Event: Progress in Action - April 17
The Progress and Impact of Commitments to Skills-Based Hiring in the Public Sector

When: April 17 from 2:00 EDT to 3:30 EDT
Event type: Webinar
Over 26 states have enacted executive orders and legislation to remove unnecessary degree requirements for public sector jobs, signaling a major shift toward skills-based hiring. But how has this shift impacted hiring outcomes for workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) and helped states address their workforce needs? Join us for an in-depth conversation that will explore the complementary findings of two recently published papers: “Tearing the Paper Ceiling: The Impact of State Commitments to Remove Degree Requirements on Public Awareness and Job Opportunities for STARs“ co-authored by leaders at Opportunity@Work and Dr. Peter Blair of Harvard University and “Empowering Progress: Harnessing Skills-Based Strategies to Drive Public Sector Excellence“ by the National Governors Association (NGA), in collaboration with Lightcast.
Experts from NGA, Lightcast, and Opportunity@Work will discuss these new reports alongside representatives from Colorado and Ohio, two states that have pioneered implementing skills-first strategies. This conversation will provide you with actionable insights on how skills-based strategies can be operationalized to create a more inclusive and effective public sector workforce.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn more about the progress and impact of policy changes to advance skills-based talent practices in the public sector
- Explore how states like Colorado and Ohio are helping lead the way in adopting skills-based strategies and overcoming challenges
- Gain practical steps to implement skills-first approaches in your organization
Joining us will be:
- Jennie Cecere, Talent Pathways Team Manager, Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration
- Blair Corcoran de Castillo, Senior VP of Public Sector and Policy, Opportunity@Work
- Sytease Geib, Program Manager, Skills-Based Hiring, National Governor’s Association
- Kitty Hollingshead Mancil, State Talent Management Director, State of Ohio
- Melissa Walker, Statewide Workforce Solutions Director, Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration
- Matthew Walsh, Research Director, Lightcast
Join the webinar
This conversation will provide you with actionable insights on how skills-based strategies can be operationalized to create a more inclusive and effective public sector workforce.