MAX Academy: Age as an Asset in the Workforce

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of a diverse workforce. One crucial dimension of diversity is age, which brings a wealth of benefits to teams and companies. Rather than viewing age as a barrier, forward-thinking organizations understand that employees of all ages contribute unique perspectives, skills, and experiences that are invaluable to success.

Older workers in particular often possess a deep well of experience and institutional knowledge. Years of working in various roles and industries equip them with the ability to foresee challenges, navigate complex situations, and mentor younger colleagues. This experience can help organizations avoid costly mistakes and streamline processes, as seasoned professionals frequently know what works and what doesn’t.

Sessions confirmed for the Academy include:

• Review of the Older Workforce in the Atlanta Region
• State and Federal Resources to Support the Older Workforce*
• How Providers Are Supporting the Older Workforce
• Aligning the Multigenerational Workforce

*IMPORTANT NOTE: A funding freeze in July 2025 halted operations for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a decades-long, proven work-based job training program for older, low-income Americans. The termination of this program has led to significant gaps in financial support, job training, and employment services for these individuals. During this MAX Academy, we will explore how workforce providers can help address the gaps.

Confirmed speakers include Dr. Ann Carpenter, Chief Research & Innovation Officer, Atlanta Regional Commission; Theo Gilbert-Jamison, Author, Keynote Speaker, Consultant, and Executive Coach, Performance Solutions by Design, Inc.; Rachael Hunton, Advocate for Older Workers, Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services; Cynthia Roman, Vice President, Family Stabilization and Well Being Department, Latin American Association; and Roderick Wyatt, Deputy Director, Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency.

The Academy will also include a brief update on the SNAP Works Program from Trey Benham, Georgia SNAP Works Manager, Goodwill of North Georgia.

This MAX Academy will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM, at Atlanta Metropolitan State College. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the common challenges that older workers may face in the workplace.
• Learn about resources available to support older workers in addressing their challenges.
• Explore the gifts, talents, expertise, and knowledge that older individuals bring to the workplace.
• Identify ways to foster intergenerational collaboration where different age groups work together effectively and collaboratively.

CREDENTIALED TRAINING

This MAX Academy has been approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) as training counting toward continuing education hours (CEUs) for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs). Special thanks to Goodwill of North Georgia for serving as the sponsor with the CRCC for the MAX Academy.

Both the International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP) and the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) recognize training programs held through the MAX Academy as relevant training hours for their certification programs. Hours spent attending MAX Academy workshops can count as training hours for earning a Certified Workforce Professional (CWP) credential from IAWP and also as professional development (continuing education) hours for CWP recertification. For NAWDP’s Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP), NAWDP will accept MAX Academy training hours toward the professional development hours required for CWDP recertification.

REGISTRATION

Join us for a day of learning and networking! The registration fee for this training is $25.00 for MAX members and $45.00 for non-members.

Because we recognize the value of having multiple team members from the same organization participate so concepts and practices may be discussed and reinforced, discounts are available when multiple staff from the same agency register for the workshop as follows:

MAX Members: $25.00 for the first registration and $15.00 for each additional registration from the same organization.

Non-Members: $45.00 for the first registration and $35.00 for each additional registration from the same organization.

ABOUT THE MAX ACADEMY

Launched in 2014, the mission of MAX is to advance economic resilience in the Atlanta region by strengthening connections, collaborations, and practices among workforce developers and organizations engaged in workforce development.

The MAX Academy offers professional development and capacity building training workshops to help workforce development professionals develop new skills, learn best practices, and engage in peer-to-peer learning.

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Host or Publisher METRO ATLANTA EXCHANGE FOR WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS (MAX)