Innovating in Dallas: 2025 SUMMIT

More than 1,000 people – including state and federal staff, exhibitors and workforce professionals from nearly all 50 states and territories– recently gathered in Dallas, Texas, for NASWA’s 2025 SUMMIT, presented by FAST Enterprises. With the theme of innovation at its core, the SUMMIT featured powerful plenary sessions, engaging breakout tracks, and impactful networking opportunities that highlighted the ingenuity and resilience of the public workforce system.

The event kicked off with a Texas-sized welcome, with opening remarks from Ed Serna, Executive Director of the Texas Workforce Commission. NASWA 2024-2025 Board of Directors Chair Joe Barela (CO) and NASWA President and CEO Scott B. Sanders opened the first plenary with reflections on the year’s progress and a preview of the 2025 State of the Workforce Report.

Keynote presentations included themes on leadership in times of change and unpredictability, featuring Barry Bales, Ph.D. and a panel of workforce agency leaders. John Colbert of Capitol Hill Partners provided the Federal outlook. Richard Froeschle of the Texas State Technical College System shared insights on the 2025 labor market and Rachel Lipson, Harvard Kennedy School, presented on the future of work in the age of AI.

Breakout sessions spanned a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence in workforce communications, innovative approaches to labor market information, UI modernization, and strategies for equitable service delivery. Attendees explored how states are using data to drive decision-making, improve customer experience and prepare for future challenges.

NASWA staff also led sessions, shared tools and connected with members. Attendees learned about how our services are helping states on multiple fronts:

• Behavioral Insights is applying behavioral science to workforce and UI challenges
• ICON cloud hub is aiding the exchange of data between state workforce agencies and federal partners
• Integrity Data Hub’s new employer data module (EDM) helps states to identify fictitious employer fraud and associated fraudulent activity
• Learning and Library helps agencies drive better outcomes for businesses, workers and state economies through best practices
• National Labor Exchange (NLx) is the trusted labor exchange system in the U.S. and provides numerous services for states, including data insights from the NLx Research Hub. Learn more about the NLx team's breakout sessions at the SUMMIT.
• SIDES supports states, third-party administrators and professional employer organizations with responding to unemployment insurance requests
• UI IT Support Center (ITSC) provides information, tools and advisory services to states in support of information technology systems for the unemployment insurance program
• Workforce ITSC’s advisory services, education and training, and online tools are helping states build more integrated workforce systems and strengthen service delivery. Learn more about the WITSC team's breakout session at the SUMMIT.

The SUMMIT also featured the annual Salute to Leadership Awards Luncheon, recognizing outstanding contributions of the 2024-2025 committees and board leadership. 50 sponsors and exhibitors provided invaluable insight and resources for attendees.

Thank you to all the presenters, sponsors and attendees for participating in this year’s SUMMIT. Check out the photo gallery here. Slide decks are available for registered attendees to view here. (You must log in with the email address you registered with and your confirmation number.)

The 2026 SUMMIT will be September 16-17 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Visit our Save the Date webpage for more upcoming meetings and events.