Join us at the Pathway to Trades Summit:
Building the Nuclear Trades Pipeline Together!

Thursday, May 14, 2026


The Tennessee nuclear industry is expanding rapidly, and we need your expertise and collaboration to ensure our workforce pipeline can meet the growing demand. This summit is your opportunity to be part of a high-impact group of stakeholders dedicated to crafting solutions and driving meaningful change.

Additional Information

Hear about the upcoming Pathway to Trades Summit!

ORAU’s Pathway to Trades Summit will bring together nuclear energy industry stakeholders to discuss and collaborate on meeting the growing demand for skilled trades workers. The summit will bring together nuclear energy industry leaders, trades union leadership, educators, local and regional lawmakers and others on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Laura Hammons, strategic programs and operations manager of the ORAU STEM Accelerator, recently discussed the Pathway to Trades Summit and how ORAU is working to meet future workforce needs with NewsTalk 98.7’s Bob Yarbrough.

Listen below now!

Read the transcipt (.docx)

Laura Hammons with the Newstalk Radio logo

Meeting the need for skilled trades workers in the nuclear energy industry: ORAU's Pathway to Trades Summit

Oak Ridge is at the nexus of the nuclear energy renaissance. One of the challenges is meeting the demand for the necessary workforce, and not just the scientific and technical workforce but the skilled trades workers needed to build out and operate the small modular reactors and other facilities that are coming. In this episode of ORAU's Further Together podcast, Laura Hammons, key organizer of the summit, discusses why the Summit is important, what participants can expect, and what she hopes will happen next.

Listen to Episode 211 Transcript for Episode 211

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 Who should attend?

  • Industry leaders and HR executives: Share the demand signals driving workforce needs.
  • Trade union leadership: Highlight capacity and training requirements.
  • Education administrators: Shape curriculum and spark interest in nuclear trades careers.
  • Local and regional government representatives: Provide insights into available resources.
  • Non-profit and community partners: Offer support and services for students and programs.

 Why you should attend:

This summit is not just another meeting—it’s a collaborative workspace designed to:

 

  • Bridge the communication gap between the people who train the workers, fund the programs, and hire employees.
  • Influence curriculum and capacity by sharing what certifications are needed right now by industry and what resources are needed by the training institutions.
  • Understand available resources at the state and local level for both program development and deployment as well as for the individual men and women who need wrap-around services.
  • Commit to tangible solutions by making the connections needed to continue the dialogue and action needed for this important undertaking.

Sponsored by:

 

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Your input is critical! Together, we can ensure the seamless development of a skilled workforce pipeline for the nuclear trades.

 

Don’t miss this chance to make a difference. Register today and be part of the solution!