Empowered Education Services (EES) was founded by Erin Cross to address a critical gap between education, workforce development, and access to opportunity. Through her experience in both education and nonprofit leadership, Erin recognized that when individuals gain the right skills, resources, and support, they can create lasting economic mobility for themselves and shift the trajectory of their families and communities. This belief became the foundation of EES.

Erin began her career as an educator, where she designed and implemented curriculum and supported diverse learners. This experience gave her firsthand insight into how education shapes opportunity, while also revealing the need for stronger connections between learning and real-world career pathways. She later transitioned into nonprofit executive leadership, where she led program design, strategic growth, and large-scale grant development.

As Chief Advancement Officer for a Chicago-based nonprofit, Erin designed and led a funding strategy and secured multimillion-dollar public and private investments, helping expand the organization’s budget from $2.1 million to $23 million in six months. She has managed a broad portfolio of workforce development programs, including youth employment, transitional jobs, and industry-aligned training initiatives, consistently delivering measurable outcomes while ensuring compliance and operational excellence.

These experiences led to the creation of Empowered Education Services, an organization dedicated to equipping individuals with workforce skills, strengthening communities through access and support, and building the capacity of nonprofits to sustain and scale their impact. Today, EES combines instructional expertise, strategic execution, and proven funding success to expand opportunity and drive meaningful, long-term community outcomes.