It’s OK to Use Your Hands: Elevating the Skilled Trades 
It's time to recognize that "it’s okay to use your hands" and to elevate the skilled trades to the respect and recognition they truly deserve. Join Amy Rogers, Senior Vice President of Bridge Sales & Estimating at W&W | AFCO Steel and Be Pro Be Proud board member, as she discusses industry partnerships, student outreach, hands-on virtual experiences, and student support. Hear from two students on how Be Pro Be Proud boosted their confidence in pursuing a sustainable trade career. Learn how advocacy and partnerships can support your own workforce development program.

The Dos and Don'ts of Hiring 
Hiring is hard, but there are several key steps business owners can take to ensure it's no more difficult than it needs to be.

Effective Shop Staff Recruitment and Development 
How can we effectively recruit and then train the key crafts of layout and fitting? Learn how to grow a healthy staff pipeline and develop a complete layout and fitting training system to complement the skills commonly taught in career and technical education.

Creative Solutions for Shop Talent Recruitment 
This presentation details innovative shop talent recruitment strategies for people managers, HR professionals, and business leaders, focusing on leveraging partnerships with local workforce development organizations, like KentuckianaWorks and the Academies of Louisville, to attract, train, and retain skilled workers, and foster community economic growth.

Start Them Young: Accessing Youth Apprenticeships 
Building a training and mentorship program for youth apprenticeships is a highly rewarding effort that brings significant benefits to your company's workforce development, including federal and state financial support. By proactively navigating the Registered Apprenticeship system and local child labor laws, you can successfully implement this valuable program and foster the next generation of skilled workers.

Industry Collaboration to Solve a Statewide Skilled Trades Shortage 
Work IN Roads is an Indiana-based collaboration in heavy civil engineering and construction that tackles the skilled trade shortage through civil construction pathway programming for high school students, ultimately increasing awareness, connecting students to employers, and providing a replicable model for industry growth.

Partnerships in Action: The Workforce of Tomorrow is Today 
Discover how to build effective relationships to support workforce development. Learn how Ohio Gratings, Inc. successfully partners with local Career Technical Education (CTE) programs and high schools to fill skilled labor positions. This session will provide practical strategies for forming partnerships and developing a successful, scalable program to sustain your future. Rather read than listen? See a summary of these strategies in Modern Steel Construction.

Breaking the Boundary Between the Shop and the Office: Candid Discussions on Steel Industry Career Paths 
Moving from the fabricator shop floor to the office is a big move for those who persevere through the very clear differentiation between shop and office personnel. This discussion centers around the challenges, seen and unseen, surrounding this career path, how your company can support this track more successfully, and why shop experience builds the most knowledgeable office staff for your competitive company.

AISC Fabricator Education Training Program--Accelerated Onboarding 
Explore AISC’s all-new online training curriculum tailored specifically for steel fabricators. As the demands on the industry evolve, embracing innovative learning approaches becomes essential. In this session from NASCC: The Steel Conference, we showcase a curriculum designed to introduce new employees to the world of steel fabrication and upskill current employees as they progress in their careers.

The Ins and Outs of AISC's New Fabricator Training Program 
Empower your team and boost your company’s competitive edge with AISC's new Fabricator Training Program. Designed for training new staff and upskilling existing staff, this new program (free to AISC full members) not only enhances your staff's expertise but also strengthens your recruitment and retention strategies. By investing in top-tier training, you’ll cultivate a highly skilled workforce, reduce turnover, and position your company as an industry leader in steel fabrication. This session will provide key information to help you access and implement the new program.

Forging Loyalty 
There's no magic bullet when it comes to recruiting and retention. But tracking the process and focusing on the "why" can help you find--and retain--a dedicated, high-quality workforce.

Building Your Future Leaders 
Strong mentoring programs have long-term benefits, because we're all in the people business.

Priming the Space for Talent Retention through Self-Reflection, Humility, and Belonging 
Through an exploration of cultural humility and the ecosystem of an inclusive organization, participants will explore the role of perspective-taking in creating organizational cultures where existing and future talent of all backgrounds can thrive.

Strong as Steel: Building Mental Might 
Lexicon’s Strong as Steel program reduces mental health stigma in the construction industry by addressing unique challenges, fostering a supportive workplace, and highlighting Lexicon, Inc.'s comprehensive support services, such as an on-site health clinic, telehealth services, Employee Assistance Program, and expanded leave options.

How Will AI and Robotics Impact Your Workforce? 
New fabrication technology doesn't just impact your capital budget; it also impacts your labor force and your labor costs. While some jobs will be eliminated, others will be created. And all of your workers will require new training. It's likely that salaries will climb, but so will profits as productivity increases. This panel discussion will explore the impact on your business as well as provide strategies to position you and your company for success in this rapidly changing landscape.