Registration Closes EOD Friday, October 9
WORKing Together Conference in support of Oregon’s workforce!
The WORKing Together 2026 Conference will be held October 20, 2026 at the Salem Convention Center. The conference will bring together over 500 Oregon businesses, educators, public agency leaders, community-based organizations, elected officials, and workforce professionals to explore local, state, and national best practices, emerging workforce trends, and innovative solutions.
The Agenda
Speakers
The 2026 WORKing Together Conference is made possible by the following
Gold
Silver
Founding Sponsors
2026 Exhibitors
Interested in Sponsoring or Exhibiting at the Conference?
Salem Convention Center
200 Commercial Street SE Salem, Oregon 97301
The Salem Convention Center, located in the heart of downtown Salem, Oregon, is a versatile and modern venue perfect for a wide range of events. Boasting over 30,000 square feet of flexible event space, it is surrounded by Salem’s vibrant dining, shopping, and cultural scene. The center’s commitment to sustainability and outstanding service makes it a premier choice for events in the Willamette Valley.
Explore Salem
We’re thrilled to host you in the heart of the Willamette Valley! Whether you’re here for professional development, collaboration, or to learn something new, we hope you enjoy the city’s notable dining scene and unique local attractions.
The following list was provided by our local regional board, Willamette Workforce Partnership.
Dinner & Cocktails Near the Convention Center
- Bentley’s (The Grand Hotel) — Hours: Daily 5 pm – 10 pm. Upscale American cuisine & cocktails.
- DaVinci Ristorante — Hours: Tue–Sat 5 pm – 9 pm (Closed Sun–Mon). Italian dining, live piano, wine list.
- La Vida Catrina — Hours: Mon–Thu 11 am – 9 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am – 10 pm, Sun 11 am – 8 pm. Elevated Mexican dishes & margaritas.
- Archive Coffee & Bar — Hours: Mon–Thu 7 am – 10 pm, Fri 7 am – 11 pm, Sat 8 am – 11 pm, Sun 8 am – 8 pm. Industrial, chic café & cocktails.
- The Cozy Taberna — Hours: Tue–Sat 4 pm – 10 pm (Closed Sun–Mon). Spanish tapas & oysters.
- Stomp by Croft Vineyards — Hours: Thu–Sat 4 pm – 9 pm, Sun 12 pm – 6 pm (Closed Mon–Wed). Wine bar & live music.
- Cascadia Pizza Co. — Hours: Sun–Thu 11 am – 9 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am – 10 pm. Wood-fired pizza, wings & salads.
- Ritter’s Housemade Foods — Hours: Mon–Thu 11 am – 10 pm, Fri–Sat 11 am – 11 pm, Sun Closed. Housemade American fare, cocktails.
- Amadeus Restaurant — Hours: Tue–Thu 11 am – 9 pm, Fri 11 am – 10 pm, Sat 4 pm – 10 pm, Sun 4–8 pm, Mon Closed. Contemporary American.
- Venti’s Cafe + Taphouse — Hours: Daily 11 am – 10 pm. Global comfort food, 20+ taps of craft beer.
- Wild Pear — Hours: Tue–Sat 11 am – 3 pm (extended dinner hours Fri–Sat until 8 pm). Eclectic seasonal cuisine.
Things to Do in Salem – (including a few family-friendly activities)
- Riverfront Park — Hours: Daily 5 am – 12 am. Riverside park with carousel & art.
- Oregon State Capitol — Hours: Mon–Fri 8 am – 5 pm. Guided tours.
- Willamette Heritage Center — Hours: Mon–Sat 10 am – 4 pm. Pioneer history campus.
- Hallie Ford Museum of Art — Hours: Tue–Sat 10 am – 5 pm; Sun 1–5 pm. Regional art.
- Deepwood Museum & Gardens — House tours Wed–Sat 9 am – 12 pm; gardens daily dawn–dusk.
- Bush’s Pasture Park — Open daily dawn–dusk. Rose garden & playground.
- Minto Brown Island Park — Open daily dawn–dusk. Trails & nature.
- A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village — Hours: Tue–Sun 10 am – 5 pm. Children’s STEAM museum.
Local Wineries (within~20 miles)
- Cória Estates — Hours: Daily 12 pm – 6 pm.
- RH Wines (Redhawk Vineyard) — Hours: Daily 12 pm – 6 pm.
- West Hills Vineyards — Hours: Wed–Thu 12–7 pm, Fri–Sat 12–8 pm, Sun 12–7 pm.
- Stangeland Vineyards & Winery — Hours: Fri–Sat 12–7 pm, Sun 12–5 pm (appt. Mon–Thu).
- Trinity Vineyards — Hours: Sat–Sun 12–6 pm.
| Workforce is a major and complex topic. In order to ensure that Oregonians have the skills to meet the needs of Oregon business, we need to establish even more effective partnerships and reimagine our understanding of education and work. The Oregon Workforce Partnership provides leadership that promotes and advances Oregon’s workforce system.
The WORKing Together 2026 Conference will be held October 20, 2026 at the Salem Convention Center. The conference will bring together over 500 Oregon businesses, educators, public agency leaders, community-based organizations, elected officials, and workforce professionals to explore local, state, and national best practices, emerging workforce trends, and innovative solutions. |
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The Agenda
*Click on the below underlined text to view session details!
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Monday, October 19th 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Networking Reception | TBD Tuesday, October 20th 8:00 am Registration Opens | The Gallery 8:15 am Breakfast | Willamette Ballroom 9:30 am Welcome | Willamette Ballroom 10:00 am Oregon’s Competitive Advantages and Challenges | Willamette Ballroom 11:10 am Break 11:25 am Breakouts
12:25 pm Lunch | Willamette Ballroom 1:40 pm Breakouts
2:40 pm Break 3:15 pm Afternoon Keynote | Willamette Ballroom 4:00 pm Awards | Willamette Ballroom 4:15 pm Networking Reception & Raffle | The Gallery 5:15 pm – 7:00 pm Plated Dinner & Keynote | Willamette Ballroom – not included with the conference ticket |
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Speakers
The 2026 WORKing Together Conference is made possible by the following
Gold
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Silver
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Bronze
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Founding Sponsors
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2026 Exhibitors
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Peer Partners
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Interested in Sponsoring or Exhibiting at the Conference?
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Salem Convention Center 200 Commercial Street SE Salem, Oregon 97301 The Salem Convention Center, located in the heart of downtown Salem, Oregon, is a versatile and modern venue perfect for a wide range of events. Boasting over 30,000 square feet of flexible event space, it is surrounded by Salem’s vibrant dining, shopping, and cultural scene. The center’s commitment to sustainability and outstanding service makes it a premier choice for events in the Willamette Valley. |
| Explore Salem
We’re thrilled to host you in the heart of the Willamette Valley! Whether you’re here for professional development, collaboration, or to learn something new, we hope you enjoy the city’s notable dining scene and unique local attractions. The following list was provided by our local regional board, Willamette Workforce Partnership. |
|
Dinner & Cocktails Near the Convention Center
|
 |
Things to Do in Salem – (including a few family-friendly activities)
|
Local Wineries (within~20 miles)
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