Chamber, Bridge host Oct. 12-13 work summit

What is the future of work in the Mesilla Valley?

What information and emerging best practices do Doña Ana County’s critical industries and employers need to have to succeed in the future?

To answer those questions and more, the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce and The Bridge of Southern New Mexico are teaming up with Deloitte Consulting to host the Greater Mesilla Valley Future of Work Summit on Wednesday-Thursday, Oct. 12-13, at New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, the chamber said in a news release.

The Oct. 12 session is 2-5:45 p.m. with an evening reception to follow. The Oct. 13 session is 8:30-11:30 a.m., followed by an “In the Know” luncheon with Jennifer Rocks, consulting managing director of Deloitte’s Denver office, with expertise in organizational change management, business process redesign and talent, recruitment and HR strategies primarily with state and local governments and higher ed institutions.

“Deloitte is making a considerable investment in the county and the region by bringing their expertise, resources and thought leadership to help equip local employers with the latest information and best practices to be a part of creating their own unique Future of Work,” Chamber President and CEO Debbi Moore said. “With global perspectives on the new nature of work, workforce, and workplace, Deloitte is uniquely equipped to share what they are seeing and learning from their clients and other communities, as well as what they’ve learned from interviewing some of the key employers in our region.”

The chamber said the event will feature presentations from Deloitte experts on subjects like:

• Strategies for meeting future workforce opportunities and becoming an employer of choice;
• Workforce experience/people-first infrastructure design; and
• Accelerating innovation while ensuring equity and inclusion.

It will also include an expert-led, interactive discussion on the implications of these changes on employers in the Greater Mesilla Valley and opportunities for the future, the news release said.

“This meeting is an opportunity for our employers to take the lead in addressing the workforce challenges we face in the region and state,” said The Bridge of Southern New Mexico President and CEO Tracey Bryan. “Doña Ana County has really led the way in comprehensive workforce development, but like all communities, the pandemic has stifled our progress. We hope this Summit gives employers the answers they have been looking for, as well as new approaches for building the strong, diverse workforce we need in the region.”

The Bridge is a business-led collaborative that unites leaders of the three school districts in Doña Ana County, New Mexico State University and Doña Ana Community College with business, economic development and governments to “bridge the skills and knowledge gaps between education and career readiness for students.”

Registration for the full event is $95 and includes the Oct. 13 lunch, or $45 for the lunch only. Registration is required and can be found at http://cca.lascruces.org/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=NMLC&evtid=158856&class=E.