Schedule: 11:00 am - 11:30 am Networking
                   11:30 am - 11:55 am Business Meeting
                   12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Presentation

Click on Register Now for Registration.

Speakers: Christine Kennedy - COO & Executive Vice President - Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance.
                   Tori Gilmarten - Director of Talent & Workforce Developmentand - Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance.
Topic: Attracting & Retaining Young Talent in the Lynchburg Region
Three Learning Objectives:
I- Insights That Matter: Explore local and national data and discover how to translate workforce trends into actionable talent strategies for your organization.
II- The Next Generation's Perspective: Hear what emerging professionals are telling us they want and need from employers, workplace cultures, and the communities they call home.
III- Resources You Can Use: Learn about Alliance initiatives and regional partnerships designed to support your recruitment, retention, and talent development efforts.
IV- A Voice in What's Next: Help identify workforce gaps, share your organization's needs, and influence future talent programming for our region.
V- A preview: Attendees will get a preview of programming for 2027 for you as HR professionals as well as professional development for your employees.

Why Attend? The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance is helping lead the charge in cultivating talent through its regional Workforce Roadmap, Young Professionals of Central Virginia, award-winning Leadership Lynchburg programs, educator-employer engagement, and talent attraction efforts such as Say Yes to LYH.

Speakers Bio
Christine Kennedy: Christine Kennedy, is as a visionary leader whose passion for developing people and strengthening organizations who has made a lasting impact across the Lynchburg region and beyond. As Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, she has spent more than 25 years championing economic growth, workforce initiatives, and collaborative leadership. A nationally recognized facilitator, life coach, and speaker, Christine is known for bringing diverse stakeholders together to solve complex challenges and inspire meaningful action. She leads the nationally award-winning Leadership Lynchburg programs, helping cultivate generations of community-minded leaders who continue to shape the region’s future. Beyond her executive role, she coaches leaders, facilitates strategic planning retreats, and mentors nonprofits and businesses seeking to maximize their impact. Christine’s influence is rooted in her belief that leadership is about service, intentionality, and empowering others - creating ripple effects that strengthen organizations, enrich lives, and elevate community.

Beyond her professional influence, Christine is a woman of faith & resilience, a breast cancer survivor whose strength continue to inspire those around her. She and her husband have created The Sanctuary, a peaceful retreat on their restored 1860s farm, where over 500 individuals and couples have come to pray, reflect, dream, and vision for life.

Tori Gilmartin: Tori Gilmartin is the Director of Talent and Workforce Development for the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, where she leads the execution of the Regional Workforce Roadmap, a comprehensive regional workforce strategy. She partners closely with workforce organizations and local employers to tackle workforce challenges and raise awareness of local career opportunities to build a strong talent pipeline. Since joining the Alliance in May 2023, Tori has launched the first Educator Workforce Academy and revitalized the Worlds of Opportunity Career Expo. Her strong background in staffing and recruiting gives her a keen understanding of workforce needs across key sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, construction, trades, transportation, and logistics.

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Tori moved to the Lynchburg Region ten years ago to pursue her MBA at Liberty University. She and her husband, Ryan, have since made the region their home, raising their family and actively serving in their church’s kids' ministry, a passion they both share. Tori is committed to making a positive impact on the community and shaping the future workforce through her work in talent and workforce development.

Certifications: 
Pending Approval for SHRM Credit (1.00 PDC Credit Hour)
Pending Approval for HRCI Credit (1.00 PDC Credit Hour)