Mark C. Perna

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. 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. 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. Parents, educators, employers, and national organizations across North America have successfully used Mark’s strategies, including the Career Tree® strategy, to connect more effectively with the younger generations. A dynamic and motivational public speaker, Mark today delivers over 70 keynote speeches annually at national and statewide events, where he frequently brings audiences to their feet. He has also spoken at Harvard University by special invitation. 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. Mark also serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC. Mark is a weekly contributor at Forbes.com, where his work reaches an audience of more than 3.3 million. He interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts, and hosts the 90-second Perna Syndicate podcast every weekday with listeners in more than 60 countries. Mark’s bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations. 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. Find out more about Mark and his work at MarkCPerna.com.