Tom Strong is a Program Director at Shift Work Forward, where he leads the organization’s work to support employer practice change and improve job quality. He brings experience across philanthropy, workforce systems, and the business sector, with a long-standing focus on worker voice and workplace transformation.
Tom leads employer activation initiatives in partnership with Network Partners, engaging businesses in industry-based efforts to improve job quality, strengthen business performance, and build more resilient workplaces. Over the past five years, he has led multiple initiatives totaling more than $10 million in investment, resulting in job quality improvements for more than 1,000 frontline workers across healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and the skilled trades.
Before joining Shift Work Forward, Tom served as a Senior Program Officer at the Hitachi Foundation, where he co-led the Good Companies/Good Jobs program and directed the Care Team Redesign Initiative—a $1.4 million investment that supported primary care systems in advancing frontline workers into higher-quality roles while improving patient outcomes. He has also worked as an independent business coach and consultant, advising companies on operational improvement and job design.
Education
- Master of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship — University of Arizona
- Bachelor of Arts, Chinese Language and Literature — Reed College