Our Advisors
Our SkillUp Coalition Board of Directors and worker-led Career Builders advisory board keep the voice of workers front and center in all we do.
Board of Directors and Advisors
Andre Bennin
Board Director
Managing Partner, Juvo Ventures
Josh Jarrett
Board Director
Executive Chair, SkillUp Coalition Founder SVP, Strategy, Wiley
Maria Flynn
Board Director
President and CEO, Jobs for the Future
Jose Ortiz, Jr.
Board Director
CEO, NYC Employment & Training Coalition
Karan Chopra
Advisory Board
Co-Founder and Executive Vice President, [email protected]
Rob Gifford
Advisory Board
President at National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF)
Aaron Osmond
Advisory Board
Education and Workforce Specialist – Global Public Sector, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Career Builder Advisory Board
The Voice of those most impacted
We work for the American worker. Any solution we develop and action we take needs to be done for and with those on the frontline. They are our inspiration and reason for being.
We have assembled a worker advisory board known as Career Builders that consists of workers at various stages of their career, education and development journies. This body helps inform, guide and influence all SkillUp services and outreach.
Do you want to join our next Career Builder group? Recruitment is now open!
• The Career Builders program is a community of 25 individuals looking to change careers. As a part of this community, individuals will offer feedback on Skill Up products, as well as share their stories and experiences with the Skill Up team and network. Participation in the program has the following benefits to the user:
• Bi-monthly private group coaching with peers
• Technology access and support: Panelists will be provided accounts for Slack.
Opportunities to speak in webinars or offer coaching support to workers in need of upskilling.
Compensation for participation: Participants are compensated $25 for their time giving feedback and sharing their stories.
• Platform for sharing their experience: Panelists’ stories and experiences will be used for social and national media and research reports that can reach thousands of readers.
• Impact on the SkillUp Product: Panelists will have the chance to explore and provide feedback on product modification and features, impacting the thousands of workers who come to SkillUp.org each week.
• Professional work experience and references: Participants in good standing with the program will be provided a letter of recommendation and can include their role as a SkillUp panelist on their resume.
Membership Criteria:
• 18+ or older
• Living in any city in the United States
• Considering a career change or a training program
•Earning less than $40,000 a year
Please contact Grace Gerber ([email protected]) if you are interested in applying.
Brenda Delbrey
Maryland
Marjorie Mendez
Ohio
Twannetta Weaver
Florida
Brianna Griffin
Ohio
Cynthia Brewer
Maryland
Richard De Hero
Illinois
Konfor Chuye
Maryland
Linda Ashley
New Jersey
Jessica Dawson
North Carolina
Matilda Akoth
New Jersey
Indigo Williams
Georgia
AJ Thurman
Missouri
Steve Hamilton
Illinois
Lia Sims - Okundaye
Massachusetts
Samia Moin
New York
Jack Glacious
Georgia
Reina Strobvall
Missouri
Jessica Johnson
Florida
Meet Our Coalition Partners
SkillUp is a unique coalition of more than 60 top employers, training and education providers, technology companies, job readiness nonprofits, and philanthropies dedicated to equipping workers with the skills that will help them thrive in high-growth, in-demand jobs.
Stay Connected with SkillUp
Benefits of subscribing to SkillUp communications:
- Early access to new training programs and financial support opportunities
- Personalized notifications for career coaching sessions and new job resources
- Connect with our team to share your experiences, inform our services and follow our partner providers