Career Projects and Accomplishments

STEM Workforce Leadership
Since 2012, Drew has served as both moderator and panelist at STEMconnector Innovation Labs across the country, including Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver. He is a passionate advocate for helping students overcome the "Belief Gap" by developing meaningful experiences that help build self-confidence, determination and resilience.
Life & Workforce Readiness Center
Secured funding and program partnerships to develop an innovative high school Life and Workforce Readiness Center focusing on Advanced Manufacturing in Illinois, including a pre-apprenticeship credential with Elgin Community College.
Federal Funding Strategies
Secured two federal earmarks for $250,000 and $2,000,000 from the US House of Representatives for the development of two new High School Life and Workforce Readiness Career Centers for teens in Illinois.
ACTNow STEM Guiding Team
Served on the ACTNow STEM Guiding team, working collaboratively with Illinois out of school time program providers, museums and institutions to help create more effective strategies to develop interest, awareness and engagement of under-represented populations in STEM careers.
US Department of Education
Invited to participate at a convening at the White House for the US Department of Education's "You Belong in STEM" initiative to provide insight into the role out-of-school-time programs can provide for STEM learning.
STEM Education White Papers
Contributed content for white papers on meeting the challenges of education for disadvantaged and under-represented students in STEM fields, including the challenges kids experience with their own "Belief Gap", lacking the confidence to succeed.
You Belong in STEM Convening
Led a US Department of Education "You Belong in STEM" convening of national leaders, regional advanced manufacturers and community stakeholders featuring Brynt Parmeter, Chief Talent Officer for the US Department of Defense, and Angela Thi Bennet, Digital Equity Director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to discuss solutions to employment barriers for high school students.
CASIS Strategic Plan: ISS Lab
Served as a panelist to help create the Strategic Plan for NASA's utilization of the Federal Research Lab on the International Space Station to develop greater awareness and interest in STEM-oriented careers in our youth through national programs and initiatives. Participants included Lt General James Abrahamson USAF (ret), space shuttle astronauts Greg Johnson and Leland Melvin; executives from STEMconnector, Conoco Philips, Dow Chemical, Lockheed- Martin, and Merck.
White House Summit on STEM
Invited to Participate in the STEM Opportunity Alliance's White House Summit on STEMM Equity and Excellence in the Education Group, helping provide insights into the challenges of providing effective out-of-school programs for middle school and high school students.
State of Illinois and US Congress & Agency Advocacy
Advocated in Springfield, Illinois and Washington, DC with state and federal elected officials and agency staff to secure direct program funding from DHS, ISBE, ICJIA, Education, HUD, Commerce and the NTIA.
MissionOne Innovation Challenge Program
Provided leadership to develop the concept and obtain partnerships and sponsorships for the MissionOne Innovation Challenge, culminating in a competition and celebration featuring eighteen former Apollo, SpaceLab and Space Shuttle Astronauts at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.
Cognizant MakerSpace
Developed the concept and provided leadership to obtain partnerships and sponsorships with Cognizant, MakerEd, New York Hall of Science, ShopBot and NASA to establish the first ever MakerSpace at Scouting America's National Jamboree, with over 40,000 youth from across the country attending.
Mission: Mars Augmented Reality Program
Obtained sponsorship and program partnership with Lockheed Martin to develop an Augmented Reality Experience for Scouting America's National Gathering at Michigan State University.
US Congresswoman Underwood's Education Advisory Council
Served as a member of US Congresswoman Lauren Underwood's Education Advisory Council to discuss challenges experienced by educators, parents and students to help suggest system reforms and steps needed to stem pandemic learning loss in Illinois.
Movement Works Advisory Council
One of twenty CEOs selected to serve on a national Advisory Council to help inform and guide strategy for Life and Workforce Readiness programs for middle school and high school students for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Mortgage Reduction Campaign
Provided strategic leadership for a successful $2M fundraising campaign for the First Congregational Church of Dundee, culminating in the payoff of their entire mortgage.
Owner's Representative
Served as the Owner's Representative for the development and construction of the new $10M Celebration Campus for Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Naperville, providing value engineering and cost control services to provide the successful completion within the project's budget.
Rebranding Management
Served on the Executive Committee and led the Rebranding Task Force for a suburban campus of Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Care Facilities for Seniors to respond and reflect the evolving senior healthcare marketplace.