We’re thrilled to welcome Tay Person to HWL as Vice President of Business Development for our Education Vertical.
Tay brings over two decades of experience in education and workforce solutions, with a career spanning leadership roles at Kelly Education, K12 Insight, Scholastic, and the Atlantic City Board of Education. His deep understanding of the education landscape, combined with a proven ability to build strategic partnerships and drive innovation, makes him a powerful addition to our team.
Throughout his career, Tay has generated more than $100 million in revenue, led high-performing sales teams, and built lasting relationships with school districts across the country. At Kelly Education, he opened new markets, secured multimillion-dollar contracts, including a $32M deal with Baltimore County Schools and co-chaired the company’s first Black Affinity Group, demonstrating his commitment to both business growth and community impact.
Tay’s background also includes hands-on experience as a 2nd Grade ESL teacher, board of education member, and curriculum leader, giving him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing educators today. His leadership style blends strategic vision with a passion for service, making him an ideal fit to lead HWL’s expansion into the education sector.
Learn more about Tay Person
How did you start your career in education?
My professional journey began in education as a 2nd Grade Teacher and Coach, but at my core, I’ve always been driven by making meaningful connections while helping organizations and individuals unlock their potential. When I transitioned to the business side of education, I was still able to find deep alignment between my passion for impact and empowering professionals who care for others. Education, much like healthcare, thrives on connection, service, and trust. My experience leading sales, building partnerships, and driving organizational change across the education sector gave me the foundation to bring a human-centered approach to healthcare. It’s not just about business development; it’s about developing people, systems, and opportunities that make a lasting difference in our communities.
What brought you to HWL?
HWL’s culture of purpose, integrity, and innovation immediately resonated with me. I was drawn to a company that doesn’t just talk about growth—it lives it. HWL understands that growth happens when we create real partnerships and build with empathy. When I learned about the opportunity to launch the education vertical, I saw a chance to merge two worlds that have defined my career: education and workforce development. The idea of helping schools and districts strengthen their staffing infrastructure through the same excellence HWL brings to healthcare is not just exciting—it’s transformational. I came to HWL because I believe we can build something that changes lives, communities, and the future of how we support learning environments.
What are your priorities and goals for the future of HWL?
My vision is to establish HWL as the leading partner for workforce solutions in education—where schools, districts, and learning organizations can find both strategic guidance and operational excellence. In the short term, that means building a strong foundation: developing data-driven strategies, initiating new education partnerships, and ensuring we recruit and retain the best talent. Long-term, I see this education vertical growing into a national powerhouse that reflects HWL’s values—innovative, inclusive, and people-first. I want our team to not only hit goals but to create meaningful outcomes: improving student experiences, supporting educators, and bringing sustainability to a field that shapes the next generation.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Outside of work, I stay connected to the values that drive me—community and family. Whether I’m coaching my daughter’s basketball team or spending time with loved ones, I’m reminded that leadership starts with service. I also enjoy staying active by hitting the gym, riding my road bike, or golfing. These experiences definitely recharge me!
With Tay at the helm, HWL is pleased to bring our vendor-neutral workforce model to education, delivering the same transparency, savings, and results that have transformed healthcare staffing.