On February 19, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2025 Future of Talent Summit, with the theme “Reimagining Education and Talent Development.” The 2025 Future of Talent Summit was cohosted with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. The Rialto Center for the Arts was the venue for the Summit.

Speakers at the Future of Talent Summit included University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, and Georgia’s leading education and economic development experts. A full list of speakers, panels, and moderators is available below.

Georgia Power proudly served as the presenting sponsor of the Georgia Chamber Future of Talent Summit.

Beth Lowry, President and CEO, Holder Construction and Co-Chair, Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness, Georgia Chamber Foundation said:   
“The Georgia Chamber and the Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness have consistently heard that having the number one issue for businesses is having the talent and workforce they need. Hosting the Future of Talent Summit ensures that at every level, Georgia is working to meet any workforce challenges in our future.  This spirit of partnership with elected officials and the business community working in alignment is what makes Georgia such a great place to live, work, play, and pray.”

Chris Clark, President & CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce said:   
“The workforce 25 years from now is going to be the most diverse, international, and connected workforce in history, and Georgia must prepare our students now for the careers of the future. That’s why talent and workforce preparedness is the first pillar of the Georgia Chamber’s new GEORGIA | 2050 strategic plan and we program events like the Future of Talent Summit to connect business leaders with education leaders to share what the future will look like. Getting this right is essential so our children and grandchildren can have the opportunities we have.”

Dana Rickman, President and CEO, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education said:  
“The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education holds a deep conviction that Georgia’s future success and prosperity begin with education. That’s why we were excited to cohost this event with the Georgia Chamber, unpacking that future and highlighting the obstacles and opportunities that are before us as a state.”

The full list of speakers, panels, and moderators is:
- Beth Lowry, President and CEO, Holder Construction and Co-Chair, Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness, Georgia Chamber Foundation    
- Chris Clark, President & CEO, Georgia Chamber of Commerce  
Reimagining Early Learning & Childcare  
- Sadie Funk, National Director, Best Places for Working Parents
- Mindy Binderman, Executive Director, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students    
- Kelli Henderson, Vice President, HR, Total Rewards, Aflac   
- Moderator: Daniela Perry, Executive Director, Georgia Chamber Foundation    
Statewide Solutions to our Future Education and Workforce Goals    
- Dana Rickman, Ph.D. President and CEO, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education
Reimagining K-12 Education    
- Dana Rickman, Ph.D. President and CEO, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education
- Irene Munn, Consultant, Governor’s Office of Student Achievement      
- Moderator: Dale Winkler, Ed.D., Senior Vice President, Southern Regional Education Board    
Innovations in Technical Education
- Greg Dozier, Commissioner, Technical College of Georgia    
- Nick Rucker, TCSG 2024 GOAL Student of the Year   
- Steven Jahng, Vice President, Hyundai Motor Group    
- Moderator: Patrick Rickard, AVP Human Resources, Norfolk Southern Corporation    
Innovations in Georgia’s Colleges and Universities   
- Chancellor Sonny Perdue, University System of Georgia    
- Russell Keen, President, Augusta University    
- Moderator: Tim Denning, Ph.D. President and CEO, Georgia Research Alliance    
Reimagining Retraining and Upskilling    
- Rachel Linton, HR Workforce Engagement and Analytics Business Partner, Oglethorpe Power Corporation   
- Chris Wells, Executive Director, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency        
- Moderator: Jenny Taylor, Chief Mission Officer, Goodwill of North Georgia