
Janet Bray is the Chief Strategist and founder of Bray Strategies and brings a unique
perspective and vision to best practices for connecting
education and industry for a relevant, skilled workforce. For
more than eleven years, Janet served as the Executive
Director of the Association for Career and Technical
Education, a not-for-profit association representing over
30,000 professionals across the United States. As Executive
Director, Janet managed the staff and oversaw the
development of program services for the members of the
association and the CTE profession. She provided leadership
on a broad spectrum of education and workforce issues and
directed the strategic public policy and public awareness
efforts of the association.
Janet has provided expertise to the U.S. Department of Labor
and has worked on career pathways, scaling apprenticeships, opportunity youth and the
America’s Promise project. She also provides expertise on two projects related to
credentials funded by the Lumina Foundation.
Working with the National Association of Workforce Boards, Janet has served as a coach
and subject matter expert on several DOL grants related to apprenticeships, opportunity
youth and upskilling initiatives. Janet serves the Program Coordinator for the annual
Forum presented by NAWB.
Janet served as the Program Coordinator for the Apprenticeship Forward conference
and has worked with the hospitality, automotive and propane industries to develop
Registered Apprenticeship programs. She was instrumental in the development of a
Youth Apprenticeship Program for the graphic arts industry in the State of Wisconsin
and initiated the industry’s effort to develop national skill standards.
Janet has authored or co-authored several articles including “Developing Human
Capital: Meeting the Growing Global Need for a Skilled and Educated Workforce,” 2012,
McGraw Hill Foundation and the “Trends in National Policy,” chapter in Career
Pathways, Education with a Purpose, 2012. She is also a co-author on the 2015 white
paper, Transforming Career Counseling: Bridging School to Career in the Workforce of
the Future.”
Janet currently provides her expertise and knowledge with the National Association of
Workforce Boards, National Propane Gas Association, National Association of Landscape
Professionals, Coalition for Career Development, Sheet Metal, Air Conditioning
Contractors, Strada Education, Manufacturing Skills Standards Institute, and the
National Coalition of Certification Centers. In the past, Janet provided support to the
National Restaurant Association Education Foundation, Career Readiness Institute,
Pathways to Prosperity project, Global Pathways Institute, Ideagen, Innovate-Educate,
ed2go/Cengage, and The Hope Street Group.
Janet represents the career and technical education and workforce profession on a
number of Boards and advisory groups including the Home Builders Institute Board of
Trustees, Manufacturing Skills Standards Council, National Coalition of Certification
Centers, Physicians Assistants Foundation, HVACR Education Foundation, ANSI
Certificate Program Accreditation Committee, Workforce Solutions Group and the Board
of the U.S. Partnership for Education for Environmental Sustainability. She recently
completed her Board service on the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Advisory
Committee, Friends of the National High School Center, Principles for Learning Coalition
and America’s Promise Alliance Board of Trustees.
Janet has been an active participant in the association community serving on the
American Society of Association Executives Education Foundation Board of Directors,
Greater Washington Society of Association Executives Board of Directors, and numerous
association-related committees and councils. Janet holds a Bachelors Degree in History
and Government from the University of Maryland and a Masters Degree in Adult
Education from the George Washington University. Janet earned her Certified
Association Executive (CAE) credential in 1991 and is a member of the distinguished
ASAE Fellows Group.