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.

Bray Strategies helps connect the education and workplace systems for a relevant, skilled workforce. The ever-evolving workplace, impacted by new technologies and global competition, has combined, with an increasingly diverse workforce to have challenged existing education and training models as well as the current dynamics between resource providers. Bray Strategies brings a unique understanding to the issues underlying the decisions of both education and workforce leaders. With vision, passion and an expansive network of relationships, Bray Strategies is committed to delivering innovative solutions and maximized opportunities.