A Dynamic Keynote Speaker For Every Stakeholder
MARK C. PERNA BRIDGES EDUCATION, WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
Fire Up Your Audience
A CUSTOMIZED KEYNOTE BY MARK C. PERNA WILL CHANGE THE GAME.
As the only keynote speaker working at the intersection of education, workforce, and economic development, Mark C. Perna knows how to move every stakeholder in the room.
Every one of Mark’s keynotes, professional development sessions, and workshops is individually crafted for the unique audience and context. The goal? To deliver a dynamic, inspiring, and actionable experience that culminates in an extraordinary outcome.
Whether in person or virtual, Mark delivers more than just a riveting and inspiring speech. This game-changing experience is tailored to your needs and thoughtfully engineered to maximize audience engagement—before, during, and after the event.
Mark’s calendar fills quickly. Reserve your date early!
Mark Perna BROUGHT OUR AUDIENCE TO THEIR FEET with his ENERGETIC, ENGAGING, AND INSPIRING message! His insights will help us move forward effectively in a changing world. Mark knows how to bring the heat and CHALLENGE EVERY PARTICIPANT to forge a GENUINE HUMAN CONNECTION with the young people we serve. Our audience left with valuable tools they can start using immediately to improve their day-to-day interactions and outcomes, and the feedback has been amazing. Thanks, Mark!
Executive Director at Arkansas Community Colleges
Engineering a Remarkable Outcome
Here’s How Mark Does It.
The power of partnering with Mark begins long before he takes the stage. Prior to your event, Mark will schedule a prep call to candidly discuss your objectives. Based on this conversation, he will meticulously design a speech to align with everything you want to accomplish.
Following your prep call, Mark’s team will provide complimentary promotional materials to help you spread the word and build excitement.
Finally, on the day of the event, Mark will:
• Arrive 90 minutes early to check sound
• Ensure all technology is working, and
• Connect directly with audience members as they arrive to create a personal touch and enhance their engagement with the presentation.
Mark also welcomes the opportunity to engage the audience with a VIP Q&A/Dialogue breakout session following his keynote. During this unscripted “deep dive,” session, audience members can share their thoughts, ask questions, and get Mark’s perspective from the stage on specific issues—all in real time. The chance to interact directly with Mark has been universally well received by audiences and adds tremendous value and relevance to their experience.
Why Event Organizers Hire Mark
Still Deciding? Here's Why Your Colleagues Book Mark.
- Audience impact. Thousands of wowed attendees can’t be wrong. “Dynamic,” “life-changing,” and “full of hope” are the words organizers hear most.
- Proven results. 80% of Mark’s keynotes end in a standing ovation—a sign of the organization-wide buy-in he creates.
- Organizer accolades. See what other event organizers have to say about working with Mark.
- Easy to work with. Complimentary marketing support, prep calls, and a true partnership mindset—your event is his event.
- Something for everyone. Mark delivers value to PK–12 and college educators, employers, economic developers, entire communities, and students of every age.
- Exceptionally engaging. Live Q&A dialogues give your audience real-time answers to their specific questions.
- Value-added resources. Every audience member leaves with Mark’s slides and a library of tools to keep the momentum going.
After seeing Mark speak—and receive a thunderous standing ovation—at the National Association of Workforce Board (NAWB) conference, I knew I had to do whatever I could to bring him to Westchester to keynote at our local workforce board’s annual meeting. HE DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Our audience of educators, training providers, economic and workforce development professionals and employers were rapt at attention and DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THEIR PHONES!
As the center of the spoke of the employment wheel, workforce boards and directors must hear what Mark has to say to better connect the dots between what job seekers want, what training is needed to get them to their desired goal and where employers are to complete the circle. The FEEDBACK FROM HIS PRESENTATION WAS OFF THE CHARTS and described as ‘life changing,’ ‘eye opening,’ and ‘not to be missed.’ ALL WORKFORCE BOARDS AND STAFF WOULD BENEFIT from hearing what Mark has to say in the way that only he can say it!
Executive Director of Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board
Senior Vice President of K–12 Career Readiness, Commonwealth Charter Academy
Mark delivered amazing, virtual professional learning to our administrative team! Since that time, the team has been BUZZING WITH ENERGY AND PASSION for our learners and their purposeful plans. Zoom can be tough, but the audience was RIVETED AND PARTICIPATORY — the group chat was RICH WITH IDEAS AN ENGAGEMENT, and the team has already begun to leverage their learning toward compelling outcomes. Mark leveled up the work we are doing at CCA in ways beyond our imagination. Many of our attendees said this was THE BEST PD THEY HAD EVER SEEN. Thank you, Mark!
