Presenter: Todd Pisani
Organization: Rutgers University
STRATEGIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Abstract:
The Rutgers Employment Success Program bridges the gap between vulnerable young adults and New Jersey’s transportation workforce through targeted training, case management, and employer partnerships. Designed for youth ages 16–26—many of whom have experienced justice involvement or disconnection from school and work—the program uses transportation and infrastructure pathways as tools for empowerment and community impact.
Through initiatives such as BRIDGES to Employing Youth, PACE, and Youth Transitions to Work (YTTW), more than 400 participants have completed workforce readiness or pre-apprenticeship programs over the past five years, with 85% achieving employment or educational milestones. The program partners with NJ TRANSIT, AutoZone, local unions, community colleges, and chambers of commerce to align training with real labor-market needs in fields such as automotive technology, heavy equipment operation, and transit maintenance.
This presentation highlights the Rutgers model’s key design principles: individualized support, culturally responsive engagement, and safety-first credentialing. The program’s approach demonstrates how targeted investment in youth workforce pipelines can reduce recidivism, enhance job retention, and prepare a new generation for roles that sustain New Jersey’s infrastructure.
By integrating academic, social, and technical supports, the Rutgers Employment Success Program advances both transportation workforce development and social equity—helping young people move from vulnerability to viable careers that strengthen their communities and the state’s transportation future.
Todd Pisani, MPA, is a Research Project Manager at the Center for Advanced Infrastructure & Transportation at Rutgers University, where he’s spent over 12 years advancing workforce development initiatives, particularly for justice-impacted and underserved populations. He is the architect of the Rutgers Employment Success Program and has secured over $7 million in grant funding to support reentry and career development efforts across New Jersey. Todd has led multiple research and training programs, including collaborations with the NJ Department of Labor, U.S. DOT, and the National Academies of Sciences. His work has focused on integrating Credible Messengers—leaders with lived experience—into workforce programs, providing powerful community connections and outcomes. He also serves in local leadership roles on youth services and interagency councils and was awarded the Rutgers Chancellor’s Award for Diversity and Inclusion in 2022. Todd’s mission continues to center around building more inclusive, effective systems of support and opportunity.
Presentation Slides:
