In typical 8THIRTYFOUR fashion, we’re talking about the sh*t no one wants to address head-on. We keep hearing there is a talent crisis in America, and it’s not about finding people; it’s about finding people who can succeed.
Employers think Gen Z is lazy, entitled and will quit the second things get hard. Gen Z thinks employers are out of touch and a pain in the a**.
We’re putting you in the same room, across a table from each other and you’re going to talk about it. It’s time to fix it and since we don’t see anyone else stepping up, we’ll go ahead and do it.
Employers and talent are going to discuss what’s working, what’s missing, and what they wish the other side understood.
Get uncomfortable with us; we’ll have snacks and libations to loosen you up.
Read the Hard Cost of Soft Skills and check out the videos below in preparation for this chat.
Event Schedule
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. | Arrival + Networking
Check in, find your assigned seat, and meet the people at your table while enjoying light snacks and drinks.
5:00 – 5:30 p.m. | The Problem
Speakers:
- Kim Bode, Principal of 8THIRTYFOUR
- Kevin Stotts, President of TalentFirst
The opening presentation calls out the soft skills crisis — the stats, the costs, what broke, and why we’re all here — followed by two perspectives: an employer sharing what they’re experiencing and an entry-level or newer employee on what it looks like from the other side.
5:30 – 6:15 p.m. | Table Conversations (Facilitated)
Facilitators:
- Donovan Anderson, Interim Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University
- Kim Bode, Principal of 8THIRTYFOUR
- Marlee Boyle, Director of Human Resources at Lake Michigan Credit Union
- Michelle Burke, Director of Postsecondary Programs and Partnerships for The Michigan Center for Adult College Success, an initiative of TalentFirst
- Kyle Perry, HR Assistant at Cooper People Group and Vice President of the Grand Rapids Junior Chamber
Each table gets discussion prompts and a facilitator, because this is where employers and talent actually talk to each other — not at each other — about what’s working, what’s missing, and what they wish the other side understood.
6:15 – 6:40 p.m. | Share Out
Tables report back on what they learned that surprised them and what they’ll do differently.
6:40 – 7:00 p.m. | Networking + Next Steps
Stick around, because the best conversations happen after the formal stuff ends.
Date & Time
Date: Apr 28, 2026
Time: 4:30-7:00 p.m.
Presenting Partner
Register
About Uncomfortable Conversations
Change only happens if you talk about the uncomfortable stuff, which is something we’ve kind of made a career of — 19 years and counting. You can sit around and complain about it, or you can do something to change it, and we’ve chosen the latter.
Uncomfortable Community Conversations are where we tackle what some would say is the hard or taboo stuff, because growth happens in the uncomfortable, and that’s what we want for our community, small businesses, and you. It’s where we stop being nice and start getting real.
