Merit’s WorkNow Webinar Series to Examine Strategies for COVID-19 Economic Recovery

Former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, State Department Directors & Business Leaders to Lead Discussions on Workforce Recovery

MILLBRAE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merit, the platform that provides digital credential issuing, access, verification, and reporting for government agencies, today announced the launch of a webinar series where labor and workforce leaders will outline strategies for workforce development and empowering dislocated workers in response to COVID-19.

“We have been fortunate to have many enlightening conversations with our partners over the past few months around how states are adapting and innovating in light of the current economic situation stemming from COVID-19,” said Merit’s President of Government Affairs, Trevor Cornwell. “We’re eager to bring these experts together to share with each other and with a wider audience.”

The four webinars, which begin on Thursday, June 4, will address topics including:

• How state agencies are handling workforce issues in the COVID-19 era and outline strategies for economic recovery.
• The need to modernize antiquated systems that have been overwhelmed by unprecedented demand for unemployment services.
• The benefits of credentials of value and digital access, and how they can help government agencies quickly connect displaced workers with employment and training opportunities.
• How states are rethinking occupational reciprocity across state lines to connect workers with opportunities — regardless of their location — to strengthen the nation’s workforce.

The full webinar schedule:

Show, Don’t Tell: Empowering Displaced Workers with Credentials of Value
June 4th, 1pm EDT
Confirmed Panelists: Scott Cheney, Executive Director, Credential Engine; Jason Green, Co-Founder, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, SkillSmart; Nick Moore, Education Policy Advisor & Coordinator, Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways; Taimarie Adams, Director, Government Affairs, Merit

The Clear and Present Danger of Paper-Based Systems: What State Agencies Need to Know in a Time of Pandemic
June 11th, 1pm EDT
Confirmed Panelists: Mary Broz-Vaughan, Director, Virginia Department of Professional & Occupational Regulation; Kenyatta Lovett, Assistant Commissioner of Workforce Services, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development; Mark Cate, President & Principal, Stones River Group

Why Wait for a Crisis? Occupational Licensing and Reciprocity Post-COVID-19
June 18th, 1pm EDT
Confirmed Panelists: Daryl Bassett, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing; Hannah Burke, VP Government Solutions, Merit

Thought Leader & Governors’ Roundtable: Reimagining Technology and the Future of Work
June 25th, 1pm EDT
Confirmed Panelists: Governor Phil Bryant, Former Governor, Mississippi; Trevor Cornwell, President, Government Affairs, Merit

More information and RSVP links are available at: https://www.merits.com/worknow-webinar.

About Merit

Merit is the first universal verified identity ecosystem for government, businesses and workers to operate with the efficiency, trust, and transparency that comes with having universal mobility. By letting everyone access, track, and organize their achievements in real time, Merit is bringing personal and professional skills verification into the digital age. Through a single, secure platform, Merit puts the power of trusted and verified credentials in the hands of professionals across the public and private sectors, supporting professional licensing, occupational regulation, workforce development, emergency services, recreation, and other digital credentialing applications. Find more information about how Merit is helping everyone shape their future at https://www.merits.com/.