By Kerry Cole, Editor of Materials Performance (MP) magazine

Gain practical insight into how workforce design impacts operational performance, along with frameworks for supporting reinvention and re-entry without compromising safety or quality. These considerations will be discussed at a workforce development forum titled “Reinvention, Reentry, and Retention,” at the 2026 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo.

Scheduled for Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Room 372 EF, the forum will examine how technical organizations are responding to a rapidly changing labor landscape, with a focus on reintegrating talent and sustaining performance in materials protection and performance roles.

Led by forum chair Victoria Kageni, founder of IMARA Global Consulting, the session is developed to address fundamental shifts in how industries attract, develop, and retain skilled professionals. Discussions will explore practical approaches to supporting experienced professionals seeking new career chapters, creating pathways back into the workforce, and strengthening the integration of critical talent.

Speakers will bring perspectives from coatings, corrosion, inspection, and other asset-reliant operations, emphasizing real-world challenges tied to safety, reliability, and knowledge transfer. The forum will also highlight how workforce gaps influence risk and execution — and how thoughtfully designed experience pathways can help preserve continuity in corrosion and materials protection programs.

The session is designed for asset owners, engineers, inspectors, coating professionals, operations leaders, and others responsible for workforce readiness and long-term reliability. Attendees can expect actionable insights into aligning workforce design with operational goals, while supporting reinvention and re-entry without sacrificing quality or safety.

With workforce instability already impacting asset life, execution, and safety outcomes, the forum aims to frame these challenges through an operational lens and offer practical strategies that build resilience across the industry.