Ignite Action. Inspire Futures.
Join leaders from industry, education, and workforce development for the 9th annual Workforce Development Summit happening December 1-2, 2026, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, LA. This one-and-a-half-day convening brings together national partners committed to strengthening the connections between business and education to support high-quality career and technical education (CTE).
Through dynamic discussions, real-world examples, and interactive conversations, attendees will explore strategies for advancing workforce development initiatives, strengthening partnerships, and addressing emerging talent pipeline needs.
The Summit also provides valuable opportunities to:
- Connect with industry association, nonprofit, and business leaders from across the country
- Engage in meaningful dialogue with educators and workforce development professionals
- Learn from innovative models that align education with workforce needs
- Build relationships that support long-term collaboration and impact
Who Should Attend the Workforce Development Summit?
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
Draft Agenda
Agenda is subject to change. Last updated July 6, 2026.
Day 1: Tuesday, Dec. 1
- 8:00 am – Breakfast and First Time Attendee Orientation
- 9:00 – 9:30 am – Networking Opportunity
- 9:30 – 10:30 am – Keynote
- 10:30 – 10:45 am – Morning Break
- 10:45 am – 12:00 pm – Panel Discussion: Funding for OJT
- 12:00 – 12:45 pm – Lunch
- 12:45 – 1:45 pm – Fireside Chat: Upskilling Your Member Companies
- 1:45 – 3:15 pm – Local Industry Case Study
- 3:15 – 3:30 pm – Afternoon Break
- 3:30 – 4:30 pm – Best Practices: Building Successful Advisory Boards
- 4:30 – 5:00 pm – Closing
- 5:00 – 6:30 pm – Networking Reception
Day 2: Wednesday, December 2
- 7:45 – 8:15 am – Breakfast
- 8:15 – 8:30 am – Welcome
- 8:30 – 10:00 am – Policy Session
- 10:0 – 10:15 am – Morning Break
- 10:15 – 11:30 am – Consultancy Session
- 11:30 am – 12:00 pm – Closing
Registration and Travel Information
Summit Registration
- ACTE Member Advance (thru October 13) | $385.00
- Non-Member Advance (thru October 13) | $435.00
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
CareerTech VISION 2026 Add-on Rates
- ACTE Member Advance (thru October 13) | $525.00
- Non-Member Advance (thru October 13) | $715.00
CareerTech VISION 2026 One-Day Rate
- ACTE Member (Thursday Only) | $365.00
- Non-Member (Thursday Only) | $480.00
Individual Registration
Follow the instructions linked below to register as an individual:
CareerTech EXPO Booth Staff Registration
Follow the instructions linked below to register yourself or a colleague as a part of your CareerTech EXPO Booth allotment:
Hilton New Orleans Riverside SOLD OUT
Headquarter Hotel
Two Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70140
Room rate: $249/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #1: Estimated one-way travel time is 5-10 minutes
Astor Crowne Plaza
739 Canal St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $215/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #4: Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
Blake Hotel
500 Saint Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $229/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #3: Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
Caesars
228 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $249/night
Double Tree
300 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $183.48
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #2: Estimated one-way travel time is 15-20 minutes
