May 28, 2025
These are uncertain times for New York City. A growing affordability crisis, looming tariffs, federal funding cuts, AI-driven labor market shifts. This uncertainty is especially acute for adult workers and businesses. Adult workers need stable jobs and opportunities to re-skill and advance to middle-wage careers. Businesses need to efficiently connect to talent to remain competitive and respond to growth opportunities. These needs are even more urgent for low-income adult workers and for small and mid-size businesses—those served by NYC’s adult workforce ecosystem.
Join the New York City Workforce Funders Collaborative, New York City Employment and Training Coalition, New York City Dept. of Small Business Services and other partners on May 28th to reassess the value proposition of the adult workforce ecosystem and identify strategies to scale reciprocal partnerships that meet the needs of workers and businesses. The convening will begin by highlighting partnerships that successfully support worker advancement and business competitiveness. Workforce leaders and attendees will then engage in an interactive discussion on what it will take to address persistent challenges and build sustainable approaches at scale.
Part One: Industry Case Studies
This series of fireside chats will deconstruct business solutions that support upskilling, advancement, and middle-wage opportunities in the healthcare, municipal government, and transportation & logistics industries.
Healthcare
- Richard Nagengast, Vice President Revenue Cycle, MSDFP, Mt. Sinai Health System
- Kenneth Adams, President, LaGuardia Community College
- Daniel Liss (moderator), Senior Advisor for Industry Partnerships, Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development
Municipal Government
- Commissioner Louis A. Molina, NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
- Commissioner Dynishal P. Gross, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Transportation & Logistics
- Charles C. Ukegbu, Assistant Commissioner for Regional & Strategic Planning, NYC Department of Transportation
- Rudy Cazares, President & CEO, Cazar Logistics
Part Two: Respondent-Audience Discussion
Workforce leaders representing government, industry, philanthropy, and the education & training sectors–along with all attendees–will discuss the value proposition of the adult workforce ecosystem and what is needed to deepen and sustain reciprocal partnerships.
- Daniel Liss, Senior Advisor for Industry Partnerships, Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development
- Chymeka Olfonse, Managing Director of Adults & Household Supports, Robin Hood Foundation
- Randy Peers, President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
- Merrill Pond, Executive Vice President, Partnership for New York City
- Trey Reid, Executive Director, Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers at HRA
- Christopher White, Vice Chancellor of Workforce Development and Upward Mobility, State University of New York
- Greg Morris (moderator), CEO, New York City Employment & Training Coalition