National AI Executive, Director Of Maine DOL Workforce Research, Headline Nov. 17 Maine Talent Summit

November 06, 2026

AUGUSTA, ME — Artificial intelligence (AI) executive Christine Burkette will launch the inaugural 2026 Maine Talent Summit on November 17 with a keynote on responsible AI strategies for recruiting, developing, and retaining talent.

“My message is simple: AI is transforming the workforce, but people must lead the transformation,” Burkette wrote about the keynote. “And this won’t be your typical keynote! We’re going beyond talking about AI to experiencing it, challenging assumptions, and creating something attendees can take back to their organizations. The future of work isn’t just about what AI can do. It’s about what WE choose to do with it.”

Also headlining the Maine Talent Summit with a Maine-focused analysis is Mark McInerney, the director of the Maine Department of Labor’s Center for Workforce Research and Information. He’ll focus on the intersection of technology with Maine’s unique demographics.

The Maine Community College System is convening this statewide workforce development summit so employers and other workforce experts can share ideas and come away with specific strategies and tools for Maine businesses to use right away to boost hiring and retention.

The Maine Talent Summit is presented by MCCS’ Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce, which coordinates all short-term workforce training at Maine’s community colleges, and co-hosted by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the state Department of Economic and Community Development, Live and Work in Maine, and the University of Maine System.

The Talent Summit will also feature a training and vendor expo, job outlook and labor market data analysis, AI tools and tips, a guide to funding resources to help train and upskill the workforce, free professional headshots, and a straight-talk panel with Maine students titled Hiring the Next Generation. A complete listing of all events can be found here.

Business owners and leaders, human resources leaders and workforce and economic development professionals are encouraged to attend.

The Maine Talent Summit will be held at the Augusta Civic Center on November 17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are going fast, but limited bookings are still available. To ensure reservations, orders should be made by Thursday, November 12. Tickets are $150. Frontline workers are eligible for a 50% reimbursement through the Maine Workforce Development Compact. For more information, please go to 2026 Maine Talent Summit.