2026 CWW Lunch August 6: "Students Today. Workforce Tomorrow - The Power of Mentorship in Shaping the Next Generation"

Speaker: Kayla Sorensen, Vice President of External Affairs for the Will County Center for Economic Development.

Topic: "Students Today. Workforce Tomorrow - The Power of Mentorship in Shaping the Next Generation"

Every future leader, skilled worker, entrepreneur, and community advocate starts as a student. Through mentorship, career exposure, and meaningful work experiences, we have the opportunity to help young people discover their potential and prepare for successful careers. Join Kayla Sorensen, Vice President of External Affairs at the Will County Center for Economic Development, as she shares the growth and impact of the Will County Summer Internship Program, engaging communities, and exploring how mentorship can transform lives, strengthen our workforce, and create lasting benefits for our businesses, organizations, and communities.

About the Speaker: 

Kayla Sorensen serves as Vice President of External Affairs for the Will County Center for Economic Development (CED), where she leads investor relations, community engagement, workforce development initiatives, and external affairs efforts.  She oversees relationships with the CED's Board of Directors, investors, and community partners while advancing economic growth throughout Will County.  Kayla also leads the award-winning Will County Summer Internship Program, which has connected hundreds of local students with paid work experiences and generated more than $1 million in student wages, helping develop the workforce of tomorrow.

Prior to Joining the CED in 2022, Kayla spent nearly a decade in state government, including serving as Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum under Governor JB Pritzker's administration.  A Joliet native, she serves on the Boards of Directors for the Greater Joliet YMCA and the Joliet Area Historical Museum and is a member of the Village of Shorewood Planning and Zoning Commission.  Kayla is a Joliet Junior College alumna and holds a Bachelors from Northern Illinois University and her MPA from the University of Illinoi Springfield.

 

Join the CWW group in their Monthly Give Back. The August program is Easterseals.  Please kindly consider donating to the Jump Start Program in Joliet: Crayola Crayons and markers, Play - Doh, construction paper and lamination papers. Bring your items to the August CWW Event!