STEP-UP Chattanooga Staff
Jeff Rector - STEP-UP Chattanooga Business Partnerships Manager, College & Career Success Initiatives, PEF
The Vice President of College & Career Success at the Public Education Foundation provides leadership across the organization to ensure that college and career success programs and services are well-aligned to support PEF’s strategic goal to prepare every student for success as a learner, a citizen, an employee, and a leader. Stacy provides leadership in developing STEP-UP Chattanooga to improve student success in career pathways and post-secondary decisions.
Stacy Lightfoot - Vice President, College & Career Success Initiatives, PEF
The Youth Services Manager maintains a persistent focus on the College & Career Youth Initiatives at the Public Education Foundation, particularly the alignment of all youth recruitment/retention efforts in the STEP-UP Chattanooga initiative. Janice implements work readiness trainings for all STEP-UP Chattanooga applicants and will be responsible for intern and employer matching. This position works closely with the Vice President of Success Initiatives and the Business Partnerships Manager at PEF.
Janice Neal - Youth Services Manager, College & Career Success Initiatives, PEF
The Business Partnerships Manager builds business relationships and maintains business partnerships that will transition into internship opportunities for students through STEP-UP Chattanooga. This role also develops, in collaboration with partners, curriculum for the training and support of intern supervisors and collects and shares feedback with partners and staff. The Business Partnerships Manager has the ability to build awareness of the program’s value with key partners. The Manager works primarily with the Vice President of College & Career Success Initiatives and the College & Career Youth Services Manager at PEF.
PEF’s Director of Research and Effectiveness (DRE) turns education data into actionable information. Specifically, the DRE is responsible for collecting and analyzing data for STEP-UP Chattanooga and communicating the results to a variety of stakeholders. The DRE designs and implements pre- and post-surveys to interns and employers to gauge the effectiveness and success of STEP-UP Chattanooga.
D'Wauna Young - STEP-UP Chattanooga Program Associate,
College & Career Success Initiatives, PEF
The Program Associate for STEP-UP Chattanooga works closely with the Vice President of College & Career Success, STEP-UP Chattanooga Business Partnerships Manager, and Youth Services Manager at PEF to develop, coordinate and organize the various components for all programs under the STEP-UP Chattanooga Initiative. This person also assists the other initiatives including but not limited to College & Career Advisors PD, Camp College, Passport Scholars, and Youth Summit. The Program Associate is responsible for coordinating events and creating media (print and video) to share with stakeholders.​
Keith White - Director of Research and Effectiveness​, PEF
PEF's dedicated STEP-UP Chattanooga staff are here to support you through the STEP-UP application process, job placements, work-readiness training, and summer internships.
