Technology in the Workforce Summit Agenda

A full day of keynotes, employer panels, sector breakouts and networking, hosted by Hartnell College and DART.

Date
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Time
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Location
1 Main Street, Salinas, CA 93901
8:00 – 9:00 AM1 hour

Breakfast & Registration

9:00 – 9:10 AM10 minutes

Welcome & Introduction

Jaqueline Cruz, Vice President, Hartnell College
Josh Metz, Executive Director, DART

9:10 – 9:30 AM20 minutes
Workforce Innovation

Featured Speaker

Karen Aceves
ARKEN Strategies

9:30 – 9:50 AM20 minutes
AgTech

Featured Speaker

Danny Bernstein
Reservoir

9:50 – 10:10 AM20 minutes
Youth Development

Featured Speaker

Jacob Martinez
Digital NEST

10:10 – 10:20 AM10 minutes
Innovative Workforce Pathways

DART Workforce Showcase

Josh Metz

10:20 – 10:30 AM10 minutes

Break

10:30 – 11:15 AM45 minutes

Employer Voices – Healthcare

Moderator: Joel Hernandez, Hartnell College Foundation

  1. Dr. Allen Radner, MD, Salinas Valley Health
  2. Kevin Causey, Montage Health Foundation
  3. Phillip Post, CSUMB CHSHS Dean
11:15 – 11:35 AM20 minutes

Special Presentation

Special Guests

11:35 AM – 12:20 PM45 minutes

Employer Voices – AgTech & AAM Manufacturing

Moderator: Peter Church, DART

  1. Elliot Dorenbaum, Wilbur Ellis
  2. Ben Andros, Andros Engineering
  3. Cody Cleverly, Joby Aviation
  4. Delia Leal, LFC
12:20 – 12:25 PM5 minutes

Intro to Breakouts

Jaqueline Cruz, Vice President, Hartnell College
Josh Metz, Executive Director, DART

Breakout sessions follow lunch.

12:25 – 1:30 PM1 hour

Lunch

1:30 – 2:40 PM1 hour 10 minutes

Breakout Discussions by Sector

Health: Annabelle Rodriguez
Agriculture: Andy Stone
Advanced Air Mobility: Barbara Meister

55 minutes of discussion followed by a 15 minute report out.

2:40 – 2:50 PM10 minutes

Break

2:50 – 3:35 PM45 minutes

Workforce Systems and Breakout Reflections

Moderator: Rhonda Simmons, DART

  1. Rosalyn Green, MCBC
  2. John Leopold, CC K16 Collaborative
  3. Jackie Cruz, Hartnell College
  4. Maria Elena Manzo, Mujeres en Acción
3:35 – 3:50 PM15 minutes
Reporting Out & Next Steps

Closing Remarks

Jaqueline Cruz, Vice President, Hartnell College
Josh Metz, Executive Director, DART

3:50 – 4:30 PM40 minutes

Networking Reception

Thank You to Our Sponsors

  • Joby Aviation
  • Monterey County Workforce Development Board
  • Foundation for California Community Colleges
  • The James Irvine Foundation
  • Cabrillo College
  • Andros Engineering
  • Blair Estate Wines
  • Dust Bowl Brewing Company
  • Alvarado Street Brewery