OCTC Invites Regional Employers and Community Leaders to Help Shape Kentucky's AI Workforce Future
Virtual Owensboro Regional Listening Session Scheduled for October 1
Owensboro, KY (09/21/2026) — Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) is inviting regional employers, educators, workforce leaders, and community partners to help shape Kentucky's approach to artificial intelligence and the future of work. The Kentucky Chamber Foundation, with support from Fifth Third and in partnership with KCTCS, is leading this statewide initiative, which includes virtual regional listening sessions across Kentucky. The Owensboro Regional Listening AI Session will be held Thursday, October 1, from 9:30-11:00 a.m. CT.
The session is offered at no cost and will provide an opportunity for stakeholders across the Owensboro region to share what they are seeing firsthand as AI changes the workplace. Dr. Ryan Hall, OCTC's AI and Innovation Leader, will be a featured speaker. Discussion will focus on how AI is affecting jobs and workplace expectations, the skills employers will need in the future, opportunities and challenges created by AI, and how education and workforce training providers can respond to emerging needs.
"Artificial intelligence is already changing the way people work, the skills employers need, and how organizations approach productivity and innovation," said Dr. Scott Williams, Chancellor of OCTC. "This listening session gives employers and other regional partners an opportunity to help shape Kentucky's response. It is important that the experiences and needs of businesses and communities in our region are represented as the state considers how we prepare Kentucky's workforce for what comes next."
OCTC encourages participation from employers and business leaders, human resources and talent professionals, K-12 and postsecondary education leaders, workforce development organizations, economic development professionals, chambers of commerce, and community and nonprofit partners. Participants are also asked to complete the AI Statewide Survey before attending the listening session. Survey responses will help strengthen the initial findings presented during the regional conversations and allow participants to explore more deeply what Kentucky employers and workers need to successfully navigate AI-driven changes.
Feedback gathered through the regional listening sessions, together with results from the statewide survey, will help inform the Kentucky AI and Workforce Report, scheduled for release in early 2027.
Owensboro Regional AI Listening Session
Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026 Time: 9:30-11:00 a.m. CT Format: Virtual
Complete the AI Statewide Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QDZJM5C
Register for the Owensboro Regional Listening Session: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFnyIcSzQ1dV8nalepKbeZKrHKEne4-8Movfdozl_97wgVUg/viewform
OCTC encourages regional employers and community partners to participate and add their perspectives to this statewide effort. Broad participation will help ensure that the workforce priorities, challenges, and opportunities of the Owensboro region are reflected as Kentucky develops strategies to prepare businesses and workers for an increasingly AI-enabled economy.
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Owensboro Community & Technical College is one of the sixteen community and technical colleges that make up the Kentucky Community & Technical College System. OCTC serves the KY counties of Daviess, Hancock, Ohio and McLean. OCTC has three campuses in Daviess County and a Center and Annex in Hancock County. OCTC strives to serve the communities in the service area by providing associate degree education for transfer, state of the art technical education for students focusing on entering the workforce, customized business and industry solutions through the Workforce Solutions division, and adult education and business and industry testing through the SkillTrain unit.
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The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth's largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. We also are Kentucky's largest provider of workforce training and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, we align our programs to meet the needs of local employers. We help students fulfill their dreams of creating a better life through programs that lead directly to jobs or help them transfer to one of our four-year partners.
Connect with OCTC: Owensboro.kctcs | Facebook.com/owensboroctc | Twitter@OCTC_Tweets | Instagram OwensboroCTC
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