CTE Partnerships at Work: Building Skills, Shaping Futures
Join us for the Workforce Development Through CTE Coalition’s Annual Summit on December 8-9, 2025, at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN.
This one-and-a-half-day Summit brings together industry leaders, educators, and workforce development advocates to explore and strengthen the partnerships that power career and technical education. Through real-world examples and a featured school site visit, attendees will discover how collaboration between business and education is building skills, shaping futures, and making a lasting impact on the future workforce and the communities they serve.
Who Should Attend?
Association & Nonprofit Leaders
- Leaders from education and workforce development associations
- Nonprofit professionals focused on career readiness and youth employment
- Foundation representatives supporting CTE and workforce initiatives
Industry & Business Leaders
- Workforce development and talent pipeline managers
- HR professionals and corporate training leaders
- Business executives engaged in education partnerships
Policy & Government Stakeholders
- State and local workforce development board members
- Education and labor agency representatives
- Economic development and policy advisors
The 2025 Annual Summit Connects to the Following WFD Coalition Goals
- Develop activities connecting business and industry needs and educational practices to address CTE student and workforce development needs.
- Harness the voice of business and industry to support CTE
- Recommend positions and activities that further the purpose of high-quality career and technical education across the United States.
Draft Agenda
Agenda is subject to change. Last updated July 16, 2025.
Monday, Dec. 8, 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Day 1: Experience, Reflect, Connect
- 7:00 am – Breakfast & Welcome
- 7:45-8:30 am – Travel and arrive at school site
- 8:30 am-2:30 pm – School Site Visit, to include:
- Program tours
- Interactive experience: Teaching Through the Industry Lens
- Business partner roundtable discussions
- 2:45-3:30 pm – Travel back to Gaylord Opryland
- 3:30-4:15 pm – Action planning
- 4:15-4:30 pm – Closing
- 4:30-5:30 pm – Networking Reception
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 7:45-11:00 am
Day 2: Learn, Align, Lead
- 7:45-8:15 am – Breakfast
- 8:15-8:30 am – Welcome
- 8:30-9:30 am – CTSO panel
- 9:30-10:30 am – Credential Committee Report: Playbooks
- 10:30-11:15 am – ACTE Policy Update
- 11:15-11:30 am – Closing
Registration and Travel Information
Summit Registration | $375.00
Your registration includes:
- Access to all Summit sessions and program materials
- Directory of Summit participants
- Hot breakfast, lunch and refreshments Monday
- Monday evening reception featuring expanded hors d’oeuvres and beverages (including beer, wine, spirits)
- Hot breakfast, refreshments Tuesday
Summit + CareerTech VISION* 2025 Bundle
- Early Bird (before August 15) | $785.00
- Standard (after August 15) | $935.00
ACTE has reserved room blocks at the Gaylord Opryland and a variety of overflow hotels. There is limited availability at the Gaylord Opryland. Attendees are encouraged to explore overflow hotel options if they are unable to make a reservation via the booking link.
HEADQUARTERS
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
2800 Opryland Dr.
Nashville, TN 37214
Phone: (615) 889-1000
Rate: $229 per night plus a $20 resort fee
Book your room reservation
- SOLD OUT on Thursday, December 11
- Cutoff date for reservations is November 14
The Inn at Opryland
2401 Music Valley Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
Rate: $229
Courtyard at Opryland
125 Music City Circle
Nashville, TN 37214
Rate: $195
AIRPORT
Courtyard Nashville Airport
2508 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
Rate: $179
Marriott Nashville Airport
2200 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
Rate: $159
Sheraton Music City Airport
777 McGavock Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
Rate: $179
Sonesta Nashville Airport
600 Marriott Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
Rate: $179
BUDGET FRIENDLY
Best Western Plus Nashville
911 Airport Center Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
Rate: $119
Homewood Suites by Hilton
2640 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
Rate: $101
La Quinta Nashville
531 Donelson Pike
Nashville, TN 37214 Rate: $99
Spark by Hilton at Opryland
2516 Music Valley Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
Rate: $112
DOWNTOWN
Cambria Downtown
118 8th Avenue South
Nashville, TN, 37203
Rate: $229
Holiday Inn & Suites Nashville Downtown Broadway
415 4th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37201
Rate: $249
Holiday Inn Nashville Downtown Stadium
211 N. First Street
Nashville, TN, 37213
Rate: $179
Hyatt Place Downtown
301 3rd Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37201
Rate: $209
Air travel, hotel reservations and transportation from/to* the airport is the responsibility of our guests.
Venue
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
Closest Airport
Nashville International Airport
Digital Assets
Are you participating in the Summit as a sponsor or attendee? Here are social media graphics and posts you can use to share with and invite your networks — be sure to use #CTE2Workforce and tag us in your posts!
Social posts coming soon
Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors!
Interested in sponsoring this event? View our 2025 Summit One-Pager to learn more!
Featured Partner
Premier Supporters
Key Contributors
Summit Advocates
Additional Opportunities
ACTE’s CareerTech VISION is the must-attend event for career and technical education (CTE) professionals. Happening Dec. 9-12 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, VISION offers comprehensive programming covering high-quality CTE in secondary and postsecondary environments and emerging trends in the field to help career and technical educators thrive in their careers. VISION provides attendees with a rich array of networking opportunities, an Expo, hundreds of concurrent program sessions, and numerous networking opportunities.
CareerTech Expo
The vibrant gathering place for CTE professionals, CareerTech Expo features 200+ companies offering the largest and latest collection of CTE products and services, exhibitor workshops, demonstrations and a wealth of networking opportunities.