A2Y Chamber IMPACT: Building Washtenaw’s 2040 Workforce

The future of our local economy depends on the actions we take right now. A2Y Chamber IMPACT: Building Washtenaw’s 2040 Workforce is a critical, high-stakes working summit designed to tackle our region’s most pressing workforce challenges head-on. From navigating an aging demographic and AI disruptions to competing on a global stage, we need your unique perspective to help map out an actionable path forward.

Part 1: The Realities of Our Region
We kick off with hard-hitting insights from top regional leaders to frame the economic and social realities facing Washtenaw County. Dr. Darienne Driver Hudson, President & CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, breaks down critical ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) data to show how workforce development and success interact with social service needs.

Part 2: Unlocking Untapped Talent Pools
Discover the vital resources we have on hand and uncover the massive gaps we must bridge before 2040. This panel features frontline experts focusing on non-traditional, diverse, and skilled labor markets.

• Carl Weckerle, Vice President, Economic, Workforce, and Community Development at Washtenaw Community College,  Hospitality & Traditional Workforce
• Dr. Catherine Gaschen, Director of Career Technical Education, Washtenaw Intermediate School District,  Skilled Trades & Career Technical Education
• Shadin Atiyeh, Senior Director of Employment & Economic Programs, Jewish Family Services),  Immigrant Employment & Support Services
• Meghan Lechner, Director, College in Prison & Returning Citizens Fellowship EMU College in Prison Program, Returning Citizen Engagement
• Special Guest Speakers – Direct insights from Older Adult workforce participants and the Prisoner Reentry Coalition

Part 3: Fireside Chat
Dr. Domenico Grasso, President, University of Michigan provides an essential, dual-lens perspective as both a premier educational institution and a major regional employer.

Part 4: Accelerating Collective Action
Following our working lunch, we shift from discussion to immediate strategy. Phil Santer, COO, Ann Arbor SPARK, and Shamar Herron, Executive Director, Michigan Works! Southeast, will deliver a powerful charge to the community. They will lay out the raw realities of our aging population, the incoming wave of AI integration, and intense international competition. Then, an ask of the community for recommendations to put in place an actionable path to close our workforce gaps by 2040.

This event is your opportunity to be the first to hear—and actively shape—the exclusive blueprints for Washtenaw’s economic survival. You will leave with a precise understanding of the modern tools at your disposal and a direct seat at the table to champion these urgent solutions.

Don’t let our community’s future be decided without you!