STEVEN GAUSE
SENIOR PROJECT CONSULTANT
Expertise: Workforce Development
Team Member Since: 2020
What attracted you to workforce development?
For me, working has always been synonymous with serving my community. After spending years working in New York City’s workforce and economic development sectors, I saw firsthand how being unemployed or underemployed can interrupt a person’s entire life. That has always kept me going in this field—doing the work. The sense of gratitude related to the work we do is priceless. I love being able to advance real-time solutions for job seekers and employers and being a change agent for organizations working diligently in the communities they serve.
What TPMA value means the most to you and why?
All of the TPMA values are imperative, but Entrepreneurship stands out. The firm defines entrepreneurship as “approaching every activity with an entrepreneurial spirit characterized by innovation and thoughtful risk-taking”. This is essentially our role as consultants—identifying an issue and creative thinking through the best strategies to solve it. The entrepreneurship philosophy is important to me because it is a constant reminder to evolve out of my comfort zone and continually find ways to raise the bar—that is the only way to move beyond the status quo.
What inspires you?
I get so much inspiration from seeing job seekers advance along their career pathways—that’s what workforce development is all about. I am moved by being a part of a team that engineers’ cohesive ecosystems that work for job seekers and employers. I love being able to offer invaluable support to organizations that work meticulously every day to move the needle in the communities they serve.
What is the most impactful project you have been a part of?
Developing a nursing apprenticeship program has been the most impactful project thus far, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. I thought it was great that our team was a “first responder” in thinking through the nursing shortage, and I’m confident that we will design a program that produces skilled nurses and lower the cost of education for students.
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