Mark Perna

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS in Cleveland, Ohio, a full-service strategic consulting firm whose mission is to share and support every client’s passion for making a difference. As a graduate of John Carroll University, he has many years of experience addressing industry leaders on the topic of expanding their reach in an increasingly global marketplace. Recognized as an international generational expert, Perna has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the potential of today's young people, both in the classroom and on the job.

After successfully parenting two Millennials as a single father, Perna has become a passionate advocate for bridging the generational divides that are contributing to America's profound skills gap. Parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America have successfully used his insights and strategies to connect more effectively with the younger generations. His work with educational and business organizations has led to the development of many best practices, including the TFS "Education with Purpose®" philosophy and the highly popular "Career Tree®" strategy, among others. Perna is frequently cited as the national expert in education enrollment, retention, and performance.

A dynamic public speaker, Perna frequently delivers keynote speeches at national and statewide events and was invited to speak at Harvard University. His engaging personality and approachable demeanor make him a compelling communicator that audiences resonate with immediately. He also addresses both small groups and large crowds as a generational and performance expert, reaching thousands of educators, parents, employers, and young people annually with his influential message of change and empowerment. Perna has published numerous articles in national publications and is frequently featured on radio shows, television, and podcasts. His award-winning bestseller, "Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations," is written to help parents, employers, and educators understand and inspire Generations Y and Z to achieve greater performance in all areas of life.