In late August, Colorado Succeeds convened the Colorado Talent Academy, comprised of more than 35 regional and sector workforce development leaders, for a three-day training and collaboration event.
Launched this spring and hosted by Colorado Succeeds in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Colorado Talent Academy is designed to upskill participants in the Talent Pipeline Management® (TPM) framework and support them in developing actionable, data-driven strategies for employer engagement and talent solutions.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management® (TPM) framework is a nationally recognized approach to closing skills gaps and strengthening regional economies through employer collaboration.
The Academy was intentionally designed to align with the stakeholders, regions, and plans emerging from the Opportunity Now Regional Talent Summits, and we are working closely with key state partners to ensure coordination across efforts.
The Colorado Talent Academy participants met virtually in June for the first of six training sessions, one for each of the six TPM strategies. During this in-person convening, the cohort dove into Strategies 2-4, which focus on:
- Understanding where workers in their industry come from and where gaps exist
- Defining workforce needs
- Communicating credential requirements to educators and training providers
- Identifying what a successful talent pipeline looks like
In addition to TPM strategy training, participants had structured team time to collaborate on their final projects, where they are turning theory into action through effective employer engagement. Teams furthered their implementation ideas and aligned on how they’ll measure progress and impact.
“The collaboration piece of this experience is a huge asset. Being able to have all the stakeholders who play different roles in this process in one location is vital to the success of the framework and our work. There was real synergy, lightbulb moments, and opportunities to make connections for what’s possible that we don’t normally get to have.”
Julie Beggs
Arapahoe Community College
This convening also served as an opportunity to continue aligning statewide efforts. Several state agencies and implementation partners joined the Academy for a half-day to listen, learn, and discuss how these regional strategies can connect with broader talent development initiatives. Their presence underscored the growing momentum behind employer-led, data-informed solutions, and the importance of coordination across systems.
“Colorado Succeeds’ thoughtful strategy of convening regional and statewide workforce partners to align employer engagement and solution development is both impressive and critical to building a thriving talent ecosystem and a stronger economy overall.”
Jennifer Hagan-Dier
Manufacturer’s Edge
The Colorado Talent Academy is more than a training program; it is a platform for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable impact. The cohort participants left energized by the new tools, insights, and relationships they’ve gained, and excited to continue building on shared momentum.
“TPM puts into a coherent roadmap or playbook all of my scattered ideas and strategies of trying to do this work over the last decade.”
Bob Gemignani
Pikes Peak Business & Education Alliance
Throughout the fall, participants will continue to engage in virtual sessions on the last two TPM strategies and work collaboratively to build solutions.
We’re proud to support their work and excited to see what comes next.