For the past 15 years John has been developing programs and strategies which have led to the creation of talent pipelines to industry as well as increasing employee retention. At the national level John served as Senior Director for Workforce Development at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, where he led a team whose purpose was to create and establish the first ever Workforce Development Initiative for the organization. This important and necessary work laid the foundation for establishing relationships with employers across the nation, which fostered opportunities for skill development and work-based learning, which eventually resulted in job placement. At the local level John has worked with employers in the skilled trades and manufacturing industries across Maine and New Hampshire to create awareness of employment opportunities as well as pipeline programs for talent acquisition for entry and mid-level jobs. John is the co-founder of the Maine Marine Troubleshooting Competition for high school students in Maine. Partnering with Portland Yacht Services in Portland, Maine, this competition showcased the marine trades industry while simultaneously raising over $20,0000 in scholarship money for Maine students to pursue relevant education and credentials in the marine trades, which led to eventual employment in the field, filling critical, skilled positions in the industry.Now, John is the Managing Partner & Co-founder of Synergy Workforce Solutions, LLC, which is a consulting firm assisting employers in the skilled trades with their recruitment and retention challenges. As an ardent advocate for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers and Career and Technical Education (CTE), John has brought much-needed attention to the awareness gap and the skills gap in America. John believes it will take a shift in culture and collaboration among industry and education to bridge those gaps.John lives with his wife of 19 years and their two children in southern Maine. When he isn’t trying to solve the workforce issues of America, you will most likely find him and his family out on a mountain bike trail, hiking, kayaking, at the beach or lake, or hitting the slopes.