━ Full Day Agenda · January 2027
Event
Program
& Agenda
One full day designed for maximum impact. Every session, panel, and activation has a purpose — and a sponsor asset tied to it. Speakers and specific times will be confirmed as the event approaches.
━ Full Day Schedule
Metro Atlanta
January 2027
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Registration, Check-In & Coffee Networking
Attendees arrive, check in, receive event materials, and begin early networking. Expo floor soft open. Career Center opens.
8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
Opening Ceremony
Welcome from North American Fleet Services and The Reid Group. Establishes the urgency around skilled labor shortages. Sponsor and workforce partner recognition.
8:50 AM – 9:25 AM
Opening Keynote — “America Runs on Skilled Hands”
The signature keynote sets the national tone. Why skilled labor matters now, why industry and education must work together, and why blue-collar careers must be elevated and respected.
9:25 AM – 10:10 AM
Main Stage Panel — Solving the Skilled Labor Shortage
High-impact employer panel focused on real pipeline solutions. Employer, recruiter, technical education, workforce development, and community representatives.
10:10 AM – 10:25 AM
Networking Break & Expo Hall Activation
10:25 AM – 11:10 AM
Breakout Block 1 — Three Simultaneous Sessions
Room A
Hiring & Retaining Technicians
For: Employers, HR leaders, shop owners
Room B
How to Enter the Trades Fast
For: Students, veterans, job seekers
Room C
School to Skilled Employment
For: Schools, workforce partners, employers
11:15 AM – 11:55 AM
Main Stage — The Future of Diesel, Heavy Equipment & Industrial Careers
Industry demand, service technology evolution, career growth pathways, and why the trade is advancing — not disappearing.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Active Lunch + Expo Hall + Live Demo Window
Exhibitor spotlight moments, student success story, Demo Arena announcements, sponsor recognition. Lunch is active — not passive.
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch Keynote — Workforce, Defense, Infrastructure & Trades of the Future
Connects the Expo to national economic priorities. Infrastructure demand, defense workforce needs, manufacturing and logistics opportunities, veteran pathways, public-private collaboration.
1:40 PM – 2:25 PM
Breakout Block 2 — Three Simultaneous Sessions
Room A
Public-Private Partnerships & Workforce Pipeline
For: Workforce leaders, educators, public sector
Room B
What Employers Actually Want
For: Students, job seekers, training providers
Room C
Women in Trades & Veterans in Transition
For: Employers, workforce partners, community orgs
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
Main Stage Panel — Training the Next Generation
Apprenticeships, employer-led academies, school and college partnerships, practical pipeline building.
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Afternoon Break, Expo Push, and Demo Arena Push
A final structured push to exhibitor traffic, live demos, sponsor booths, and the Career Center.
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Main Stage — From Interest to Employment: How the Expo Becomes Opportunity
Who is hiring now, which pathways are available now, scholarship and training announcements, immediate next steps for attendees.
4:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Closing Session — The Call to Build the Workforce
Day recap, sponsor and partner recognition, scholarship announcements, employer hiring commitments, save-the-date for Year 2.
4:45 PM – 5:30 PM
Final Networking, Recruiter Meetups & Expo Close
Recruiter meetings, employer introductions, school and workforce connections. Where relationships turn into follow-up.
─ All-Day Activation Areas
Open All
Day. Every Day.
Expo Hall — 9 Industry Zones
The core environment. Targeting 200+ exhibitors organized by sector. Open continuously from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Demo Arena
Live hands-on demonstrations throughout the day: diesel, welding, HVAC, electrical, equipment simulators.
Career Center
Resume reviews, recruiter tables, scheduled interview pods, job readiness support, and QR job board.
Training & Pathways Pavilion
Technical colleges, apprenticeship programs, workforce organizations, and academies in a dedicated zone.
Blue Collar Expo
America's Workforce Development Platform
Hosted by North American Fleet Services. Produced and managed by The Reid Group. Metro Atlanta, Georgia — January 2027.
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© 2026 Blue Collar Expo. All rights reserved. Metro Atlanta, Georgia.
Produced by The Reid Group · Hosted by North American Fleet Services