Connect (X): All Access
Workforce and Supplier Diversity Summit 2021

Building the Next Generation of Wireless Infrastructure

Digital Event Series | Now Available On-Demand

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The Connect (X): All Access (CXAA) Workforce & Diversity Summit will examine why comprehensive workforce development initiatives are of critical importance for the wireless infrastructure industry.

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Overview

From telecommunications providers to tower companies, our industry faces urgent challenges when it comes to building a skilled workforce.

Part of a successful strategy includes a well-defined inclusion and diversity initiative. Diverse suppliers will have a unique opportunity to participate in 1:1 matchmaking sessions with procurement officers from major wireless companies during this digital event.

A Critical Crossroads

As our nation continues to recover from a devastating pandemic, the importance of reliable broadband connectivity continues to be a serious concern. Successful 5G deployments are crucial to closing the homework gap, powering our remote workforce, and opening up advancements in enterprises including transportation, healthcare, and manufacturing.

5G deployments are in progress and are expected to accelerate. However, without a skilled workforce at the ready, rollout of 5G infrastructure will be slow and uneven—or possibly compromised entirely.

Leading the Industry

Comprehensive training programs and apprenticeships are a key component of a successful workforce development effort. However, most organizations do not have the resources to effectively develop and deploy these initiatives.

President Biden recently recognized registered apprenticeship as one of the most effective ways to train the workforce needed to meet the new demands of the latest broadband technologies.

Apprenticeship continues to offer a cost-effective way to implement standardized training while also building employee engagement and increasing retention. As the national sponsor of the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP), WIA connects organizations with resources for recruitment, training, and workforce development.

Building A Diverse Supply Chain

This event will feature targeted programming on the inclusion of veteran, women, and minority-owned businesses in the wireless infrastructure industry. The Workforce & Supplier Diversity summit advocates for a more diverse industry and allows all companies to tap into the growing opportunities within wireless.

Our Sponsors

Supplier Diversity Summit Meeting Hosts

Why Attend?

  • Discover the benefits of registered apprenticeship. What does it mean for your organization?
  • Learn how to use competency-based models to build a better workforce.
  • Explore how to best measure the ROI of your current training and apprenticeship programs.
  • Learn how to prepare a skilled workforce for future wireless networks—5G and beyond.
  • Identify the advancements in wireless infrastructure & look ahead to what comes next so you can prepare your employees now.
  • Promote your products and services to major wireless corporations.

Schedule-at-a-Glance

* Schedule subject to change

Sponsorships

Session Sponsorship: M ($10,000) NM ($12,000)
Sponsorship benefits:

  • Speaking slot
  • Sponsor Introduction and Video
  • Logo visibility on the opening ‘tile’ (graphic) image that precedes the recorded session
  • Logo visibility and link on the Connect (X): All Access website
  • Logo visibility and link on all digital marketing, promotion and social media for the Workforce and Supplier Diversity Summit
  • Native file of the recorded webinar for inclusion on corporate website and sponsor social media activities
  • Logo visibility on extended distribution of recorded webinars from speakers, panelists and WIA media partners
  • Contact list of webinar Registrants and Attendees

For sponsorship opportunities contact:

Hayley Dodds

Manager, Sales & Business Development, Wireless Infrastructure Association
Hayley.dodds@wia.org
540.270.3248

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Apprenticeship Accelerator

You may have heard a lot about apprenticeship and how it can help you attract and retain telecom workers. But if you’re wondering just what a registered apprenticeship is, what it means for your organization, and how to start, this fast-paced “accelerator” is for you. You’ll get a quick 101 on apprenticeship and discover incentive funding that can help apprenticeship pay for itself.

Moderator:

Deb Bennett
Director of Apprenticeship WIA

Speakers:

Rachael Hill
Project Coordinator Wireless Infrastructure Association

Lisa Tellstone
Senior Subject Matter Expert & Principal Consultant Institute for American Apprenticeships

Using Competency Models to Build a Better Workforce

Most job descriptions aren’t very descriptive—but they can be! Position descriptions are too often bland and technical. If you want to recruit motivated workers, now’s the time to rewrite your job descriptions and build in measurable competencies.

Moderator:

Steph Brewer
Director of Telecommunications Safety & Compliance USA Telecom Insurance Services

Speakers:

Joel D. Hightower
CEO & Owner Hightower Communications Inc.

Tony Cristo
Director of Environmental Health & Safety Hightower Communications Inc.

Jason S. Phillips
Senior Director of Field Operations Gabe’s Construction Co., Inc.

