Avetta®, the leader in intelligent work readiness across global supply chains, today announced new details about its 2026 Summit Series event taking place in Chicago on May 19-21, 2026. Chiefly, the company revealed an all-new format focused on curated experiences designed to go beyond traditional conferences and drive meaningful outcomes for its community of hiring clients, suppliers and partners. The new model will foster an environment where work gets done—not just discussed—helping organizations accelerate change, reduce friction and strengthen supply chain performance to deliver real-world impact. Avetta also unveiled select keynote speakers; sample breakout sessions; and additional information about its North America customer awards, which will be presented at the event.
The 2026 Summit Series, which kicks off in Chicago and will continue in Sydney and London later in the year, will center on the power of a trusted community to navigate complex global risks. Attendees will expand their professional networks while exploring how to leverage intelligent work readiness—the strategic alignment of people, processes and technology—to move beyond simple compliance toward operational excellence. This collaborative approach mirrors Avetta’s recent brand evolution, which establishes “Ready to Work” as a new standard for advancing supply chain safety, security and sustainability.
“Readiness isn’t achieved alone—it’s built together,” said Abid Yousuf, Chief Customer Officer at Avetta. “The 2026 Summit Series will bring that spirit to life—starting in Chicago. There, our North American community members will come together to strengthen their networks, learn from one another and solve challenges so they can better lead with confidence, operate with integrity and protect the people that keep business moving forward.”
The Chicago event will be hosted at the Marriott Marquis Chicago. Situated in the city’s South Loop, the venue features modern meeting spaces specifically designed for in-depth collaboration. Guests will also enjoy easy access to downtown Chicago and walkable proximity to Lake Michigan and various cultural landmarks. A discounted room block is available for attendees and will be offered during the registration process on a first-come, first-served basis.
New for 2026: Designed for Real-World Impact
- The Connection Center: As the heart of the event, the Connection Center will serve as a central hub for high-value, in-person collaboration where clients and suppliers can meet, align and advance work together.
- Client-hosted Supplier Townhalls: Attending hiring clients will have the opportunity to host dedicated 45-minute Supplier Townhalls where their supplier communities can come together to align on safety expectations, program updates and priorities for the year ahead.
- Industry-specific user group roundtables: The Chicago event will mark the launch of Avetta’s Industry User Groups—peer communities from within the construction, facilities management and industrial and process manufacturing sectors focused on solving shared operational challenges, discussing best practices and providing direct input into Avetta’s product roadmap. Each group will gather in Chicago for a facilitated 90-minute kickoff, which will be followed by quarterly virtual sessions throughout the remainder of the year.
- Safety Spotlights: Also new are Safety Spotlights—peer-led, high-impact, interactive sessions showcasing proven strategies, measurable results and forward-looking insights from across the Avetta community.
“The Avetta Summit Series provides a valuable forum to engage with industry leaders and gain practical insights into how different organizations are implementing and evolving their HSE initiatives and strategies,” said Daragh O’Malley, Director of Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) at IKO North America. “It also allows us to have discussions with our contractors, reinforcing the critical role of strong, collaborative working relationships in driving safety performance.”
Select Keynote Speakers
- Jim Wetherbee: A record-holding former NASA astronaut and U.S. naval aviator, Wetherbee uses his more than three decades of leadership in high-hazard operational environments to inspire others toward greatness. He provides a roadmap for navigating risk and achieving mission critical objectives, a process he also detailed in his book, Controlling Risk: Thirty Techniques for Operating Excellence.
- Billy Parker: A 20-year veteran welder and double-arm amputee, Parker has dedicated his life to workplace safety and amputee empowerment after surviving a traumatic accident. As a renowned public speaker, he uses his personal journey to bridge the gap between compliance and culture, providing a unique perspective on the human impact of risk and the power of resilience.
- Arshad Matin: As President, CEO and Board Member at Avetta, Matin leads the company’s mission to ensure global businesses and suppliers are ready to work through the strategic integration of technology and human expertise. Under his stewardship, Avetta has become the leader in intelligent work readiness, providing organizations with the data-driven insights and operational certainty needed to navigate complex global supply chain risks.
Sample Breakout Sessions
- Aligning Procurement and HSE: Building a Unified Risk Strategy
- From Audit Ready to Operationally Ready
- Emerging Safety Trends: Managing the Next Generation of Contractor Risk
- What’s Next: Avetta’s Product Vision for Suppliers
- Stand Out, Get Selected: Maximizing Your Avetta Profile
“For us, the most valuable progress happens through connection and engagement,” said Jennifer Feeler, Safety, Health and Environmental Support Manager at Sunbelt Rentals. “The Avetta Summit Series gives us the opportunity to connect face-to-face with both current and potential clients to better understand their needs, strengthen relationships and help us ensure we show up to their sites prepared.”
North America Customer Award Winners
In Chicago, Avetta will also announce and celebrate its 2026 North America customer award winners, which will be selected from among the record number of nominations received this year. These awards recognize the organizations and individuals within the Avetta community that are driving bold transformations across health and safety, sustainability, workforce management and operational excellence. For the first time ever, winners will be announced on the main stage, showcasing the real-world impact of intelligent work readiness to inspire others toward higher levels of performance.
Explore Hrtech Articles for the latest Tech Trends in Human Resources Technology