Mark's Satisfied Clients Include:
Bring the impact to your organization!
Rally Your Community: One Message, Every Stakeholder
BUILD THE PIPELINES THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
Every community wants the same thing: stronger pipelines between education and employment to fuel real economic vitality. Getting there takes more than collaboration. It takes consensus: a rally point that compels educators, employers, economic developers, and community leaders to pull in the same direction.
Mark C. Perna is the only keynote speaker working at the 360° intersection of education, workforce, and economic development—which means he’s uniquely positioned to set that rally point for your community.
In a single powerhouse keynote or a series of targeted events, Mark shows your stakeholders how to move from talking past each other to walking in lockstep, using his proven framework: Education with Purpose & Employment with Passion™.
Audiences leave with:
- A clear picture of the changing education-to-employment landscape and where the opportunity is
- A real understanding of what drives Gen Z and Gen Alpha
- Renewed hope and energy for the work ahead
- A concrete first step, using Mark’s Action Guide, to keep the momentum going
Connect with Mark today for a no-commitment conversation about what’s possible for your community.
Mark Perna has had an EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT ON OUR LEADERSHIP! In his three-hour keynote, he riveted our county-wide superintendents and cabinet-level administrators with a HARD-HITTING MESSAGE that is still reverberating. As the largest county school system in the country, we are working to help every student achieve a personal competitive advantage. Thanks to Mark, we’ve been inspired with a practical vision to make it happen. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND MARK for any organization seeking a common rally point everyone can get behind.
Deputy Superintendent of the Los Angeles County Office of Education
Mark’s Upcoming Events
Mark’s Upcoming Events
Want Mark On Your Show?
Looking for a dynamic interview for your next show OR PODCAST?
Mark is a seasoned and engaging guest your listeners will love. He’s interviewed frequently on leading podcasts like Develop This! and many others, where he always brings something new and actionable to the conversation.
Request Mark’s availability for an interview now!
“A BREATH OF FRESH AIR.”
“This is the most excited I’ve ever been about teaching.”
“This is the Future.”
“AMAZING! A Must hear presentation!”
“I’ve never been so inspired and re-charged!”
“FRANK, CANDID AND MUCH NEEDED.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Mark is a generational expert, but with a twist: he works at a unique three-way intersection of PK–16 education, employment, and economic development. To our knowledge, there is no other speaker delivering cohesive insight across all of these disparate areas. His generational expertise isn’t merely academic; it has a practical, proven context in these sectors where it’s critical to engage the next generation.
Mark is not here to fill time or get a laugh (though he uses humor effectively). His mission is to make a bigger difference and empower your audience to do the same. Will your audience walk away feeling excited and energized? Yes, but they’ll also be equipped with practical strategies and insights to turn that energy into real results.
Plus, Mark’s live Q&A/dialogue sessions (scheduled to follow his keynotes) are hugely popular. There’s no script, just real-time audience questions and answers from a speaker deeply knowledgeable in the pressing education, workforce, and economic development issues of our day.
Check out what other event organizers have to say about Mark!
Whoever has a stake in your outcome. In a single visit, Mark addresses educators (superintendents, school boards, faculty, deans, teachers, classified staff, bus drivers, custodians) employers, business owners, chamber of commerce members, economic developers, and parents—and students themselves. Some organizations bring Mark in for one high-impact keynote; others build a multi-day series that reaches every stakeholder group on its own terms. Either way, you get one aligned message across your organization and community instead of a dozen disconnected conversations.
Any size, from a single-department staff meeting to a full district convocation or statewide conference. The format flexes to fit your event.
Both. The large majority of Mark’s 90+ annual keynotes are in person, and virtual sessions are available for teams or events that need a remote option. Either way, every talk is built around your specific audience and goals.
After an initial planning call, Mark’s team sends complimentary promotional materials to help you build buzz. On event day, Mark arrives 90 minutes early to check sound and confirm the tech is working, then connects with attendees as they walk in. Dependable and professional, Mark is the easiest keynote speaker you’ll ever work with.
It depends on your event’s format, size, location, and number of speeches, so there’s no flat number to quote. The next step is a conversation with Mark. He can either meet the exact needs you outline or open up new angles to expand the impact of your event. Either way, he’s a thinking partner and experienced resource in your process. Reach out now to talk to Mark!
Yes. Mark’s fee includes all travel expenses (flights, ground transportation, and meals), with the exception of a hotel room if an overnight stay is needed.
Still have questions? Fill out the form below and talk to Mark!