Regional Workforce Summit at Wright State’s Lake Campus connects students, employers and community leaders

Building a stronger regional workforce through meaningful conversation, collaboration and connections was the focus of the 2026 Regional Workforce Summit on March 11 at Wright State University–Lake Campus.

The Regional Workforce Summit brought together about 100 business, education and community leaders to discuss a shared challenge: how to prepare the next generation workforce for opportunities ahead.

Participants left with a sharper understanding of regional workforce needs, new partnership opportunities and ideas that could develop into programs, internships and career pathways for students.

“Wright State’s Lake Campus is deeply rooted in this region, and that means our success is tied to the strength and growth of the communities we serve,” said Wright State University President Sue Edwards. “When we partner with local businesses and community organizations, we’re not just preparing students for jobs — we’re helping build a community where people want to live and work.”

A highlight of the summit was “Bridging the Gap: Industry Insights,” a candid roundtable where Wright State students joined industry leaders to share their perspectives on preparing for their careers, the importance of internships and hands-on experiences and stronger connections with regional employers.

“It was interesting for me to see how much Wright State connects with the community,” said Kendall Kill, a junior elementary education major who participated in the roundtable discussion.

The conversation gave employers insight into the aspirations and concerns of the region’s emerging workforce and gave students a rare seat at the table with the community and business leaders.

“For me, it’s great for professional development,” said Kaci Anthony, who also majors in elementary education.

Nikki Lange, manager of enterprise learning and organizational development at Midmark, said she’s excited to share her experience at the summit with her co-workers.

“My big takeaway is to just go back to my company and share what I’m learning and how we can think about what we can do to continue to help Wright State and bring more talent to our company,” said Lange, a 2005 Lake Campus graduate.

The Regional Workforce Summit also included remarks from Shawn Hendrix, manager of talent strategy at JobsOhio; Jon Dingledine, chief executive officer of Mercer Health; and David Burrows, executive vice president for engagement at the Dayton Development Coalition.

The summit was sponsored by American Rheinmetall, Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, Crown, Dayton Development Coalition, JobsOhio, Grand Lake Health System, Mercer Health, Midmark, Weaver Eggs, West Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership and the Western Ohio Educational Foundation.