The traditional FloridaACE Drive-In Conference converted to a fully virtual format in 2022 and is all about making connections and growing your FloridaACE network.
Through roundtables, discussions, and breakout conversations, the Digital Summit explores topics within the changing world of career services and university recruiting. This event also provides opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the state at a minimal cost.
2025 Digital Summit
Wednesday, October 29 & Thursday, October 30
12:30pm-4:30pm & 8:30am-12pm
Theme: Partners in Readiness: Employers and Educators Driving Skills-Based Success
The Digital Summit is one of FloridaACE’s cornerstone events, featuring two half-day virtual sessions.
This year, we invite you to join the conversation shaping the future of hiring and higher education. Both the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), as well as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) have highlighted a growing shift in the job market towards skills-based or skills-first hiring practices. Employers are rethinking traditional credentials and prioritizing skills, aptitude, and competency over degrees alone. Colleges and universities are responding by equipping students to demonstrate job-ready competencies through micro-credentials, badges, simulations, portfolios, and experiential learning opportunities.
The 2025 Digital Summit brings together employers and career services professionals to explore how skills-based hiring is transforming recruitment, student success, and workforce readiness, with the goal to understand what this shift means for students, and how we all can partner to drive student success in a changing employment landscape.
Why Attend?
- Understand the Skills-First Economy Learn what’s driving the shift from degree-based hiring to skills-based strategies, and what this means for the future of work.
- Hear Directly from Employers Gain insight from leading companies that have embraced skills-based hiring. Learn how they evaluate talent, what they need from colleges, and how students can stand out.
- Explore the Role of Technology Discover the tools helping students showcase competencies and helping recruiters find the right talent.
- Engage in Future-Focused Discussions What does this trend mean for higher education, liberal arts programs, and career services? How can institutions adapt?
Event Highlights
Day 1 | October 29 | 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM (ET)
- 12:30pm: The Remo floor opens for check-in and networking
- 12:50pm: We’ll kick off the event with a welcome and system orientation
- 1pm: The Skills-First Economy: Why Employers Are Rethinking Credentials hosted in Remo
- Brought to us by Dr. Mary Gatta, Researcher at NACE
- 2pm: Employer Panel: How Companies Are Operationalizing Skills-Based Hiring hosted in Remo
- Moderated by Christopher Thompson of UCF
- Panelist companies include Loyal Source, Northwestern Mutual, and Enterprise
- 3pm: Technology Partnerships hosted in MS Teams, featuring Forage and Render Analytics/Apply Genie
- 4pm: Affinity Networking Groups hosted in Remo
- Leadership hosted by Kelli Grogan
- Employers and Employer Relations hosted by Amy Casari
- Future Professionals hosted by Marquise McGriff and Marcey Walsh
- Career Coaching & Advising hosted by Lizz Giordano
- Internships hosted by Megan Blanco
Day 2 | October 30 | 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM (ET)
- 8:30am: The Remo floor opens for check-ins and networking
- 9am – Quick Day 2 Welcome
- 9:05am - The Future of Liberal Arts: Translating Skills into Workforce Readiness hosted by Dwayne Peterson of USF
- 10am - Skills-Based Hiring & Higher Education: What’s Next? Hosted by Martha Seney of Florida Polytechnic University
- 11am - Best of Conference Roundtable Discussions: Bringing the highest-rated roundtables from FloridaACE25 to you!
- From Excellence to Forgotten Essential: On-Campus Interviews hosted by Dwayne Peterson & Alexandra Abourizk of USF
- Resumes that Win (Athletes) hosted by Brittney Pieper of FSU
- Building the Professionalism Gap hosted by Amy Kavanaugh of UCF
- Career Fair Attendance hosted by Lizz Giordano of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Leveraging Data hosted by Kristen McKnight of WGU and FloridaACE Past President
- Trend Towards Skills-based Hiring hosted by Martha Seney of Florida Polytechnic University
In addition to the programming above, each day will be filled with networking opportunities with your FloridaACE colleagues. Join us and be part of the conversation driving the future of talent development.
$35 Early Bird Members Registration HAS BEEN CONTINUED!
Contact Amy Kavanaugh, Professional Development Director at [email protected].
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