Dynamic education expert Mark C. Perna will share the groundbreaking innovations and strategies that are shifting the education and workforce development paradigm nationwide. Mark will share how the single most important competitive advantage in today’s workforce is the synergy of academic knowledge and technical skills — and how you can help students achieve it.

Mark’s revolutionary Three Pillars can give your organization the edge in today’s competitive educational and training landscape. As the connective tissue between everything you’re already doing and the Three-Pillar approach, the Career Tree® strategy will help you show students why education matters, motivate them to set goals, and help them achieve at a higher level. Plus, the planning culture model will empower you to inspire your students and start new conversations about the outstanding college and career foundation that goal-driven education delivers.

In addition, Mark’s revolutionary Education with Purpose® philosophy will help you maximize your enrollment, retention, and performance results as students and parents experience the incredible value of purpose-driven learning. You’ll gain key insights on today’s younger generations, how to answer their all-important question why, and how to connect with them at a deeper level. You’ll also find out how the proven Light at the End of the Tunnel strategy will help keep students from all backgrounds engaged in their chosen pathway. Finally, the Wade Factor story will recharge your professional passion by showing the truly profound difference you can make every day.

As an international expert on Generations Y and Z, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people, both in the classroom and on the job.

After successfully parenting two Millennials as a single father, Mark has become a passionate advocate for bridging the generational divides that are contributing to America’s profound skills gap. Parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America have successfully used Mark’s insights and strategies to connect more effectively with the younger generations.

In his work with educational and business organizations, Mark has pioneered many best practices for achieving more with today’s young people, including the TFS Education with Purpose® philosophy and highly popular Career Tree® strategy, among others. Mark, who interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts, is often cited as the national expert in education enrollment, retention, and performance.

Mark enjoys inspirational movies, theater, travel, golf, wine, and time with his family — especially the latest Pernas, granddaughters Ellie and Lou Lou. He resides in Cleveland, Ohio.