2024 SkillSync DC Workforce Conference

Project Overview

Bayne LLC supported the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) in planning, coordinating, and producing the 2024 SkillSync DC Workforce Conference, a full-day professional development and workforce training event held June 27, 2024, at the Kellogg Conference Center in Washington, DC.

Under the theme Aligning Skills with Local Labor Market Needs, the conference brought together DOES leadership, frontline workforce professionals, program managers, federal program administrators, training partners, and workforce development stakeholders to explore strategies for strengthening workforce services and improving employment outcomes for District residents.

The conference emphasized workforce innovation, federal grant compliance, apprenticeship programs, youth workforce development, artificial intelligence, and customer-centered service delivery.

Bayne provided conference planning and event management support, coordinating program logistics, speaker participation, event materials, registration, and onsite conference operations.

Scope of Services

Conference Planning and Event Production

Bayne supported the development and execution of a full-day conference featuring executive presentations, a keynote address, concurrent breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and vendor presentations.

Responsibilities included:

• Conference planning, scheduling, and project coordination with DOES leadership.

• Development of the conference agenda, event schedule, and production run-of-show.

• Coordination of conference space, breakout rooms, registration areas, and attendee flow.

• Speaker and presenter coordination, including keynote and breakout session logistics.

• Development and production of conference branding, printed programs, signage, and attendee materials.

• Registration management, attendee check-in, and color-coded identification materials.

• Coordination of audiovisual requirements, presentation support, and room transitions.

• Onsite event staffing, logistical management, and conference execution.

Program Development and Stakeholder Engagement

Bayne supported the coordination of a comprehensive workforce development program designed to strengthen the capacity of DOES personnel and community workforce partners.

The conference featured an opening address from Dr. Unique N. Morris-Hughes, Director of DOES, and a keynote presentation by Teresa Y. Hodge, President and CEO of Mission: Launch, Inc., titled Expanding Opportunities for Vulnerable Workers and Communities.

The program included three breakout session blocks featuring eight sessions addressing:

• Youth apprenticeship and career pathways.

• Apprenticeship grants management for local and federal agencies.

• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding allocation and data management.

• Federal audit compliance, program oversight, and risk management.

• Federal program budgeting and case management.

• Customer-centered approaches to workforce service delivery.

• Innovation and collaboration in youth workforce programming.

• Artificial intelligence and its implications for the workforce.

The conference also incorporated vendor presentations, networking opportunities, and discussions designed to promote collaboration across government agencies, workforce providers, and community partners.

Results and Impact

Bayne supported the successful execution of a comprehensive workforce development conference that provided DOES personnel and partners with opportunities for professional training, knowledge sharing, and cross-program collaboration.

Key accomplishments included:

• Produced a full-day government workforce training conference at the Kellogg Conference Center.

• Coordinated three breakout session blocks featuring eight professional development sessions.

• Supported executive-level programming featuring DOES leadership and nationally recognized workforce development experts.

• Coordinated a keynote presentation addressing employment opportunities for vulnerable workers and communities.

• Facilitated programming covering federal grants management, workforce compliance, youth development, and emerging workforce technologies.

• Supported multi-room conference operations, attendee registration, vendor presentations, and event logistics.

• Developed branded conference materials and an eight-page program highlighting the event agenda, leadership, and keynote speaker.

Through this engagement, Bayne demonstrated its ability to support large-scale government training conferences, coordinate multiple simultaneous educational sessions, and deliver professional programming aligned with agency priorities.

The SkillSync DC conference strengthened Bayne's experience in workforce development, federal program training, executive event management, and public-sector conference production.