Tom Hooper

Tom Hooper is the Vice President of Sector Pathways with Commonwealth Corporation. Tom is responsible for overseeing Commonwealth Corporation’s industry-focused programs and initiatives: the Career Technical Initiative, Market Makers, the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, and the Workforce Training Fund Program. Tom’s duties include collaborating with external stakeholders to increase awareness of these programs and explore partnership opportunities, partnering with Commonwealth Corporation staff to identify strategies for scaling programs and maximizing their impact, and fostering strong coordination among programs. Prior to joining Commonwealth Corporation, Tom was a Senior Director, Growth Strategy Lead with Year Up where he was responsible for guiding Year Up’s efforts in priority geographic markets. Tom worked in collaboration with Year Up’s Corporate Engagement, Program and other staff, as well as community-based organizations (CBOs), training providers, and other key stakeholders to evaluate expansion opportunities and build regional partnerships. Prior to his role with Year Up, Tom was an Associate Vice President with Jobs for the Future (JFF) where he led its Work Unit. Tom oversaw the development and implementation of sector strategies and related efforts that included partnerships with employers, community colleges, workforce boards, and other key stakeholders; new work-based learning initiatives; and innovative regional collaborations that assisted unemployed workers in developing their skills and securing employment while addressing the needs of employers. Before joining JFF, Tom was a Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration where he managed national workforce development grant programs such as Pathways Out of Poverty and the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) program, funding local workforce boards, CBOs, community colleges, and other organizations. Tom’s role included leading the development of core principles and requirements for grant programs, developing grant solicitations, and overseeing grantee performance management and technical assistance activities. Tom attended Swarthmore College where he earned a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy. He later went on to earn his Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs in Austin, Texas.