If our attendees thought we brought the heat for only day one of the conference, then they were in for a treat as we kicked off day two of DEAMcon like a sunbeam on a mission—delivering big ideas, deeper conversations, and a whole lot of “aha!” moments. The day kicked off with a warm welcome as attendees buzzed about the night before but were ready to dive into another full day of learning, connection, and, of course, exploring the future of work. Let’s dig in, ya’ll!

Caffeine, Compliance & Clear Directions

The dry desert air called for much-needed hydration, a delicious breakfast, and, of course, handcrafted lattes (or lavender honey chai, in my case!), and off we went for the day! With AI and its use on the brains of all in the audience, the day began with employment law attorney Mickey Silberman and statistician Krystall Welland from Silberman Law. From practical use to mitigating risks and maintaining compliance, Mickey and Krystal covered A LOT of ground in the opening hour, sharing the burgeoning use of AI in the workplace and knowing when and how to audit for bias. Next, we hosted a fireside chat conversation featuring OutSolve’s Founder and CEO, Jeremy Mancheski, and DirectEmployers’ VP of Partnerships, Shannon Offord. During this session, attendees learned that the widely used term “illegal DEI” is not defined by any regulation or guidance, and answered the question many attendees had on their minds, “What might a well-intentioned, law-abiding company do right now to navigate risk while remaining in compliance?”

Mickey Silberman and Krystal Welland discuss the use of AI in the workplace, and what employers need to be aware of now.

Mid-morning brought another round of concurrent sessions, and let’s say choosing between them felt like trying to pick your favorite flavor of salsa. Attendees continued to enjoy concurrent sessions focused on enhancing hiring strategies for veterans, military spouses, and the 55+ workforce, as well as how to conduct skills-based hiring strategies to build effective workforces. Other sessions explored unlocking mentorship as a way to attract and retain veterans, and the importance of embracing AI for improved talent acquisition strategies. As always, the conversation was grounded, practical, and, yes, even entertaining (who knew that compliance could spark such a lively discussion?!).

Lively engagement during sessions made for great interaction between speakers and attendees.

Fueled for the Afternoon Ahead

Founder of Women Veterans Interactive Ginger Miller shares the key barriers faced by women veterans when working to align their military expertise with civilian roles.

The networking came easily, the conversations flowed, and new connections were made–all shared over the most appetizing Southwest salad bar! Following lunch, attendees moved into the first concurrent sessions of the afternoon, featuring a mix of innovation labs and future-focused sessions that pushed the envelope and, of course, tapped into AI. Whether it was diving into emerging HR tech and practical AI implications, rethinking talent acquisition models for veterans, enhancing the focus on recruiting women veterans or offering new approaches to better-aligning recruitment advertising with hiring goals, attendees left with fresh ideas and renewed energy for the improvements they could make internally.

Following a quick break featuring a root beer float bar (because why not!), we happily welcomed Scott Sanders, President of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), to share an update on our partnership and how this continued collaboration has been a game-changer in connecting employers, job seekers, state workforce agencies, and federal partners, assisting with both recruitment and compliance efforts.

NASWA President & CEO Scott Sanders providing attendees with an update on how employers can continue to rely on the NASWA and DE alliance for long-term workforce solutions.

Beating the Burnout Effect

Keynote Erin Stafford sharing how to beat burnout and sustain peak performance.

After a long day of learning, note-taking, and conversation, we concluded the day with a topic that resonated deeply with many in the audience–escaping the Type-A trap of burnout. For many, putting your head down and working is how you push through and get the work done, but it can also lead to a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. During Erin Stafford’s keynote, attendees were reminded that proactive rest, while sounding counterproductive to your stressful schedule, leads to a 26% increase in performance. With a reinforcing message of focusing on self-care and taking intentional breaks, attendees ended the day feeling lighter, having taken actionable steps to combat burnout.

Networking, Connection & A Bustling Demo Hall

As the day sizzled down, the evening festivities kicked off with a reception focused on building connections with underwriters, local bites, and, of course, a custom-flavored mojito bar. Attendees relaxed, enjoyed chatting with peers and underwriters to earn additional swag bucks, and toasted to a day well spent. And for those still talking shop poolside–well, that’s just how we roll at DEAMcon25.

DEAMcon25 attendees connect during the evening Underwriter Reception in the Demo Hall.

That’s a wrap on Day Two, and what a day it was! Attendees came for the learning, stayed for the connections, and left with more than just notes–they left inspired and ready to tackle new opportunities at work. Stay tuned as we conclude with highlights from Day Three, marking the end of this incredible experience in Arizona.