4th Annual Workforce Excellence Summit

Thank You!

Thank you for attending the 4th Annual Workforce Excellence Summit! Your presence and participation made this event truly special. This Summit reminds us that when workforce works, better work happens, and your partnership helps bring that vision to life every day. Let’s continue shaping opportunity and creating lasting impact across our region.

4th Annual Workforce Excellence Summit

Tuesday, September 16, 2025
10:00am – 2:00pm

Zoo Atlanta

800 Cherokee Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30315

When Workforce Works, Better Work Happens

At CareerRise, we believe that when all parts of the workforce ecosystem come together—employers, training providers, community organizations, and policymakers—better work becomes possible:

Better job quality
Better access to opportunity
Better outcomes for workers and businesses alike

This theme is more than a tagline. It’s a call to action: to strengthen our systems, share our learnings, and build meaningful partnerships that lead to long-term economic mobility. Throughout the day, we’ll explore how collaboration leads to impact and what it takes to make workforce systems work better for everyone.

Congratulations to our 2025 Workforce Excellence Award Winners!

We celebrate the remarkable organizations and companies whose achievements, innovation, and dedication are shaping the future of workforce development. You inspire us all to strive for excellence and to continue making a positive impact across our region.

We extend our warm congratulations to all of this year’s nominees. Each represents the collaboration and commitment that make Metro Atlanta’s workforce stronger. Thank you for your contributions and for inspiring us all.

View All Nominees

The Cinda Herndon-King Award for Excellence in Workforce Partnerships

The Cinda Herndon-King Award for Excellence in Workforce Partnerships reflects the excellence of Cinda’s work and honors an organization that has demonstrated innovation in creating collaborative, employer-driven career training programs in our metro Atlanta region. This organization creates family-sustaining wage opportunities and career pathways, and champions economic mobility.

2025 WINNER: Metro Atlanta Chamber

The Metro Atlanta Chamber has stood out for its leadership in aligning regional efforts, shaping legislative priorities, and launching innovative initiatives such as Connect to Work GA. Their partnerships have expanded access to credential-based training, apprenticeship pathways, and real opportunities in high-demand industries.

The Doug Hooker Award for Excellence in Workforce Impact

The Doug Hooker Award for Excellence in Workforce Impact recognizes businesses, organizations and partnerships bringing together employers, education and workforce development entities, and economic development organizations as a key economic driver to achieve a more equitable workforce.

2025 WINNER: Construction Ready

Construction Ready has been honored for its impact through programs like “See It to Be It,” which gives students immersive exposure to careers in construction, and for its dedication to creating real pathways for justice-involved individuals, families, and communities across our state.

The Mike Kenig Corporate Workforce Trailblazer Award

The Mike Kenig Corporate Workforce Trailblazer Award recognizes a corporation with exceptional leadership in advancing workforce development, economic mobility, and quality jobs. This corporate partner collaborates with community stakeholders to create employment pathways, invest in talent development, and promote impactful workplace practices. Their commitment to growing and sustaining a skilled workforce aligns with CareerRise’s vision of a vibrant regional economy driven by opportunities for all.

2025 WINNER: Delta Community Credit Union

Delta Community Credit Union is being recognized for its innovative High School Teller Apprenticeship Program. This initiative gives students the chance to work directly with members, build financial services skills, and gain real-world experience in a supportive environment.

Find all event resources, from the program to our giving campaign, in one place:

SUMMIT LINKS

Meet Our Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Michael Collins, Vice President at Jobs for the Future (JFF), is a nationally recognized leader in workforce and education transformation. With a focus on economic mobility, policy, and systems change, Michael has spent his career driving innovative strategies that create equitable opportunities for workers and employers alike.

At the Workforce Excellence Summit, Michael will deliver a keynote address, “Building a Future Workforce Where Every Worker Thrives: A Call to Action,” inspiring us to reimagine what’s possible when we align training, education, and employment to ensure lasting opportunity for all.

Learn more about Michael Collins