Event Description:

Start in Hampton Roads is the region’s comprehensive talent attraction and retention initiative, created to strengthen Hampton Roads’ ability to attract, connect, and retain the workforce our employers need to grow. The initiative serves as a front door to the region for job seekers, recent graduates, military-connected professionals, veterans, skilled workers, and professionals considering relocation—connecting them with career opportunities while showcasing what makes Hampton Roads an exceptional place to live, work, and build a future.

For HR and talent acquisition professionals, Start in Hampton Roads is designed to be an extension of your recruitment efforts. Through a regional jobs portal, employer visibility opportunities, quality-of-life content, relocation resources, cost-of-living information, and national marketing campaigns, the initiative helps employers sell more than a position—it helps them sell Hampton Roads. By bringing employers and regional partners together around a shared talent story, Start in Hampton Roads provides tools to help organizations expand their reach, strengthen recruitment efforts, and ultimately keep more great talent in our region.

Speaker: Lauren Roberts

Lauren Roberts Carter serves as Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the Hampton Roads Chamber, where she leads strategic marketing and communications efforts to elevate the Chamber’s brand, amplify its impact, and strengthen engagement across the regional business community. She also serves as Executive Director of Start in Hampton Roads, the region’s first comprehensive talent attraction and retention initiative, connecting job seekers and relocating professionals with career opportunities, employers, and the quality of life that makes Hampton Roads an exceptional place to live and work. A passionate advocate for Hampton Roads, Lauren is committed to telling the region’s story, championing its businesses and communities, and strengthening its visibility both locally and nationally.