Founder/CEO/Executive Director Jennifer Williams
Jennifer Williams (Tharp) is a U.S. Navy Veteran, MST survivor advocate, and nationally recognized leader in veteran support, trauma‑informed navigation, and workforce development. With more than 40 years of leadership experience across global education, nonprofit management, and multi‑site operations, Jennifer has dedicated her life to restoring dignity, rebuilding lives, and ensuring veterans — especially women and MST survivors — receive the support they deserve.
As the Founder & CEO of GPS4VETS, Jennifer leads a trauma‑informed, family‑centered support hub that provides housing stabilization, MST advocacy, peer support workforce development, and career pathways for veterans navigating crisis or transition. Her work is deeply personal: as an MST survivor herself, she understands the gaps in the system and has built GPS4VETS to be the safe, responsive, and compassionate resource she once needed.
Jennifer’s leadership extends far beyond program development. She is the Chair of the Centre Club Hero Coalition, where she brings together military families, veterans, first responders, and community partners to strengthen support networks across Tampa Bay. Her coalition work has become a model for collaborative, community‑driven veteran engagement.
Her broader organization, Global Pathway Studies Foundation, includes a Virtual Career Institute, an International K‑12 Academy, and multiple workforce initiatives designed to uplift underserved communities. She has built employer‑aligned training programs, rapid employment pathways, and apprenticeship‑ready models that help individuals secure meaningful, long‑term careers.
Jennifer’s career includes:
- Leading global operations across 20+ countries and 12 time zones
- Building certification‑based training programs for veterans, youth, and adult learners
- Serving in senior executive roles including COO, CMO, and National Director of Sales & Marketing
- Supporting the growth of a national network of 400+ HVAC and plumbing contractors
- Serving directly for the Admiral of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during her Navy service
- Contributing to SEABEES missions as part of the Active Naval Reserve
Her work has earned international recognition, including the Outstanding Leadership in Education Award (2022) and the Visionary Award for Virtual Career Institute International, presented in Dubai. She has spoken at Education 2.0 in Las Vegas and Dubai and has appeared on numerous podcasts and media interviews.
Jennifer serves on multiple councils and boards, including:
- Gus Bilirakis Veteran Advisory Council
- US Patriot Chamber
- Centre Club Philanthropy Council
- Rotary Club of the Nature Coast
- Strategic Partners of Tampa Bay
- Hillsborough County Veterans Helping Veterans (Auxiliary)
Above all, Jennifer is a devoted mother, proud Gigi, and tireless servant leader who finds joy on the beach, in the gym, and in giving back to her community. Her life’s mission is clear: to ensure every veteran — especially every woman who has survived MST — has a safe place to land, a community that believes in her, and a pathway forward.