Career Catalyst
Career Catalyst 2026 will be held on April 16, 2026 at Jackson Terminal.
Career Catalyst is a dynamic annual event that connects leaders from corporations, small businesses, start-ups, government agencies, and higher education to envision collaborative initiatives to create a high performing and talented workforce for emerging and future careers. The event is led by the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies and is by invitation only.
Career Catalyst is for leaders and decision-makers who are interested in emerging trends and technologies.
Interested in the 2026 Career Catalyst?
The 2026 Career Catalyst will be held on April 16, 2026 at Jackson Terminal in downtown Knoxville. Additional details coming soon.
Co-Hosted by Knoxville Technology Council
The Knoxville Technology Council exists to connect, develop and promote the technology industry in the Greater Knoxville region. The driving force of our mission is advocacy for ideas and policies that support the growth of a vibrant and sustainable tech community. We believe the tech industry is essential for our community to thrive, and it’s our goal to unite the region’s technology leaders and empower businesses to advance Knoxville as a technology hub and center of innovation.
Keynote: Odysseus Bostick
Odysseus Bostick is a Manager at Deloitte and an expert at the intersection of global supply chains, technology, and economic strategy. He leads work with U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of State and Department of Defense, on critical mineral investment, semiconductor supply chain resilience, and industrial base sustainability, with projects spanning international partnerships and post-conflict economic recovery efforts in Ukraine. Previously, he developed data-driven models on global infrastructure investment and worked across transportation, energy, and trade systems, applying advanced analytics and AI to complex economic challenges. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. At a time when technology, geopolitics, and economic security are increasingly intertwined, Dr. Bostick brings a sharp, systems-level perspective on how to build resilient and competitive economies.
Fireside Chat: Rise or Ruin? The Future of Work and Emerging Technologies
Steve Scully, Moderator
Steve is an Emmy Award–winning journalist and longtime national political broadcaster, known for his leadership at C-SPAN and his role facilitating conversations at the intersection of policy, public discourse, and societal change.
Kate Harbath
Kate is a globally recognized leader at the intersection of technology, democracy, and civic engagement. Formerly a senior executive at Meta, she led global elections policy and governance initiatives, working with governments, civil society, and technology organizations worldwide.
Dr. Hava Siegelmann
Dr. Siegelmann is a leading researcher and innovator in artificial intelligence and computational neuroscience, known for pioneering work that bridges advanced machine learning, brain-inspired computing, and national security applications.
Speaker: Matthew Kittrell
Matthew Kittrell is a leader in advancing an AI-ready workforce in East Tennessee. As Director of the CGI Knoxville Center, he is helping build a Global Center of Excellence for AI solutions. He also serves as President of the Knoxville Technology Council and Vice-Chair of Talent for the Knoxville Chamber.
Career Catalyst is a must-attend event for those who are excited about the future of work and for the opportunity to help impact the next generation of talent. CECS does an impeccable job of providing a space for industry and higher education to converge and collaborate.
Barry MathisConsulting Principal
CECS Board of Visitors, ChairmanPYA, P.C
Who Should Attend
Career Catalyst is for leaders and decision-makers who are interested in emerging trends and technologies, preparing students for the future workforce, upskilling and reskilling current employees, and/or providing insights on talent needs and how higher education can better address them.
History of Career Catalyst
The inaugural Career Catalyst was held in December 2023 at the UT Creamery. CECS welcomed 50 leaders from around Knoxville to learn more about CECS, hear from a panel of experts on emerging trends in the workplace, and participate in breakout sessions on how CECS can partner with industry to address talent needs.
CECS held the second annual Career Catalyst in May 2024, welcoming more than 100 leaders Tennessee and beyond. Attendees learned how CECS is addressing the needs discussed during the inaugural event, heard from a panel of higher education experts, including UT System President Randy Boyd, and participated in breakout sessions on CECS programs: RISE and PATH.
CECS hosted more than 100 leaders from 80+ organizations at the 2025 Career Catalyst.
Interested in sponsoring Career Catalyst?
Career Catalyst is made possible in part through support from our partners. The funds raised to support Career Catalyst will go to initiatives like RISE student mentorship, the Career Pathways certificate, and other CECS led programs.
If you or your organization are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact CECS.
Katie Cahill
Assistant Dean of Partnerships and Economic Development
(865) 974-7570
Interested in attending Career Catalyst?
If you’d like to join the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies for the 2026 Career Catalyst, please email us for additional information.
When: 2026 Date Announced Soon
Where: TBD
Future Career Readiness at CECS
RISE
Responsive Industry Support Ecosystem to match industry professionals with learners who are pursing careers in emerging employment sectors such as Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Sustainability.
PATH
Professional Advancement Through Hands-On Learning. An environment where industry can integrate work-based learning modules specific to their operational needs into a CECS certificate that helps learners build skills in areas of significant workforce demand.
Industry Partnerships
Developing the workforce of the future
CECS works closely with industry partners to understand workforce needs, address the emerging talent gap, and provide students with real-world hands-on experience in the workforce.