September 29-30, 2025
Greenville/Spartanburg
Two locations, one great event
Closing the Talent Gap
The Upstate Talent Forum is a dynamic, two-day forum hosted by USC Upstate, bringing together leaders in industry and education to help shape the region’s workforce future. Engage in interactive sessions and thought-provoking panels discussing critical issues facing South Carolina and the Upstate region.
Join us for the second annual event, where we’ll explore innovative strategies for integrating AI into education and workforce development, shaping a smarter future for our students and communities.
What to Expect:
Visionary Leaders
Gain insights from top experts on workforce development and AI’s impact on our economy.
Interactive Sessions
Engage in collaborative workshops with actionable takeaways.
Enhanced Experience
Building on last year’s success, expect even greater value and networking.
2025 Partners
Bennie L. Harris, Ph.D.
Chancellor
USC Upstate
Allen Smith
President & CEO
OneSpartanburg, Inc.
Carlos Phillips
President & CEO
Greenville Chamber of Commerce
Katie Collins
President & CEO
Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce
Past Speakers
John Uprichard
CEO
Find Great People
Christina Gardner-McCune, Ph.D.
Associate Professor University of Florida
Matt Sigelman
President
Burning Glass Institute
Past Panelists
John Uprichard – Moderator
CEO
Find Great People
Katherine O’Neill – Moderator
Chief Economic Development Officer OneSpartanburg, Inc.
Dr. Jeff Perez
President and Executive Director
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
Don Bent
Former COO, Oshkosh Defense, and Executive in Residence USC Upstate
Jack McBride
Founder and CEO
Contec, Inc.
Sam Konduros
President and CEO
Greenville City Economic Development Corporation (GCEDC)
Art Seaver
CEO
Southern First Bank
Thomas Payne
Country Head Automotive and Industrial Logistics Solutions
Siemens
Parkes Coggin
Vice President
Heart, Vascular and Oncology Services
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
Paul Sinanian
Department Manager, Qualification, Apprentice & Future Talent Programs
BMW Mfg. Co., LLC
2025 Forum Facilitators
Christopher Taylor
Vice Chancellor
External Affairs
USC Upstate
Dr. Kaliym Islam
Business and Education Consultant
The TrainingPro Academy
Talent Pledge Framework
USC Upstate contracted Lightcast to assist in developing the Upstate Talent Pledge. Through breakout sessions, the first event resulted in findings available here in the Talent Pledge Framework. The framework also includes collective actions for employers and the university.
