Wisconsin's Workforce Challenge Begins in Today's Classrooms: InitiativeOne and School Perceptions Convene Statewide Leadership Forum

New forum will unite education, business, and community leaders to strengthen the talent pipeline through stronger partnerships - not more programs.

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Wisconsin's workforce challenge is no longer simply an employment issue - it's a leadership issue.

As employers across the state continue to struggle to fill critical positions and demographic shifts reshape the future labor force, leaders are increasingly recognizing that workforce development begins long before a job opening exists. It begins in classrooms, in communities, and through intentional partnerships between education and businesses. Wisconsin continues to experience a structural labor shortage, with more job openings than available workers, while long-term demographic trends continue to place pressure on the state's labor force.

To help address that challenge, InitiativeOne and School Perceptions are bringing together educators, employers, workforce organizations, and community leaders for the Opening Doors Leadership Forum on Friday, September 18, at InitiativeOne in Green Bay. The complimentary event will be available both in person and virtually, allowing leaders from across Wisconsin to participate.

Rather than focusing on workforce development as an isolated business or education issue, the forum is designed to create meaningful dialogue around a simple premise: strong communities are built when education and businesses work together.

The morning begins with InitiativeOne's signature Think Tank, a leadership experience that has become a trusted forum for executive leaders, business owners, educators, and community influencers throughout Wisconsin and around the world. Participants will then continue into the Opening Doors Leadership Forum, where conversations shift from leadership to action, exploring innovative partnerships, practical workforce strategies, and new opportunities to better connect students with future careers.

The forum will also feature a live demonstration of Opening Doors, a School Perceptions' platform that helps connect students, educators, families, and employers through career exploration, workforce engagement, and community partnerships.

"Preparing students for success and strengthening our workforce are not separate conversations; they're the same conversation," said Tracy Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of InitiativeOne. "Every employer is looking for future talent. Every school is preparing future graduates. The opportunity is bringing those worlds together with greater intention. That's exactly what this forum is designed to do."

Across Wisconsin, employers are competing for talent while schools continue to expand career readiness, technical education, youth apprenticeship, and work-based learning opportunities. The Opening Doors Leadership Forum recognizes that lasting workforce solutions require stronger relationships, not simply new initiatives.

"Schools cannot solve workforce challenges alone, and employers cannot build tomorrow's workforce without education," said Bill Foster, Chief Executive Officer of School Perceptions. "When those leaders come together, remarkable things happen for students, businesses, and entire communities. This forum creates the space for those conversations while showcasing practical tools that can help communities move from ideas to action."

Designed as an interactive leadership experience - not a conference - the forum will bring together district school superintendents and administrators, counselors, CTE and ACP leaders, business owners, executive teams, HR leaders, workforce organizations, chambers of commerce, economic development leaders, and community partners committed to preparing the next generation of student leaders.

Participants will leave with practical ideas, new relationships, and examples of how education and businesses can work together to strengthen local workforce pipelines while creating greater opportunities for students.

Event Details

Opening Doors Leadership Forum Strong Workforce. Ready Students. Real Partnership.  Hosted by InitiativeOne in partnership with School Perceptions  Friday, September 18 InitiativeOne Green Bay, Wisconsin  Attend in person or virtually Registration is complimentary.

About InitiativeOne

InitiativeOne is a nationally recognized leadership development organization that equips leaders and organizations to build cultures of trust, accountability, and intentional leadership through executive coaching, organizational consulting, leadership transformation programs, and its signature Think Tank series.

About School Perceptions

School Perceptions partners with school districts across the country to strengthen communication, increase community engagement, and develop innovative solutions that connect schools, families, businesses, and communities through initiatives including the Opening Doors platform.