Robert J. Visdos is the president of the Workforce Institute, a dynamic workforce and economic development consulting firm located in Portland, Oregon.   The organization specializes in solutions to improve the roles and services of community colleges, universities, workforce boards and non-profit organizations in meeting the workforce needs of business, industry and government.  Services are also provided to government agencies that are responsible for workforce and economic development activities and boards that oversee workforce development in their local or state jurisdictions.

Mr. Visdos began his workforce development career in 1978.  During his career he has been a practitioner, a manager and an executive in a variety of workforce development, economic development and community college capacities. 

John M. Ondov is the Founder of Lifelab Institute, LLC in the Twin Cities.  Mr. Ondov has a B.A. Degree in English, Speech and Theater from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota.. In addition, he has studied at the Public Sector Administrative Institute at Harvard University.

Mr. Ondov provides a full range of strategic, marketing/communications, creative, production, and project management services to business, industry, K-16 education, and local, state, and national workforce development agencies. His primary focus is to better align education and training with the advanced skills needed by business and industry as we compete with and engage world-class markets.

Dr. Laurance J. Warford is the Project Director for the College and Career Transitions Initiative (CCTI), a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and the League for Innovation in the Community College.   In this capacity he oversees a major project concerned with the improvement of student transitions between secondary and postsecondary education and on to careers.  Prior to this, Dr. Warford served as a community college liaison for the U.S. Department of Labor and was a community college administrator for some forty years in Oregon and Iowa. 

Nationally recognized for his research and leadership in workforce training and lifelong learning, he has numerous publications to his credit and makes presentations at national conferences across the country. 

Kris Latimer is the Chief Executive Officer of The Oregon Consortium.  In her current role she is responsible for guiding both boards in policy setting and decision making to assist rural communities, citizens, industry and business to achieve their goals of sustainability, livability and profitability – in short, to Help Rural Oregon Work.

Ms. Latimer has more than 20 years experience in the workforce development field. During this time, she has participated as a presenter, facilitator and trainer across the country and has lead several nationally recognized and award winning programs.
A past recipient of the Oregon Employment and Training Association's Commitment in Action Award, the National Association of Counties Joe Cooney Award for Excellence in Workforce Development, she now serves on the NWA Board of Directors.

REM Video & Event Company principals Patricia Miller and Roger Miller have been helping organizations with their communication needs for over 20 years.  As full service providers of video, audio, PowerPoint multimedia, websites, social media, conferences and events, our goal is to tell your story, create impact for your message, and contribute to your success.  We are content-driven communicators who utilize the best media tools chosen to reach your unique audience and achieve your goals. Our efforts in communication of workforce initiatives as well as education and business alliences have helped promote, market, train and inform on issues related to workforce and economic development.

Visit us on the web at: remvideoevent.com

J. Craig McAtee is the Executive Director at the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC) and Principal at McAteeVentures, LLC, based in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. McAtee was formerly the Executive Director for the Workforce and Economic Development Division of Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio.  He spent over twenty-five years in engineering, technology, and senior leadership positions for the Swagelok Company, an international manufacturing organization, based in Solon, Ohio.

Mr. McAtee holds an EMBA from Cleveland State University.  His undergraduate work includes a BA in Industrial Technology from Kent State University and a BA in International Business from Malone College.

Dr. James F. McKenney, with over 17 years of experience in Europe, the Middle East, China, and Africa, is a leading authority on the domestic and international role of U.S. community colleges in economic and workforce development. Jim is VP of Economic Development and International Programs at the American Association of Community Colleges in Washington, DC.  He oversees the orchestration of short/long term AACC technical assistance training/service teams and is liaison to ACCC’s six affiliated councils that are engaged in workforce development activities. 

Dr. McKenney is an expert on domestic workforce policy at the federal and state level, in developing community college strategies to address industry needs, and has worked extensively with the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, State, the National Science Foundation and its ATE Centers. He serves on numerous national boards and works with similar DC-based organizations.

Dr. James D. Van Erden is an economist and national expert on public and private sector workforce and economic issues with broad-based management and organizational leadership skills in the NGO and for profit government consulting environment, where organizational growth and/or change, and public private partnerships are primary concerns.  Jim also specializes in working with organizations focused on policies and program effectiveness that impact the potential of America’s workers.  Private sector experience includes: Senior VP, Human Services for the Lewin Group; VP, Civilian Services with DTI Associates; VP, Membership and Enterprise Development for Goodwill Industries International, Inc.; and Senior VP, Workforce Development with the National Alliance of Business. 

During his 20 year tenure at the U.S. Department of Labor, Jim served as: Administrator of the Office of Work-Based Learning; Director of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training; and, Chief Actuary for the Unemployment Insurance Service (UI).  

Nan Poppe currently serves as a consultant specializing in workforce development, employer, community, and k-12 partnerships, designing career pathways, and improving completion rates for all community college students. She currently serves as a coach for the Accelerating Opportunity national initiative.

Nan retired from Portland Community College in 2010 as a Campus President. Previous to serving for many years as Campus President she served in various roles including Dean of Adult and Continuing Education, Dean of Instruction, and District Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. After retiring from PCC, Nan worked with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in designing their national Completion By Design initiative. Last year she coordinated the technical assistance to the 4 states and 21 colleges selected for the initiative.