The Training Connection

What The Training Connection does

The Training Connection, Inc. (TTC) is a privately held, founder-led professional services and software firm founded in 1995 by Kathy Wentworth Drahosz and headquartered in Prince William, Virginia. TTC helps organizations implement formal mentoring, career and leadership development, team building, and DISC-based behavioral programs, with an unusually heavy emphasis on U.S. federal agency clients (Department of State, DOD components, DHS, EPA, NASA centers, VA, HHS) alongside named enterprise accounts (Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, Northrop Grumman, Constellation Energy, Ernst & Young) and higher-education institutions (Rice University, James Madison University, Montgomery College). The company also serves non-profits such as IEEE and the Society of Women Engineers.

TTC's technical surface is centered on The Mentoring Connection (TMC), a web-based platform supporting formal mentoring program management — online applications, dynamic mentor-mentee matching, a Virtual Speed Mentoring module, Mentoring Action Plans, threaded discussion boards, calendars, and program evaluations. Complementary assets include The Success Triangle© 360 Multi-Rater Assessment, DISC and Workplace Motivators assessments delivered through TTI Success Insights, and a catalog of proprietary books and workbooks (Keys to Mentoring Success, Dynamic Mentoring Connections, Discovering the Mentor Within, Building High Performing Teams, Strategic Career Management). Delivery blends instructor-led workshops (notably a 10-step Building High Performing Teams curriculum), virtual and on-site facilitated programs, a nationwide trainer cadre, and self-serve platform access.

The business model combines professional services revenue (federal and private-sector training engagements), recurring subscription access to the TMC platform, and one-time product/print revenue from workbooks and publications. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales direct to federal and corporate buyers, channel-enabled by a 2023 GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract (#47QREA23D001Q, valid through April 2028) under SINs 611430 and 333318TDTM, supplemented by an established EPA Blanket Purchase Agreement. The firm operates with 1-10 employees, is bootstrapped (no disclosed external funding), and is led by CEO and Founder Kathy Wentworth Drahosz with President Jennifer Sellers and an operations team spanning matching, training coordination, content/evaluation, and finance.

Name

The Training Connection

Legal name

The Training Connection, Inc.

Website

https://thetrainingconnection.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Training Connection is a bootstrapped, founder-led professional services and software firm that designs and manages formal mentoring, career development, team building, and DISC-based training programs for U.S. federal agencies, enterprises, and educational institutions. Its flagship asset is The Mentoring Connection (TMC) web platform, sold direct and via GSA Schedule contract #47QREA23D001Q.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Development and Training Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Onboarding Program Design, Enablement & Train-the-Trainer (EDABAOAL), Train-the-Trainer & Instructor Enablement Services (BPAEANAL)

Keywords

• Professional development services
• Mentoring program design
• Leadership training
• Team building workshops
• DISC behavioral assessments

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodbridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Professional Development Training Services: Core revenue stream from providing mentoring, career development, team building, and DISC training services to government and private sector organizations. Services delivered through on-site training, workshops, and facilitated programs by expert cadre.
2. GSA Schedule Contract Sales: Professional and Management Development Training (SIN 611430) and Off-the-Shelf Training Devices and Training Materials (SIN 333318TDTM) sold through GSA MAS contract to federal agencies.
3. Publications and Workbooks: Sale of books and workbooks including Keys to Mentoring Success, Dynamic Mentoring Connections Workbook, Discovering the Mentor Within Workbook, Building High Performing Teams Workbook, and Strategic Career Management Workbook.
4. Software Platform Access: The Mentoring Connection (TMC) web-based platform providing mentoring program management infrastructure, matching tools, and administrative features.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Training Connection (TTC) provides structured professional development consulting centered on four practice areas: formal mentoring program design and management, career and leadership development, team building, and DISC behavioral assessments. The company delivers services through on-site workshops, facilitated programs, and a proprietary web-based mentoring platform (The Mentoring Connection / TMC), serving federal government agencies and private sector organizations.

Product overview

The Training Connection offers a portfolio of professional development products and services centered around four core areas: Mentoring, Career and Leadership Development, Team Building, and DISC Training. The flagship offering is The Mentoring Connection (TMC), a web-based platform for managing formal mentoring programs. This platform is complemented by a suite of workbooks (Keys to Mentoring Success, Dynamic Mentoring Connections, Discovering the Mentor Within, Building High Performing Teams, and Strategic Career Management) that provide structured frameworks for mentoring and development. Assessment tools including DISC Online Assessments, The Success Triangle 360 Multi-Rater Assessment, and Values and Workplace Motivators Assessment support the training programs. The company also offers instructor-led workshops including the 10-step Building High Performing Teams workshop and the Career and Leadership Speaker Series with over a dozen topic areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Mentoring Connection (TMC): A web-based delivery system developed to offer business, government and non-profit organizations a comprehensive, effective and efficient means of establishing and operating formal mentoring programs and partnerships.