Brent Weil
Vice President, Workforce Development WIA

Commissioner Starks Keynote

Keynote Remarks Commissioner Starks Federal Communications Commission

Speaker:

Geoffrey Starks
Commissioner Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Solutions to Grow and Retain Your Telecom Workforce

The Pennsylvania State Wireless Association and WIA’s TIRAP (Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program) are pleased to present this in-depth session as part of the Workforce & Supplier Diversity Summit. Having a well-trained workforce is essential to safety, productivity, and profitability. But finding the workers with the right skills and motivating current employees to stay can be a challenge. Representatives from Pennsylvania, TIRAP, and the U.S. Department of Labor will discuss the challenge of finding and retaining qualified workers and share how the registered apprenticeship model can be leveraged to help. We’ll also discuss the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion when building out a workforce development initiative.  

Sponsors:
Moderator:

Barb Burba
President, Pennsylvania Wireless Association & Director of Government Operations, InSite Wireless Group/American Tower Corporation

Speakers:

Joyce Christanio
Sr. Program Manager, Supplier Diversity T-Mobile

Brent Weil
Vice President, Workforce Development WIA

Michael Blatt
State Director, US Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship US Department of Labor

Nicholas D’Antonio
Workforce Development Strategist, Strategic Workforce Initiatives, Enterprise Operations Lockheed Martin

Commissioner Carr Keynote

Keynote Remarks Commissioner Carr Federal Communications Commission

Speaker:

Brendan Carr
Commissioner Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Getting Ready for 5G: Preparing a Skilled Workforce for Future Wireless Networks

Accelerating the pace at which 5G can be expanded has massive economic and workforce benefits. Timely deployment of 5G is expected to create 4.6 million direct and indirect jobs. The 5G deployment at macro towers, small cells, and in private networks, requires more workers, with different skills, in different places. However, without the skilled workforce and training programs, current and planned wireless industry investments will hit the roadblocks. Skills gap for the telecommunication industry needs to be addressed NOW for the United States to win the race to 5G. In this session, experts from our industry will address the skills-gap and workforce challenges for the broadband deployment. Some of the topics we plan to cover include 5G’s current state and future projections, workforce needed to meet 5G deployment goals, role of systematic training programs to address reskilling, transferrable skills to address the current skills gap for 5G, role of apprenticeships to address the workers’ shortage for the communications industry, and roles of government and academia to meet the industry’s demand of skilled workforce.

Moderator:

Rikin Thakker, Ph.D.
Chief Technology Officer WIA

Speakers:

Nichole Thomas
VP of Operations (Central Region) DISH Wireless

Cathy Piche
VP Project Delivery and Design & Construction Crown Castle

Dan Butterworth
VP Operations, SL Build Self-Performing Services Ericsson

Joe Dyer
Chief Strategy Officer National Spectrum Consortium

Supplier Diversity Summit Matchmaking Meetings

Connecting Diverse Companies with Wireless Business Opportunities The Supplier Diversity Summit is dedicated to connecting a more diverse group of businesses to major wireless companies and to facilitate productive discussions focused on the role diversity plays in the wireless infrastructure industry.

  Matchmaking Goal The goal of matchmaking is for companies to gather information regarding specific programs, to learn more about the products and services, and to establish professional relationships that could potentially lead to lucrative business deals.

  Participants Procurement officials from major wireless companies will be hosting matchmaking meetings during the event for one-on-one meetings with attendees. 2021 meeting hosts include American Tower, Crown Castle, Hewlett Packard, Nokia, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

Expert Case Study – Practical Lessons to Scale Diversity In Your Supply Chain

Leading telecom organizations are realizing the benefits of fostering diversity in their suppliers. Hear from the heads of supplier diversity as they discusses their journey from idea to a $1B spend with diverse suppliers.  Along the way we will explore practical solutions for typical obstacles and how you can create opportunities in your own organization.

Moderator:

Jason Nelson
Vice President of Partnerships and Development WIA

Speakers:

Brian Hall
Manager, Supplier Diversity & Brand Advocacy, Small Business Liaison Officer Shell

Heather Ramsey
Associate Director AT&T Supplier Diversity

Fireside Chat with Ron Busby, President & CEO, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc

Featuring Jonathan Adelstein, President & CEO, Wireless Infrastructure Association and Ron Johnson, Sr. Advisor & Chief Policy Strategist Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Wireless Infrastructure Association.

Moderator:

Dr. Ronald Johnson, SME-HBCUs
Sr. Advisor & Chief Policy Strategist Diversity, Equity and Inclusion WIA

Speakers:

Ron Busby
President/CEO U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC)

Jonathan Adelstein
President and CEO WIA

How Leading Telecom Suppliers Are Winning New Contracts

With many procurement departments waking up to the need to diversify their supply chains, there has never been a better time for companies from underrepresented communities to get involved and compete for their seat at the table.  While there is no magic formula for success, there are several simple strategies to tip the scales in your favor.  Hear from industry experts regarding underrepresented communities as they discuss their experiences and offer advice.

Moderator:

Dr. Ronald Johnson, SME-HBCUs
Sr. Advisor & Chief Policy Strategist Diversity, Equity and Inclusion WIA

Speaker:

Major L. Clark III
Acting Chief of Counsel, Office of Advocacy U.S. Small Business Administration