The 2026 U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) Workforce Success and Engagement Conference will bring together industry leaders, legal experts and workforce strategists for an immersive program designed to help employers navigate today’s evolving workplace landscape. Through interactive sessions, expert panels and real-world case studies, attendees will gain practical tools to strengthen compliance, enhance employee engagement and build resilient, future-ready organizations. The conference will be held April 15-17 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla.

“In an environment of rapid regulatory change, workforce disruption and rising risk, the Workforce Success and Engagement Conference provides employers with the practical guidance and real-world insight they need to protect their organizations, support their people and plan confidently for the future,” commented Ja Stephens, corporate director of human resources, Claxton Poultry Farms and program committee chair.  

The conference features a Washington review, a simulated immigration enforcement drill and practical guidance on employee assistance programs and benefits compliance. Panels will share proven strategies for succession planning and employee self-service to enhance continuity and efficiency.

Sessions will also address managing a multi-cultural workforce, language access and future workforce development through second-chance and veteran hiring, high school outreach and generational onboarding. Additional topics include social responsibility and sustainability audits, crisis management and workplace security, artificial intelligence policy and use cases, and a concluding legal update on harassment standards; diversity, equity and inclusion considerations; reasonable accommodations and employee vetting best practices.

To ensure adherence to USPOULTRY’s Antitrust Policy, a representative from a legal firm participated in the planning committee for the Workforce Success and Engagement Conference and will also be present at the conference in April. The attorney will be present to monitor and consult, if necessary, prohibiting discussions that may be perceived as anticompetitive issues.

The conference agenda was developed by an industry planning committee of knowledgeable and experienced human resources professionals that include Hannah Cagle, House of Raeford Farms; Michael Carow, Koch Foods; Anne Guggenbiller, Cooper Farms; Janelle Heesch, Pilgrim’s; Stephanie Kempa, Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch; Brittney Kirwer, Farbest Foods; Leonard Parks, Case Farms; Pamela Roach, Wayne-Sanderson Farms; Lori Springer, Maple Leaf Farms; Ja Stephens, Claxton Poultry Farms and program committee chair; Hunter Taylor, Butterball; Anissa Turner, Amick Farms; and James Wimberly, Wimberly, Lawson, Steckel, Schneider & Stine, P.C.  

To register for the USPOULTRY Workforce Success and Engagement Conference and reserve your hotel room, click here or go to www.uspoultry.org.