Gregory Owens

Educational Training Consultant

Gregory Owens is the Education Training lead at Third Act Development Consultancy Firm. He has over 34 years of nationally recognized experience in leadership development, mentoring, cultural competence, and effective approaches.

After his retirement from state employment in 2021 as a licensed master social worker, Gregory has become a highly sought-after keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant. He has a distinct approach to the facilitation of education and training, honing his extensive career to empower individuals and organizations alike.

He has worked in a number of State facilities, including New York State Department of Health Race Equity Work Group, the Albany Minority Health Task Force for the University at Albany, Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities, and the Adirondack Health Initiative, presenting workshops on health literacy and culture to stakeholders in the upstate region of New York State, and has worked with health care professionals in Schenectady and other municipalities in New York State.

During his career, Owens provided training on Implicit Bias to the Albany Police Department, local community stakeholders, and the New York State Unified Courts and Bar Association, presented training sessions on the mind science of bias, anxiety, and threat to the Mediation Centers in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has worked with municipal staff in Goldsboro, North Carolina on leadership, managing difficult conversations and bias.

Gregory has also provided leadership development sessions to program managers and leaders of federally funded programs from across the nation and has worked with school districts, facilitating sessions with administrators on Implicit Bias, Leadership, Cultural Competence, and Mastering Difficult Conversations, and with the Albany Law School on Diversity and Inclusion efforts, facilitating listening sessions with faculty, professors, and students.

Gregory has been recognized for his extensive work throughout the tri-state area. In February 2024, He received the Harriet Tubman Titan Award in Community Leadership for his commitment and leadership in working in the Albany community. He has also received the Harold Conover Leadership Award from the Alumnae Board at Rider University, bestowed to those who show exemplary leadership in the field of nonprofit, community, or government service. And the Champion for Justice Award from the New York State chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, in recognition of his long-standing work to eradicate racial disparities, and to seek justice and fairness for families and communities throughout the United States and abroad.

Gregory received his BA in Sociology from Rider University and a master’s degree in social work specializing in Criminal and Juvenile Justice from the University of Pennsylvania.

Gregory and his wife, Terry Owens, have been married for 31 years, are active members and Deacons at the Macedonia Baptist Church. They are the proud parents of one daughter, Kayla, a graduate of Georgetown University, who is currently enrolled at George Mason University, seeking a PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution.