Organizational and Professional Affiliations

I have spent my professional career helping adults navigate change because I have lived those transitions myself. I know what it takes to rebuild, to rise again, and to step into a new chapter with courage. My work is grounded in a simple belief: every adult deserves clarity, confidence, and support as they move into what comes next. This conviction is the foundation of Polaris Future Shift.

With decades of experience in continuing education at Old Dominion University, I have guided adults as they pursued new skills, new careers, and new possibilities. During the last ten years, I served as the education division director for the School of Education and as the program director for the Virginia Department of Education Career Switcher Program. I led recertification efforts, built partnerships across the Commonwealth, and supported thousands of aspiring educators as they entered the classroom. The program maintained an overall job hire rate of more than eighty percent, reflecting both program quality and the determination of the adults we served.

My background includes workforce development, lifelong learning, and program development. I have served on numerous committees and worked closely with professionals who needed training to maintain their credentials. As a member of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals and a professional member of the American Marketing Association, I remain connected to national standards, emerging practices, and the evolving needs of today’s workforce. These experiences deepen my understanding of the realities adults face as they balance careers, families, transitions, and the pressure to make decisions that shape their future.

I have advised thousands of adult learners, each with unique stories, challenges, and hopes for their futures. These conversations shaped how I understand people and how I approach transformation. They taught me that change is not a single moment. It is a journey. And no one should walk it alone.

Polaris Future Shift was created from that understanding. We center the human being behind the program, the brand, or the mission because meaningful transformation begins with the person, not the strategy. Our work aligns with the goals of workforce development boards, training providers, and community organizations that are committed to helping people gain skills, secure employment, and build sustainable futures.

Our work is grounded in three pillars: branding, leadership, and transformation. These pillars guide how we help people and organizations move forward with purpose, confidence, and alignment.

This is my life’s work. Not because it is what I do, but because it is who I am.

On purpose, 

Lisa Temple, Founder and Managing Director