Embassy Suites
315 Julia St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $229/night
Homewood Suites
317 N Rampart St.
New Orleans, LA 70112
Room rate: $225/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #4: Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
Hotel Indigo
705 Common Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $186/night
Booking Code: ACE
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #3: Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
Hilton Garden Inn Convention Center
1001 S. Peters St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $189/night
ACTE Sponsored Route #3 Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
Hilton New Orleans/St. Charles Avenue
333 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
Room rate: $229
Hyatt Place Convention Center
881 Convention Center Blvd
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $199
Le Meridien New Orleans
333 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA
Room rate: $205/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #2: Estimated one-way travel time is 15-20 minutes
Loews
300 Poydras St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $229/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #2: Estimated one-way travel time is 15-20 minutes
New Orleans Marriott
555 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $229
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #4: Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
NOPSI
317 Baronne St.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Room rate Sunday – Thursday: $209/night
Room rate Friday – Saturday: $259/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #3: Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
Q&C Hotel
344 Camp St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $189/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #2: Estimated one-way travel time is 15-20 minutes
Royal Sonesta
300 Bourbon Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $229/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #4: Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
Sheraton
500 Canal St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $229-$239/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #3: Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
Sonesta ES Suites Convention Center
345 St. Joseph Street
New Orleans, LA
Room rate: $185/night
The Higgins Hotel
1000 Magazine St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $199/night
The Riverfront Hotel
701 Convention Center Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $239/night
Voco St. James
330 Magazine St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $199/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #2: Estimated one-way travel time is 15-20 minutes
Westin
100 Iberville Street
New Orleans, LA
Room rate: $219/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #2: Estimated one-way travel time is 15-20 minutes
Wyndham
124 Royal St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $179/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #4: Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
Aloft SOLD OUT
225 Baronne St.
New Orleans, LA 70112
Room rate: $229/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #3: Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
Cambria SOLD OUT
632 Tchoupitoulas St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $199/night
Courtyard by Marriott SOLD OUT
124 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $209/night
ACTE Sponsored Shuttle Route #3: Estimated one-way travel time is 20-25 minutes
Courtyard Downtown-Convention Center SOLD OUT
300 Julia Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $224/night
Hampton Inn & Suites SOLD OUT
1201 Convention Center Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $209/night
Marriott Convention Center SOLD OUT
859 Convention Center Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $269/night
Renaissance Arts Warehouse District SOLD OUT
700 Tchoupitoulas St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $242/night
SpringHill Suites Downtown/Canal SOLD OUT
1600 Canal St.
New Orleans, LA 70112
Room rate: $229/night
SpringHill Suites Warehouse Arts District SOLD OUT
301 St. Joseph St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
Room rate: $229/night
Air travel, hotel reservations and transportation from/to* the airport is the responsibility of our guests.
Venue
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Two Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70140
Closest Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Attendee Resources
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!
LinkedIn Post:
I’m attending the 2026 Workforce Development Summit in New Orleans on Dec. 1-2 and thought of you. The event brings together workforce, education and industry leaders to share ideas, explore solutions and build partnerships that strengthen talent pipelines. I’d love to see you there. Learn more on the event website.
Subject: Join Me at the 2026 Workforce Development Summit
Hi [Name],
I’m attending the 2026 Workforce Development Summit on December 1-2 in New Orleans, and I wanted to personally encourage you to join me.
Hosted by the Coalition for Workforce Development Through CTE, the Summit brings together leaders from industry, education, workforce development, nonprofits and the public sector to explore innovative solutions to today’s workforce challenges and build stronger talent pipelines. The 2026 theme,“Ignite Action. Inspire Futures.”, focuses on turning ideas into meaningful action through collaboration and shared learning.
The Summit is a great opportunity to:
- Connect with national leaders and changemakers
- Learn from innovative workforce and education models
- Build relationships that drive long-term impact
This year’s event will be held at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, immediately before ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2026, making it easy to participate in both events. Summit attendees also receive discounted registration rates for VISION.
I’d love to see you there. You can learn more and find registration instructions on the event website.
Best,
[Your Name]
Thank you to our 2026 Workforce Development Summit Sponsors!
Interested in sponsoring this event? View our 2026 Summit Sponsorship One-Pager to learn more!
Featured Partner
Premier Supporters
Key Contributors
Summit Advocates
Additional Opportunities
ACTE turns 100! Join us for ACTE’s Centennial Celebration at CareerTech VISION 2026, happening Dec. 2-5 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Experience the premier event for CTE professionals with hundreds of sessions, inspiring presenters, a bustling Expo and unforgettable centennial celebrations. 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.
CareerTech Expo
The vibrant gathering place for CTE professionals, CareerTech Expo features 300+ companies offering the largest and latest collection of CTE products and services, exhibitor workshops, demonstrations and a wealth of networking opportunities.