The Team
Who We Are
Dr. Cynthia E. Thomas
Founder & Principal Consultant
Dr. Cynthia E. Thomas is a postsecondary Career and Technical Education scholar-practitioner, workforce development leader, and educator with over 15 years of experience across industry, education, and workforce systems. Her work focuses on designing personalized, relevant, and inclusive learning experiences that prepare learners for career success and workforce advancement. Dr. Thomas began her career as a licensed cosmetologist and salon owner, where she also served as a Cosmetology Examiner for the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, and as a platform artist for L’Oréal Matrix. These early industry experiences shaped her commitment to applied learning, professional standards, and career-aligned education. Dr. Thomas earned a master’s degree in Career and Technical Education from SUNY Oswego and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Instructional Design and Development from Syracuse University. She holds an Ed.D. in Learning and Teaching in Social Contexts from the University at Buffalo, where her doctoral research focused on postsecondary CTE and workforce education and informed the development of the POWER Framework, a culturally responsive approach to technical and workforce education. Dr. Thomas currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Career and Technical Educator Preparation (CTEP) Department at SUNY Oswego. In this role, she prepares and mentors future CTE educators, coordinates work-based learning initiatives, supports certification pathways across New York State, and contributes to statewide and national CTE leadership efforts. She is recognized for her leadership in educator preparation, workforce-aligned program design, and professional learning, and regularly contributes to research, presentations, and initiatives that strengthen postsecondary CTE systems. Through her work, she partners with postsecondary institutions, workforce organizations, and industry leaders to support educator capacity-building, instructional design, and workforce readiness. Her work is grounded in the belief that technical and workforce education is most effective when it is intentionally designed, learner-centered, and aligned to real-world career pathways.
Dr. Tatiana C. Parker
Consultant
Dr. Tatiana C. Parker, also known as “The Social Capitalist,” is a certified Everything DiSC® practitioner. She is a social enterprise leader who helps individuals, teams, and organizations build relational wealth—the trust, communication, and connection needed to drive innovation, collaboration, and upward mobility. Through her work, Dr. Parker empowers mission-driven organizations to strengthen self-awareness, deepen communication, and leverage connection as a strategic asset for progress and impact.
Dr. Donna Vallese
Senior Consultant
Dr. Donna is a seasoned educational leader with over 20 years of experience across K–12 education, curriculum development, and leadership coaching. She is widely recognized for guiding educators and leaders through complex systems change while improving student outcomes and instructional effectiveness. Her work is grounded in a personalized, data-informed approach that supports sustainable improvement. Dr. Donna has led district-wide initiatives, supported leadership development at multiple levels, and helped turn around underperforming systems through research-based instructional and coaching practices. A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, she empowers leaders to build learning environments where all students and educators can thrive. As a TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and international thought leader, Dr. Donna brings both inspiration and practical expertise to her work supporting leaders across the U.S. and beyond.
Dr. Brandiss Pearson
Consultant
Brandiss T. Pearson, Ed.D., FNP-C is a healthcare executive, certified emotional intelligence practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, certified wellness coach and speaker who equips leaders to build resilient, equity-centered cultures that thrive under pressure. She partners with organizations to strengthen leadership capacity, deepen self-awareness, and cultivate environments where people are both high-performing and fully valued. Dr. Pearson specializes in advancing emotionally intelligent leadership frameworks that move teams from burnout and fragmentation to clarity, courage, and collective impact. Her work challenges leaders to align personal integrity with professional responsibility while sustaining measurable growth. Dr. Pearson has guided diverse teams through complexity while centering equity, representation, and resilience. Through executive coaching, keynote speaking, and facilitation, she helps leaders expand influence without sacrificing authenticity. Dr. Pearson holds a Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership, a Master of Science in Nursing, and a Bachelor of Science in Social Work.
