Steve Lee and Mason Bishop will be featured speakers at the 2025 SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
At a time when workforce systems are being redefined and reskilling is more urgent than ever, Steve Lee and Mason Bishop are leading national efforts to close opportunity gaps and build more resilient economies.
This August, they’ll share their perspectives with leaders from across Appalachia at the 2025 SOAR Summit, taking place August 26–29 at the Corbin Arena in Corbin, Kentucky. Save your seat today at soar-ky.org/summit25 to hear from Lee, Bishop, and other national and regional leaders shaping the future of Appalachian Kentucky.
Steve Lee | CEO, SkillUp Coalition
Under Steve Lee’s leadership, the SkillUp Coalition has connected nearly 3.5 million workers without college degrees to career pathways, training options, and job opportunities. His work is grounded in the belief that no one’s potential should be limited by their education level, and that inclusive workforce systems are the key to breaking intergenerational poverty.
Steve’s career journey includes:
Steve brings cross-sector leadership experience to the workforce space, including:
- Executive experience in technology, strategy, and workforce development
- Associate Partner at Bain & Company, advising Fortune 500 firms on systems change and performance
- Managing Director of Economic Security at the Robin Hood Foundation, scaling anti-poverty initiatives
- Mentor and advisor to Techstars, MIT Solve, Sparc, Leap Fund, United Way, and others
- Board member across multiple workforce, fintech, and media nonprofits
His track record of innovation and impact offers incredible insight for rural leaders building inclusive, tech-enabled workforce systems.
He now advises and mentors organizations ranging from MIT Solve to United Way, and serves on multiple boards in the workforce, fintech, and media sectors.
Mason Bishop | Workforce Policy Expert & Principal, WorkED Consulting
Mason Bishop brings deep experience in public workforce policy, having served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training at the U.S. Department of Labor. He led the design and oversight of key national programs and helped integrate Utah’s workforce services into one of the most effective state models in the country.
Today, he works through WorkED Consulting and QA Commons to help educational institutions and workforce systems better align with employer needs, with a focus on employability skills, credentials, and tech economy readiness.
He is also a nonresident fellow at American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he contributes research and policy analysis on the future of work.
Why This Matters for Eastern Kentucky
Both Lee and Bishop understand how to build scalable, accessible, and results-driven workforce systems, and both are passionate about helping rural communities adapt and lead.
If your work touches education, economic development, workforce training, or social services, this is your chance to learn from two of the best in the field.
Join us at the 2025 SOAR Summit taking place August 26–29 at the Corbin Arena, to explore what’s next in workforce innovation and how your organization can be part of it.
The 2025 SOAR Summit takes place August 26–29 at the Corbin Arena.
Register now at https://soar-ky.org/summit25/