The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) today announced Hartford Healthcare as the recipient of the 2026 Employer of the Year award. The organization will be recognized during an awards ceremony at the 42nd NAWDP Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 18-20, 2026. 

“The Employer of the Year award honors private-sector employers or employer consortiums that strengthen their communities through strategic workforce partnerships,” said Melissa Robbins, NAWDP’s Chief Executive Officer. “Hartford HealthCare is being recognized for advancing healthcare career pathways, expanding access to employment, and investing in solutions that address workforce shortages across Connecticut.” 

As healthcare systems nationwide face talent shortages, shifting skill demands, and pipeline gaps, Hartford HealthCare, a large healthcare system in Connecticut, has taken a collaborative, action-oriented approach. By partnering with regional workforce organizations, educational institutions, and public workforce systems, the organization is helping create clearer entry points into healthcare careers while building advancement opportunities for incumbent workers.

Through its participation in the Capital Area Healthcare Regional Sector Partnership, Hartford HealthCare contributes to coordinated strategies that align employer needs with jobseeker preparation. This work supports sector-based solutions that respond directly to labor market realities, helping ensure that training programs are connected to real employment opportunities.

The organization also leverages workforce tools such as Incumbent Worker Training Grants, On-the-Job Training (OJT), and Earn-and-Learn models to upskill current employees and create structured pathways for new hires. These efforts not only strengthen the healthcare talent pipeline but also increase economic mobility for workers seeking stable, long-term careers in the healthcare field.

By offering internships, apprenticeships, mock interviews for prospective candidates, and career information sessions, Hartford HealthCare helps demystify healthcare careers and provide tangible access points for jobseekers. These initiatives connect individuals to meaningful employment while helping the healthcare system meet critical staffing needs.

Hartford HealthCare’s approach demonstrates how employer leadership, when aligned with workforce development partners, can produce measurable impact and expand opportunity for individuals, improve talent retention, and strengthen regional healthcare delivery systems.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals as Employer of the Year and grateful to Capital Workforce Partners for this meaningful nomination. At Hartford HealthCare, culture is everything. We believe the best people choose to work where they are supported, valued, and inspired to grow — and where they care for one another as deeply as they care for those we serve,” said Jeffrey A. Flaks, President and CEO of Hartford HealthCare. “Workforce development is a reflection of who we are and the promise we make to our colleagues and our community. This recognition belongs to our extraordinary team whose commitment to each other and to excellence fuels our culture of ‘the best at getting better’ and strengthens healthcare across Connecticut.”

“At Hartford HealthCare, our People Promise is simple but powerful: we are here to help our colleagues grow, belong, and thrive. Workforce development is how we bring that promise to life. Whether through Earn-As-You-Learn programs, incumbent worker training, apprenticeships, or partnerships with higher education and community organizations, we are intentional about creating clear, accessible pathways into meaningful healthcare careers,” Rosemary Sheehan, Chief People Officer at Hartford Healthcare, added. “We recognize that building a strong workforce requires listening to our community, removing barriers to opportunity, and investing in continuous growth. By sharing our strategies and collaborating across the region, we are not only strengthening our own talent pipeline — we are helping shape a more inclusive, resilient future for the entire healthcare workforce.”

About Hartford Healthcare

With over 48,000 dedicated colleagues and a bold vision for the future, Hartford HealthCare is transforming healthcare across Connecticut and beyond — enhancing access, affordability, health equity, and excellence. Spanning more than 500 locations across 185 towns and cities, our comprehensive care-delivery system is built to serve every community, every day. 

From world-class hospitals—including two tertiary-level teaching hospitals, an acute-care community teaching hospital, an acute-care hospital and trauma center, and four community hospitals—to an expansive network of behavioral health services, multispecialty physician groups, urgent and virtual care, surgery centers, home care, senior care, rehabilitation, and mobile neighborhood health programs, Hartford HealthCare is there when and where it matters most. 

Hartford HealthCare touches the lives of more than 28,000 people every single day, delivering unparalleled care through its unique Institute Model — bringing together leading experts in neuroscience, cancer, digestive health, heart and vascular care, orthopedics, and urology and kidney health to provide a unified, high standard of care at the most affordable cost. 

Recognized nationally for patient safety and clinical excellence, Hartford HealthCare was the only health system in country awarded the prestigious Quest for Quality Prize from the American Hospital Association and boasts Leapfrog A-ratings across all its hospitals — making Hartford HealthCare one of the safest healthcare systems in the country.  

Visit www.HartfordHealthCare.org and stay connected through their newsletters and social media.