Products and services

• The Mentoring Connection (TMC) A web-based delivery system for business, government, and non-profit organizations to establish and operate formal mentoring programs and partnerships. Features include online applications, dynamic scoring for mentor-mentee matching, Virtual Speed Mentoring Platform, Mentoring Action Plans and Agreements, threaded discussion boards, calendar of events, program evaluations, newsletter, and resource library.
• Keys to Mentoring Success A detailed roadmap book for organizations implementing formal mentoring programs, authored by Kathy Wentworth Drahosz, providing a tested process for shaping future leaders.
• Dynamic Mentoring Connections Workbook A workbook that moves mentoring partnerships from informal to formal, building a legacy of organizational knowledge. Includes access to online DISC behavioral assessment tool and TTI Success Insights report.
• Discovering the Mentor Within Workbook A workbook that helps mentors acquire skills to help employees seize learning opportunities. Includes online DISC assessment access and TTI Success Insights report.
• Building High Performing Teams Workbook A workbook providing a model for equipping organizations with tools to build, motivate, and lead high performing teams. Includes DISC behavioral assessment and TTI Success Insights report.
• Strategic Career Management Workbook A workbook providing a framework and tools to help participants manage professional development while increasing contribution to the organization, based on DISC assessment responses.
• DISC Online Assessment Tools TTI Success Insights DISC assessment tools providing confidential personalized reports identifying behavioral styles across Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Compliance dimensions.
• The Success Triangle 360 Multi-Rater Assessment A 360/multi-rater assessment identifying developmental needs in 15 skill clusters, measuring Building Relationships, Expertise, and Navigating competencies through nine surveys completed by the employee, supervisor, and combinations of superiors, peers, and direct reports.
• Values and Workplace Motivators Assessment An assessment and accompanying report that helps individuals identify and clarify motivating factors and driving forces behind their decisions and actions, measuring six value dimensions.
• Building High Performing Teams Workshop A comprehensive 10-step team building workshop covering leading change, team building, communication, dynamics, development, strategic planning, continuous improvement, leadership, and periodic checkpoints. Delivered by TTC's expert trainer cadre strategically located nationwide.
• Career and Leadership Speaker Series A speaker series covering Active Listening, Communicating with Style, Challenging Conversations, Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, Networking, Political Savvy, Presentation Skills, Project Management, Strategic Thinking, Problem-Solving, Stress Management, Resilience, and Time Management.
• Strategic Career Management Program A framework and tools to help participants manage professional development, create career goals, build strategic alliances, navigate industry trends, protect assets, and plan strategically.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of participants noted differences in experience had a positive impact on their mentoring partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEstablished Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with EPA under GSA Schedule contract for professional training services. EPA ordering activity can establish BPAs under FAR 8.405-3 for recurring training needs.
• TTI Success InsightscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership for DISC assessment tools and personalized reports. TTC uses TTI Success Insights software for behavioral assessments including DISC, Workplace Motivators, and Emotional Quotient reports used across mentoring and team building programs.
• Brazen CareeristsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partnership for Virtual Speed Mentoring platform, enabling virtual connections between mentees and mentors prior to formal matching process.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MentorCity: Web-based mentoring platform offering matching, scheduling, and reporting for corporate and government mentoring programs — directly comparable to TTC's TMC offering.
• Insala: Talent development software with mentoring and career development modules; competes with TMC in the formal mentoring and career development software category TTC serves.
• Chronus: Mentoring software platform that enables organizations to launch and manage mentoring programs with matching, reporting, and program administration — directly comparable to TTC's TMC platform offering.
• Mentorloop: Cloud-based mentoring software focused on employee mentoring programs with matching algorithms and engagement tools; overlaps directly with TTC's TMC mentoring management functionality.
• Together Platform: Mentoring, coaching, and peer connection software for enterprises and government, with matching and program management — competes with TTC's TMC platform for the same federal and corporate customer base.

Broad incumbents

• DDI (Development Dimensions International): Global leadership development and talent management firm with assessment-based training programs that overlap with TTC's career/leadership development, DISC, and 360-multi-rater offerings at greater scale.
• Center for Creative Leadership: Established leadership development research and training institution offering programs for executives and managers; comparable on the leadership/team development dimension of TTC's portfolio.
• FranklinCovey: Provider of leadership, productivity, and professional development content and workshops, with widely adopted curricula — competes with TTC's leadership and team-building workshop offerings in adjacent content-and-facilitation categories.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm offering leadership development, executive coaching, and talent management services — broad incumbent that competes for the same corporate leadership development budgets as TTC.
• Cegos: International corporate training and leadership development provider with a broad portfolio of professional and management training programs — competes with TTC in the same professional and management development training category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thetrngconn
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-training-connection-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Training Connection