GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. (June 30, 2025) – Partnership Gwinnett, a leading advocate for championing economic prosperity, coordinated approximately 100 business and education leaders at Gwinnett Technical College for this year’s Partnership Gwinnett Workforce Forum. This energized and collaborative event aimed at addressing skills and certification gaps among entry-level job candidates in the metro Atlanta region.
Dr. D. Glen Cannon, president of Gwinnett Technical College, opened the forum with remarks, underscoring the role of technical education in building regional talent pipelines.
The event served as a platform for employers to provide direct feedback to local school systems regarding the competencies most frequently lacking in new hires. Top concerns included ongoing development in communication, soft skills, and applied learning as top barriers to hiring, onboarding, and productivity.
“This kind of open dialogue ensures that our education infrastructure is aligned with the evolving needs of business and industry,” said Senior Vice President of Partnership Gwinnett Kevin Carmichael. “Today’s honest conversations will shape tomorrow’s curriculum, problem-solving abilities, and career readiness strategies. Partnership Gwinnett is thrilled to help connect any gaps between technical certificates and what our job seekers offer in their industry needs.”
Career and technical education leaders, and workforce development professionals participated to hear and respond to employer needs. The event featured a keynote presentation from Dr. Josh Thomason, executive director of Trek AI at Greater Atlanta Christian Academy, who discussed the increasing role of artificial intelligence in future work environments. His remarks emphasized the need to integrate AI literacy and adaptability into education and workforce training models.
His insights set the stage for meaningful dialogue, reinforcing the importance of continued collaboration between educators and employers to ensure students are ready for the realities of tomorrow’s workforce
“The Workforce Forum created a necessary bridge between education and industry,” said Tamia Robb, CTAE Coordinator at Gwinnett County Public Schools. “When we listen and collaborate, we can deliver programs that prepare students not just to get jobs, but to build meaningful careers.”
Insights from the forum will inform programming at the 2025 Workforce Summit scheduled for October 23. The Summit will expand the conversation and showcase actionable solutions developed in response to employer feedback.
The Workforce Forum is part of Partnership Gwinnett’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Gwinnett’s position as a leader in workforce development across Metro Atlanta. To learn more about how Partnership Gwinnett is shaping the future of work through talent development, visit PartnershipGwinnett.com.
