Dani provides technical assistance, establishes the development of resources and tools, and assists the Program and Initiatives team in monitoring performance and reporting to track progress towards program initiatives and major deliverables.
Previously, Dani was the Quality Assurance Manager at Equus Workforce Solutions for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) project in South Central Oklahoma. She led the development of processes and initiatives to ensure the project met performance obligations by utilizing data-driven approaches to measure outcomes. Dani also held the position of Accounting Assistant while at Equus where she reviewed funding allocations and monitored contractual budgets to identify quarterly predictions. Dani served as a member of the project leadership team to identify and implement opportunities for operational improvement.
Dani is based in Oklahoma City, OK, and has her Master of Business Administration in Project Management.
Zachary serves on the communications team where he highlights the exceptional work that NAWB and its members consistently undertake in the realm of workforce development.
Prior to this role, he served as a Marketing and Business Development Associate at Allia Group, a boutique healthcare litigation firm, where he spearheaded a comprehensive organizational rebranding initiative. He also worked as a Digital Strategist for a digital fundraising agency, where he was responsible for planning, writing, and overseeing all fundraising communications for his clients.
Zachary earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Brandeis University, with concentrations in Statistics and Legal Studies. During his time at Brandeis, he served as Chief of Staff of the Brandeis Student Union and Editor-in-Chief of the Brandeis Student Union Paper. His work was published in the Georgetown University Undergraduate Law Review.
Based in Washington, DC, Zachary is deeply passionate about NAWB’s mission to promote economic vitality through meaningful employment for all our neighbors.
Sarah leads the collaborative efforts in Skills-Based Hiring & Advancement (SBHA) and Learning & Employment Records (LER), supporting members in navigating innovative workforce development strategies and initiatives.
With extensive experience in workforce and partnership development, Sarah has demonstrated leadership in nonprofits, corporate learning and development, small businesses, community organizations, and higher education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in project management through credit for prior learning as an adult learner.
A strong advocate for continuous learning, Sarah holds certifications in entrepreneurial facilitation, human-centered design, creative collaboration, and is a certified ScrumMaster.
Sarah is based in Milwaukee, WI and is an active volunteer, serving on advisory councils and planning committees, and mentoring youth in work-based learning programs.
Angela leads the Work Based Learning initiatives for NAWB and its partners across the U.S. She also leads the strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Previously, Angela was the skills craft training and apprenticeship programs Manager with Cleveland-Cliffs, LLC, an advanced manufacturing steel producing organization. In 2017 she co-led the SteelWorker for the Future program, a community college and employer led partnership. The program graduated over 300 students from the classroom and transitioned them into gainful employment.
Angela is based in Las Vegas, NV and is a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
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.
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