Bend Emerging Talent Program Supports Employee Development | The Source Weekly

Retaining top talent is challenging in Bend and Central Oregon. The lack of affordable and available housing, childcare capacity issues, and increases in competitive wages are all acting against employers. It’s critical to retain high-achieving employees in Central Oregon, and many employers are wondering how.

The answer is simple: invest in their development. Year over year, studies show that investing in the growth of employees, especially those at the early to mid-career level, leads to greater engagement, productivity, and the ability to retain talent. In fact:

88% of organizations are concerned about employee retention. Providing learning opportunities is the number one retention strategy (LinkedIn Learning Workplace Learning Report).

Organizations that have made a strategic investment in employee development report 11% greater profitability and are twice as likely to retain their employees. (Gallup)

Upskilling employees by investing time and resources and providing them access to additional education and training within their field not only makes them happier and more likely to stay with their company but also makes companies stronger as a whole (Forbes).

87% of Millennials say that professional development is important in a job (Forbes and Gallup).

76% of Gen Zer’s are interested in more opportunities to learn/practice new skills or expertise (LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index).

Bend Emerging Talent (Bend ET) is a go-to resource for Central Oregon business owners and managers seeking locally focused, professional, and personal development opportunities for their teams. A program of the BendNEXT Foundation under the Bend Chamber, and supported by sponsors US Bank, Meta, and KTVZ News, Bend ET is excited to announce the eighth annual ET Summit, happening on April 24, 2025. The ET Summit offers a valuable investment in employee development, engagement, and retention—particularly for those in early to mid-career roles.

“Supporting the development of Central Oregon’s network of emerging talent and the connections they make is an investment in the future and well-being of our community,” said Sherry Jones, U.S. Bank District Manager. “We are proud to be the title sponsor of the 2025 Emerging Talent Summit, a fantastic opportunity for participants to learn, grow, and discover ways to engage within the community. Each year, the U.S. Bank team eagerly looks forward to attending and contributing to the impactful event.”

The ET Summit presents a unique and memorable opportunity for young professionals and new managers to learn from inspiring leaders. A wide range of topics and types of learning experiences are on offer to foster both professional and personal growth.

The event will be held at the historic Tower Theatre in downtown Bend. Registrations are now being accepted at BendChamber.org/ETSummit.

“I’ve witnessed firsthand the growth of our young professionals as they participate in Bend ET programming, particularly in those who make it a priority to attend events and learning opportunities regularly. They rise in their places of work, bring back incredible ideas to their teams, and develop meaningful relationships with one another. The support systems they’re building with peers and the connection with a myriad of community leaders they meet through the years have a tremendous impact to their careers and their personal lives as well,” shared Talena Barker, Bend Chamber Vice President of Leadership Development.

This year’s keynote speaker is Curt Steinhorst. Since founding his first business in 2011, Curt has consistently been at the forefront of transformative projects. In 2013, he joined North America’s largest generational research firm, where he honed his ability to interpret and anticipate workplace trends. By 2021, he was part of the executive team at Venus Aerospace, where he drives strategy and innovation in hypersonic technology, aiming to revolutionize global transit.

Curt is a prolific speaker and writer, with his insights featured in Forbes and delivered in keynotes to hundreds of thousands of leaders, including senior executives at the world’s largest companies. His unique ability to connect disparate ideas and offer contrarian perspectives on leadership, innovation, and the future of work makes him a sought-after advisor and dynamic communicator.

Emceeing the event for 2025 is Central Oregon’s very own Lynsey Harris, Anchor for KTVZ News.

Whether learning how to navigate complicated workplace situations, keys to leveraging AI for organizational success, strategies for building effective communication skills or how to advocate with local government, all attendees of the ET Summit will walk away with valuable insights to take back to their workplace.