Meet the Keynote Speaker: Dr. Rebecca Battle-Bryant
When Governor Henry McMaster appointed Dr. Rebecca Battle-Bryant as the first Director of the Office of Statewide Workforce Development (OSWD), he recognized her as a seasoned professional with both deep academic credentials and extensive practical experience. Dr. Battle-Bryant holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and brings a strong background in human resources, workforce development, corporate training, and economic development.
“As South Carolina continues to break economic development records and attract tens of thousands of new jobs—many in innovative industries—there has never been a more critical time to streamline and optimize our workforce development efforts. Dr. Rebecca Battle-Bryant’s extensive experience with South Carolina’s workforce programs will build upon our nationally recognized success and ensure our workforce is prepared to meet the demands of the future.” – Governor McMaster
Dr. Battle-Bryant has held numerous leadership roles in the workforce development arena, including Vice President of Human Resources and Workforce Development for United Infrastructure Group and Assistant Executive Director for the Workforce and Economic Development Division at the Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW). She has also co-authored The Workforce Development Playbook (2021) and developed a comprehensive workforce assessment (2024) to aid SC employers in assessing and closing their workforce gaps, in partnership with the South Carolina Manufacturing Partnership (SCMEP).
“Workforce development has been a passion of mine for the past 25 years. I have sought to leverage my experience in private industry, education, and government to simplify connections between prospective employees and employers across South Carolina. I am humbled and inspired to serve the Governor and lead the state’s workforce development efforts.” – Dr. Battle-Bryant
Building a Statewide Workforce System
In May 2023, the South Carolina General Assembly passed Act 67, creating the Office of Statewide Workforce Development within the Department of Employment and Workforce. The legislation aims to implement initiatives assigned by the Coordinating Council of Workforce Development to better coordinate, align, and direct workforce efforts statewide. The goal is to maximize available resources and foster a customer-centric workforce development system that is accessible, effective, and easy to navigate.
Under the legislation, OSWD is also responsible for expanding the dissemination of information to help students, parents, and job seekers make informed career decisions based on in-demand jobs, skills, and educational pathways. Additionally, the office is charged with developing strategies that couple workforce training with supportive services for individuals facing participation barriers and addressing challenges unique to rural communities.
In her new role, Dr. Battle-Bryant is honored to report to William Floyd, Executive Director of DEW.
“We serve as executive-level consultants to the state on all things workforce. Workforce development is a complex issue, and agencies and education partners often operate in silos. Our role is not to tell anyone what to do, but to understand what is already happening and, where possible, align efforts and resources so we are all moving in the same direction.” – Dr. Battle-Bryant
Act 67 also expanded the Coordinating Council’s role to include education partners and representatives from business and industry, ensuring a unified voice at the table. OSWD has also been tasked with creating a comprehensive, statewide education and workforce development plan.
Real-World Workforce Solutions in Action
As the keynote speaker for CONVERGE 2026, Dr. Battle-Bryant will share strategies, resources, and real-world examples to help companies attract, develop, and retain top talent. She will highlight best practices from across the state, including a partnership with the YMCA in Myrtle Beach; an internship initiative in Spartanburg that brings together economic development leaders, the Chamber of Commerce, and a former school superintendent; and LaunchGVL—an Upstate program connecting high school students with paid work opportunities in Greenville’s high-demand occupations.
To build on these efforts, OSWD is developing a toolkit to help businesses better understand “work-based learning” and how to implement robust internship programs.
Dr. Battle-Bryant will also address the need for a more advanced workforce portal for both job seekers and employers. The existing website, FindYourFuture.sc.gov, currently serves as a central repository of linked resources. The long-term vision is for the site to evolve into a fully interactive Statewide Education and Workforce Development Portal, offering enhanced tools and resources for employers, job seekers, students, educators, and others. Users are encouraged to complete the brief feedback survey available on the homepage, which will help guide future improvements.
Finally, Dr. Battle-Bryant emphasized that effective collaboration begins at the local level.
“We can provide communities with tools, resources, research, and data. We can highlight high-priority jobs and how to access them. We can build a top-notch information hub for business, industry, and education leaders. But ultimately, local communities must do the work. As I often say, ‘local action means local impact.’” – Dr. Battle-Bryant
