2026 OFRI Workforce Summit
OFRI Workforce Summit
May 13-14
Bend, Oregon
The Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI), in partnership with the Western Forestry & Conservation Association (WFCA), will host a two-day summit this spring focused on strengthening Oregon’s forest sector workforce.
The OFRI Workforce Summit, scheduled for May 13-14 at the Riverhouse Lodge in Bend, will bring together leaders from across the forest sector to examine the current workforce landscape, identify challenges and gaps in education and career pathways, and develop practical, collaborative recommendations and next steps for supporting sector workforce development. The summit will coincide with WFCA’s Mapping the Course conference, which will take place May 11-13 at the Riverhouse Lodge, and all conference registrants are invited to also attend the OFRI summit for no additional charge.
Along with Mapping the Course attendees, OFRI and WFCA encourage participation from Oregon forest sector employers, educators and training providers, workforce and community partners, land managers, policymakers, and anyone interested in collaborative, solution-driven approaches to forest sector workforce development. The OFRI Workforce Summit is free to attend and open to all interested participants.
| The OFRI Workforce Summit is free. You will need to register for the OFRI Workforce Summit through the WFCA registration page. You do not need to attend the Mapping the Course conference in order to attend the OFRI Workforce Summit. |
Visit the WFCA website for information and registration for both events. |
SUMMIT AGENDA:
May 13: Setting the foundation
Conclusion of WFCA Mapping the Course conference and networking lunch (provided)
| 1:00 p.m. | Welcome to the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) Workforce Summit |
| 1:20 | Workforce needs |
| 2:20 | From classroom to forest |
| 2:45 | Break |
| 3:15 | Forest sector workforce development: K-12 education |
| 4:00 | Forest sector workforce development: Post-secondary education |
| 4:45 | Reflections of the day and preview of day two agenda |
| 5:00 | Adjourn |
May 14: From insight to action
| 7:00 a.m. | Breakfast (provided) |
| 8:00 | Welcome back and day two framing |
| 8:15 | Youth crews, internship and apprenticeships |
| 9:00 | Workforce development successes |
| 9:30 | Break |
| 10:00 | Identifying gaps and potential solutions by subsector |
| 11:30 | Lunch (provided) |
| 12:30 p.m. | Discuss potential solutions and next steps |
| 1:15 | Story of success |
| 1:45 | Closing reflections and next steps |
| 2:00 | Adjourn |