RICHMOND, VIRGINIA — Nearly 600 business leaders, educators, policymakers, and community leaders from across the Commonwealth gathered today at the Greater Richmond Convention Center for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Virginia Education and Workforce Conference.

The conference, co-hosted by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the Virginia Business-K12 Partnership, focused on one of the most important factors shaping Virginia’s long-term economic competitiveness: ensuring the Commonwealth has the skilled, adaptable workforce necessary to meet the needs of employers today and in the decades ahead.

“Virginia’s greatest competitive advantage is its people,” said Brad Hall, President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. “Building the workforce of tomorrow requires us to think beyond the moment someone applies for a job. It begins in our classrooms, in the skills and credentials students earn, in meaningful work-based learning opportunities, and in stronger connections between educators and employers. Today’s conference demonstrates what is possible when leaders across those systems come together around a shared goal.”

Edmond E. Hughes, Co-Chair of Blueprint Virginia 2035, and Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at HII, opened the program with keynote remarks focused on moving the Blueprint’s workforce recommendations from strategy to action.

“Virginia’s ability to sustain the workforce we need over the next decade will depend on our ability to create talent rather than simply compete for it,” said Hughes. “Blueprint Virginia 2035 provides a roadmap, but success requires us to take action and connect the work each of us is already doing into something bigger than any one organization. Business leaders have an important role to play in talent development and creating stronger connections with education, continuing to expand pathways into high-demand careers and ensuring Virginians can see and access the opportunities available to them.”

Throughout the morning, leaders representing K–12 education, higher education, workforce development, economic development, and Virginia employers examined strategies to strengthen the Commonwealth’s talent pipeline from the classroom to the workplace.

Discussions explored how Virginia can better connect classrooms, credentials and careers; expand early career awareness and employer engagement in K–12 schools; strengthen collaboration between higher education and industry; and increase access to internships and other forms of work-based learning.

The conference concluded with a luncheon keynote from Stephen Moret, President and CEO of Strada Education Foundation, focused on aligning education and industry through work-based learning.

“Work-based learning is one of the most powerful ways we can connect education with economic opportunity,” said Moret. “When students have opportunities to apply what they are learning in real-world settings, they gain valuable skills, professional networks and a clearer understanding of where their education can take them. At the same time, employers gain an opportunity to develop and connect with the talent they will need in the future.”

Virginia Employers Recognized for Excellence in Internship Programs:

A highlight of the luncheon program was the presentation of the InternshipsVA Top Employers for Interns Awards, recognizing 132 employers as Regional Top Employers and three employers as Statewide Top Employers for creating meaningful internship experiences and investing in Virginia’s future workforce.

The Honorable Ghazala F. Hashmi, Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, joined to recognize the three statewide award recipients:

Overhead Solutions Group – Norfolk, VA

Triple Point Security – Blacksburg, VA

Atlantic Union Bank – Glen Allen, VA

“Internships provide students with more than professional experience; they create connections between education, opportunity and meaningful careers,” said Lieutenant Governor Hashmi. “The employers recognized today are demonstrating how businesses can play an active role in developing Virginia’s next generation of talent. By investing in students and creating opportunities for them to learn, grow and build professional experience here in the Commonwealth, we are strengthening Virginia’s workforce and economy for the future.”

The Top Employers for Interns Awards are part of InternshipsVA, an initiative of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to expand paid and credit-bearing high-quality internships across the Commonwealth.

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About the Virginia Chamber of Commerce:

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is the largest business advocacy organization in the Commonwealth, with more than 33,000 alliance members. The Virginia Chamber is a non-partisan organization that champions the interests of the business community in the legislative, regulatory, and political arenas to serve as the catalyst for positive change in all areas of economic development and competitiveness for Virginia. Learn more at www.vachamber.com