JAG National Staff
JAG-National Headquarters
Alexandria, Virginia
President and Chief Executive Officer
Kenneth M. Smith, Co-Founder
Mr. Kenneth M. Smith serves as President and CEO of Jobs for America’s Graduates, Inc. (JAG), the nation’s largest, most consistently applied model of dropout prevention and school-to-career transition for at-risk young people of great promise.
In 1979, Mr. Smith worked with Governor Pete du Pont of Delaware on the design of the first statewide test of the JAG Model, and has served as President and CEO since its inception. JAG currently serves 72,000 at-risk young people annually, in more than 1,400 high schools in 36 states. Over one million youth have been served throughout JAG’s 39 year history.
Senior Vice President
Janelle Duray
Janelle Duray serves as the Senior Vice President of Jobs for America’s Graduates, a national nonprofit managed by Strategic Partnerships since its inception 36 years ago. In her role, Janelle is a key resource to JAG’s 33 State Affiliate executives, helping them to foster relationships with funders and organizations to further JAG’s mission. She also works with JAG National funders to develop strategic relationships that expand beyond financial development to fully engage JAG funders at the programmatic, local level with JAG Affiliate staff and students. Finally, in her role at JAG, Janelle works with JAG’s President, Ken Smith, and JAG’s National Board of Directors Members to expand JAG’s footprint, working with Governors, Chief State School Officers, and Commissioners of Workforce Development and Labor to bring JAG to new states.
Vice President of Finance
Katherine Travis
Director Development and Engagement
Brittany Mazin
Brittany Mazin serves as the Director of Development and Engagement for JAG National. She focuses on developing corporate partnerships and prospects to increase engagement and financial support for both JAG National as well as the JAG National Network made up by our JAG State Affiliates.
Director of JAG Advantage
Karey Webb
Bio
Kevin Phillips
Manager, Affiliate and Partnership Engagement
Bio
Learning Solutions Designer
Sierra Smith
Bio
National Center for Evidence-Based Practices
Dallas, Texas
Vice President, National Center For Evidence-Based Practices
Bobby Crandall
Bobby Crandall serves as the Vice President of Operations and Services of Jobs for America’s Graduates' National Center for Evidence-Based Practices. He has 15 years of experience in association management and event planning. Having been employed since by Corporate Education Resources, Inc. (CERI) since 2003, he has provided management, consulting, and association services to a variety of companies and organizations.
Vice President, Career Association and National Student Leadership Academy
Jeff Koeninger
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Vice President, Technical Assistance & Accrediation Services
John McConnell
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Vice President, Information Systems
Jason Koeninger
Jason has provided software development and system administration services to JAG for over 20 years. His current software development responsibilities include the National Electronic Data Management System (e-NDMS 2.0). Jason also provides system administration services for all JAG software and website.
Jason received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Oklahoma State University in 1995. He currently resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his wife Shannon and two children, Quentin and Violet. In his free time Jason enjoys running and developing applicaitons - his most recent is a Chinese dictionary.
Vice President and Chief of Staff
Laura Sheppard
Laura joined the JAG National team in 2016 as the Chief of Staff where her focus is on conference and meeting management and strategic initiatives. Prior to going the JAG staff, Laura worked in alumni relations for eight years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill providing a strong background in nonprofit management and event marketing. Laura also serves as the Senior Director of Corporate Education Resources, Inc. (CERI), an association management firm, and HOSA-Future Health Professionals, a career and technical school organization for students pursuing careers in health.
Senior Adviser
Jimmy G. Koeninger, Ph.D.
Jim has 45 years of experience in public education, higher education, corporate training and development, association management and strategic partnerships between government (federal, state and local) and corporations (for profit and non-profit).
Following completion of a Ph.D. program at The Ohio State University in 1972, Jim held business and education faculty positions in Colorado (University of Northern Colorado), Texas (Angelo State University, University of Houston, and University of North Texas), and his home state of Oklahoma (Central State University and Oklahoma State University).
Senior Adviser
Karen Koeninger
Karen is the co-founder of Corporate Education Resources, Inc (CERI), a management consulting group that has provided management services to multiple organizations since 1984. CERI (formerly known as Leadership Development Institute) was founded in 1976 and conducted scores of summer camps, weekend retreats, workshops and conferences for high school and college students to develop their personal, leaderhsip, and teaming skills.