Oregon's Workforce and Talent Development Board (WTDB) and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) hosted the 2026 Oregon Talent Summit on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Salem Convention Center.

The 2026 Summit theme, Bridging Vision and Action: Forging Oregon's Path Forward, brought together leaders from across the state to focus on turning strategy into action through collaboration, data, and practical solutions. A central highlight of the event was the presentation of findings from the 2026 Oregon Talent Assessment—the biannual analysis of Oregon’s workforce that identifies in‑demand industries and occupations, evaluates supply-demand alignment, assesses job quality, and provides regional and equity insights.

Event Date and Location
May 19, 2026 • 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Salem Convention Center

Summit Presentations and Materials
Presentation files from the event will be posted here as they become available.

1a_Oregon Talent Summit_Parina Parikh

1b_Oregon Talent Summit_Venkat

1c_Oregon Talent Summit_John Tapogna

1d_Oregon 2026 Talent Assessment

Summit Highlights
The day included keynote sessions from state and regional leaders, networking opportunities, and four breakout tracks:

• Business Leadership & Economic Development: Aligning Employers, Talent & Growth
• Data to Action: Driving Policy & Outcomes
• Work-Based Learning: Connecting Education & Work Experience
• Youth Workforce Development: Pathways to Opportunity & Career Success

Speakers Included:
• Jessica Howard, President, Chemeketa Community College
• Andrew Dyke, ECOnorthwest, Senior Economist and Partner
• Sarah Means, Office of Governor Kotek, Workforce, Higher Education, and Economic Development Advisor
• Skip Newberry, Technology Association of Oregon, President & CEO
• Parina Parikh, Jobs for the Future (JFF), Associate Vice President – Workforce & Regional Economies
• Representative Hai Pham, Oregon House of Representatives
• KS Venkatraman, Nvidia (ret), Chair, Workforce and Talent Development Board
• John Tapogna, Oregon Business Council, President

Since 2018, the Oregon Talent Summit has brought together leaders from business, the Legislature, workforce development, postsecondary education, community-based organizations, economic development, and state agencies.