A New Chapter for Work Ready Communities 

Workforce readiness is a journey — not a destination. 

Join ACT on Sept. 17 for a special edition of WRC Live! as we introduce the new ACT® Work Ready Communities® (WRC®) framework, designed to give communities a clearer roadmap for building, growing, documenting, and communicating workforce readiness as a regional economic asset. 

Whether your community is already part of Work Ready Communities or you're exploring Work Ready Communities for the first time, you'll get an inside look at what's changing, why it matters, and how the redesigned framework can help communities strengthen their workforce ecosystems. 

During this webinar, you'll discover: 

  • A clearer path for community growth. See how the new six-level framework creates a journey from getting started and building a functioning WRC ecosystem to demonstrating meaningful workforce and economic impact.

  • Greater flexibility to reflect real labor markets. Explore how economic zones can allow communities to define their WRC footprint around the way employers recruit, talent finds employment, and regional economies operate.

  • A deeper approach to employer engagement. Learn how the framework moves beyond employer participation counts to recognize how employers are putting skills-based hiring and the ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate™ (NCRC®) into practice. 

Why Attend? 

The redesigned framework is intended to help communities: 

  • Build a stronger credentialed talent pipeline.

  • Develop local workforce practitioner capability and capacity.

  • Deepen employer acceptance of the WorkKeys NCRC.

  • Align education, workforce, and economic development partners.

  • Build evidence that can support business attraction, workforce funding, and policy conversations. 

Current WRC members will learn what the new framework means for their continued journey, while communities considering WRC will get a first look at a clearer path for getting started and growing over time. 

Be among the first to explore what's next for Work Ready Communities. 

Date: Sept. 17, 2026 
Time: 1:00 p.m. CT 
Duration: 1 Hour 

Register Now

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Speakers

Jenna Cohen, Senior Program Director, Workforce, ACT 

Jenna Cohen, senior director of product management for workforce at ACT, leads a team of product managers and is responsible for product strategy, operational excellence, and bringing innovative assessments to market. Her expertise includes launching and enhancing educational products, managing stakeholders, and creating learning programs for diverse audiences. Jenna has a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in adult education.  

Cindy Hill, Ph.D. Industrial/Organizational Psychologist, ACT 

Dr. Cindy Hill is an industrial/organizational psychologist on ACT’s Behaviors and Skills Measurement team. She has contributed to ACT Workforce Solutions for 27 years. Her expertise encompasses a comprehensive suite of job analysis, test development, and test validation skills for widely used assessments and bespoke company-specific tests. As part of ACT’s collaboration with the Association for Talent Development, Dr. Hill has been instrumental in creating the test design and delivery certificate program. As the program’s facilitator, she empowers professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to design and implement effective assessments.   

Adam Walsh, Vice President, Career Readiness & Workforce Growth, ACT 

Adam is the Vice President, Career Readiness and Workforce Growth at ACT, where he builds resilient talent ecosystems that connect education, industry, and local economies. With an extensive background in delivering human capital solutions and scaling high-performing teams, Adam has spent his career helping employers improve their talent pipelines, increase retention, and grow their businesses. Today, he leverages this deep employer-centric experience to unite the entire workforce ecosystem. By addressing the shared goals of the market—helping educators prepare students, empowering individuals to secure meaningful careers, and enabling economic developers to attract new businesses—Adam ensures communities have the qualified talent necessary to thrive. 

For questions about accessibility or accommodations pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Amy Putty at 916.337.2928 or amy.putty@act.org two weeks prior to the event start date.  

NOTE: ACT may still be able to make arrangements without two weeks’ notice.