’s talent pool is our greatest driver of economic growth.

Workforce as a Competitive Advantage

As Maryland advances its position as a global leader in technology and innovation, the 2026 Chesapeake Regional Workforce Summit and Career Fair convenes the ecosystem’s most influential voices. From academic leaders shaping tomorrow’s talent to entrepreneurs scaling high-growth ventures, this event bridges the gap among classroom, community and commerce, and aligns strategy with opportunity.

Agenda

1:30-2 p.m.
CADE 219
Keynote: Maryland’s Competitive Advantage — Attracting and Retaining Workforce
Stephen Rice, deputy secretary, Maryland Department of Commerce

2-3 p.m.
CADE 219
Panel: Work-based learning 

• Carl Kushinsky, apprenticeship manager, Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corp.
• Tasha Cornish, Cybersecurity Association of Maryland
• Tim O’Ferrall, general manager, Fort Meade Alliance
• Bronwyn E. A. Bates, Workforce Program Manager, HCC
• Erin Roth, assistant secretary, Maryland Department of Labor
• Tom Dickinson, AACPS work-based learning career and technical education

3-3:30 p.m.
CALT
Networking 

3:30-3:50 p.m.
CADE 219
Micro Session: HR/CEO Perspective — What Employers Are Looking for in Candidates
Debbie Hatton, ITNova
Emily Channell, Tidewater HR Advisory

4-4:20 p.m.
CADE 219
Micro Session: Startup Community Workforce Needs 

4-6 p.m.
CALT
Career Fair
Register online.

In collaboration with: 

• Anne Arundel Community College
• Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp.
• Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation
• Maryland Department of Commerce
• MTC-CRC: Maryland Tech Council’s Chesapeake Regional Chapter
• Cybersecurity Association