Joel Simon

Background

About Joel Simon

I am dedicated to helping communities (physical spaces and those who share interests and objectives) to invest in people, and ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate in and support economic growth. I am privileged to work with a wide range of stakeholders, leveraging the best thinking from across the US to reduce poverty, increase educational attainment, build wealth, and build dynamic economies. Through work in government, nonprofits, associations, think/do tanks, and technology firms I have been privileged to work closely with civic leaders, economic developers, workforce investment systems, colleges and universities, employers. My core competencies are: • Facilitation across diverse stakeholder groups • Aligning education and training with economic development strategies • Leveraging data to drive strategy and action planning I have: • Consulted with scores of communities and hundreds of stakeholders • Facilitated dozens of community collaboration processes • Worked with chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, workforce boards, employers and thought leaders • Supported local, regional and national partnerships and leveraged public, private and philanthropic funding for implementation