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Mark C. Perna

Speaker | Author | CEO

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results in Cleveland, Ohio, a full-service strategic consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. Mark, a graduate of John Carroll University, has many years of experience addressing industry leaders on the topic of expanding their reach in an increasingly global marketplace. As an international expert on the millennial and Z generations, 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 skills gap. As the founder of the Education with Purpose & Employment with Passion movement, Mark’s mission is to connect the pipelines between education, employment, and economic development in communities everywhere. In addition to hosting the National Call to Action livestream experience, Mark also shares the message of purpose-driven education in his radio, television and podcast appearances.

In his work with educational and business organizations, Mark has pioneered many best practices for achieving more with today’s young people, including the highly popular Career Tree® strategy. Mark serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development and is a member of the International Economic Development Council, both in Washington, DC.

A Dynamic and Motivational Public Speaker

Mark delivers more than 70 in-person and virtual keynote speeches annually at national and statewide events, where he frequently brings audiences to their feet.

Among his prestigious speaking engagements, Mark has spoken at Harvard University by special invitation. Mark regularly addresses both small groups and massive crowds in his capacity as a generational and performance expert, reaching thousands of educators, employers, parents, and young people every year with his powerful message of change and connection.

At TFS Results, Mark heads an energetic team of talented professionals who share his vision of making a bigger difference in education and workforce development. TFS Results partners with schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations of all sizes nationwide to help them experience significant gains in enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance.

A Bestselling Author

Mark is a weekly contributor at Forbes.com, where his work reaches an audience of over 4 million. On The Perna Syndicate podcast, listeners in more than 70 countries tune in for Mark’s take on education, careers, and the multigenerational workforce.

His bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand the millennial and Z generations and inspire them to greater performance in all areas of life. Answering Why has won eight national book awards, including the Nautilus Award which is given to books thought to make a positive difference in the world.

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