JobForward is a national, non-profit organization serving the needs of industry, job seekers, education and workforce system partners to support the competitiveness of the nation’s workforce.
Created by the combination of the Institute for American Apprenticeship and Training Funding Partners, JobForward has over 25 years of experience developing and implementing workforce-development programs. Our programs include pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships, among other workforce development models, that have served thousands of jobseekers by providing skills training and placement into apprenticeship roles across a variety of industries including advanced manufacturing, healthcare and education.
Our program and strategic advising services address workforce challenges in the talent pipeline as well as in upskilling workers for advancement. Our services are provided nationally with offices in Vermont and California and staff located throughout the country.
The JobForward leadership team is guiding our work to help employers and workers succeed in a rapidly changing economy. Read our AI Vision Statement to learn more about how we are approaching the opportunities and challenges of AI in workforce development.
Our Leadership Team
Matthew McKenney
Matt has served as JobForward’s President and Chief Executive Officer since 2021. Before joining JobForward, Matt was the Workforce Development Leader at JobForward’s customer, Hypertherm. As a former customer for 12 years, Matt’s experience in workforce development as an employer and now as a workforce consultant offers a unique perspective on employer needs. Matt has a bachelor’s degree in Business from Columbia University South Carolina and has completed three separate registered apprenticeship programs.
Steven Lutton
Steve joined JobForward in 2010 and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. In addition to his responsibilities as COO, Steve has been instrumental in developing and implementing registered apprenticeship programs for JobForward clients in the fields of advanced manufacturing, IT, business services, healthcare, telecommunications, and infrastructure. Before joining JobForward, Steve worked at Lane Press for over twenty years as a project manager, team leader and mentor. Steve has a bachelor’s degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Julianna Kirby
Julianna is a nationally recognized workforce development leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing workforce strategy, designing innovative talent development programs, and managing complex federal and state grant portfolios. She holds an MBA from Southern Utah University and a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from California State University, Long Beach. Her professional credentials include Stanford Project Management Certification, along with certificates in Educational Consulting and Investor Relations from the University of California, Irvine.
Jeff Deleon Guerrero
Jeff is JobForward’s Chief Financial Officer who joined the team in late 2023. With over 15 years of experience in accounting and finance, he has worked in both corporate for-profit organizations and nonprofit sectors, with a more recent focus on federal grant compliance. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Eastern Oregon University and is an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Our Board of Directors
John J. Collins
John serves as Deputy General Counsel for the University of Vermont. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he was a member of the Loyola Law Review. John has served on the Board of IAA since its inception in 2000. John has been an active volunteer for several nonprofit boards and committees. He served as chair of the Vermont Heart Association Board of Directors and as a member of the American Heart Association’s Board of Directors.
Joanne Fiore
Joanne is Vice President of Pipeline and Apprenticeships for AICPA. Joanne holds a bachelor’s degree in Government from The University of Texas at Austin and a Jusic Doctorate from New York University School of Law. Joanne is part of the larger effort to engage accounting and finance executives with the goal to professionalize management accounting and to upskill finance and accounting professionals.
Gerald Ghazi
One of the founders of JobForward predecessor Vermont HITEC, Gerry served as its President and CEO since its creation in 2000. He holds a bachelor’s degree cum laude in Computer Science from Rutgers University and a Juris Doctorate cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law. He brings to the board his extensive knowledge and experience in corporate and employment law, information technology, workplace education, entrepreneurial leadership, management, business strategies and sales.
Nate Hendrie
Nate is a Principal Product Lead at Binance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Cornell University. Nate brings a wealth of experience and creativity in the areas of marketing, sales and project management.
Julianna Kirby
Julianna currently serves as Chief Innovations and Partnership Officer at JobForward. As a founder of JobForward’s predecessor Training Funding Partners, she has been instrumental in connecting workforce stakeholders to the funding and expertise they need to develop and implement effective talent pipeline strategies. Julianna is an Advisory Committee member of the Southern California Apprenticeship Network. She participates in the Advanced Manufacturing Subcommittee for California’s Interagency Committee on Apprenticeship, serves as the Secretary (former Co-Chair) of the Coalition for ETP and Jobs, and is a former member of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership of Southern California Workforce & Training Committee and a former Advisory Board Member for the Anaheim Performing Arts Center Foundation.
Matthew McKenney
Matt currently serves as President and Chief executive officer at JobForward. In the community, Matt works with schools, business, and state and federal agencies to develop and attain human capital. Matt is Chair of the Board at Headrest, which serves individuals who are in recovery from substance use. Matt also serves on the New Hampshire Governors Recovery Friendly Workplace Advisory Council and is the Business and Industry Association’s representative on the New Hampshire Governor’s Commission for Alcohol and Other Drugs.
Interested in learning more?
If you’d like to learn more about the services we provide or are in need of workforce support, please complete the below form to contact us.