Mala leads NAWB’s programs and partnerships focused on economic mobility, work-based learning, technical assistance, and systems innovation.
She is a mission-driven leader with over 25 years of experience in workforce development and education policy, systems, and network development. Previously, Mala held leadership roles at Results for America, where she directed a fellowship for government teams offering technical assistance on job quality and evidence-based strategies, and at MDC, facilitating cohort-based networks working to advance economic mobility and equity strategies across the American South. She also served as founding Executive Director of the Children’s Opportunity Fund at the Greater
Washington Community Foundation, and as Executive Director of the National Youth Employment Coalition, a membership association dedicated to improving outcomes for Opportunity Youth where she advocated for federal workforce and education policies, including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Mala has contributed to policy and system development on advisory panels and through volunteer board service, including the National Assessment of Career and Technical Education to Congress, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Forward Promise Initiative, and as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Human Services Assembly.
Mala is based in the Washington, DC Metro area and holds an M.A. in Education from New York University and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Connie leads the membership strategies and partnerships that NAWB members value. She is known for designing innovative workforce programs, policies, and procedures that focus on assisting low-income, hard to serve, and dislocated populations gain and retain employment.
Prior to joining NAWB, Connie worked with workforce boards to help them tell their story through data. As a labor market data expert, she designed and presented numerous trainings to teach workforce boards how to make data driven decisions. Before that, she worked at a local workforce as programs and operation manager. Before joining the workforce development world, Connie spent 8 years working in student services for Oklahoma State University and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center where she learned to write and administer competitive grants.
Based in Pryor, OK, Connie is a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP), a certified Lightcast user, and a certified grant writer. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Oklahoma State University and Associate of Arts from Rogers State University.
Jay works with NAWB sponsors and partners to bring business insight and support to the NAWB community, including The Forum.
Jay has more than 25 years of experience in business development, workforce development strategy, marketing, strategic partnership development, government relations, start-ups, joint venture formation and leadership, EdTech, and general management. Most recently he served as Director of Business Development for Lightcast, the labor market information analytics company. In 2022 Jay served as a judge for the “40 Under 40 in Economic Development” awards. As the CEO of Wake Forest Advantage, LLC, Jay served in the Office of the Provost at Wake Forest University and was a part of Global Wake Forest.
Jay is a lifelong student, always seeking to combine learning activities with travel, study, and writing. Jay calls North Carolina home and is based out of Winston-Salem, NC.
Gail leads NAWB’s advocacy efforts to advance federal workforce development policies with Congress, the White House, and federal agencies. She also spearheads Workforce Advocacy Day and NAWB’s monthly Public Policy PowerUps, and creates tools and templates to help workforce development professionals effectively tell their story to decision makers.
Previously, Gail served at the highest levels on Capitol Hill, the nonprofit sector, and in national trade associations. She founded and led Speak Up Advocacy where she helped organizations leverage their board members, volunteers, and donors to develop tools to advocate effectively and advance their cause.
Gail spent eleven years on Capitol Hill, including as Chief of Staff to Rep. Adam Schiff of California, Legislative Director for Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York, Democratic Staff Director of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, and a Legislative Fellow for (then-Rep.) Ron Wyden of Oregon.
Gail is based in Maryland and has served as Vice President of Government Relations and Communications for the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) where she advanced the organization’s priority issues on Capitol Hill and with federal agencies on behalf of all types of museums. Gail is considered the godmother of Museums Advocacy Day, having launched this signature event in 2009. Her book, Speak Up for Museums: The AAM Guide to Advocacy, was published in 2011.
Member Portal