Close It Blog

Jamai Blivin: Penn Foster has a unique history— being the oldest online learning institution in the US. How does this impact your organization as you prepare for the future of working and learning?  Dara Warn: Not many organizations have been around for over 120 years but Penn Foster has. That longevity has been possible because we have adapted with the changing world. Training for careers in 1890 is very different from what is needed today and what will be needed tomorrow in terms of access and technology and substance, i.e. what is taught.  But what has remained the same is... Read More

“Shift Happens” was the theme of the Close It Summit held in Dallas, Texas just a few weeks before the election, without knowledge that a big shift in leadership for our country was on its way. Companies gathered to look at new ways to hire talent, find talent, develop talent. And a newly formed Innovative Business Hiring Council was unveiled to focus on a new business model for companies to employ youth based on skills and competencies. We are long overdue for a shift in the old hiring model. The unanticipated change in leadership has created angst across the country,... Read More

Post written by Ryan Craig and Jamai Blivin Jamai Blivin is the founder and CEO of Innovate+Educate, a nonprofit focused on closing the skills gap. The skills gap is generating unprecedented attention — and with good reason. Nearly 8 million Americans are unemployed and looking for work while an estimated 6 million jobs remain unfilled. Fifty-three percent of college graduates students believe they’re ready to apply their skills and knowledge in the workforce, but only 23% of employers agree. It is increasingly clear that misalignment between post-secondary education and workforce needs is suppressing economic productivity and growth, as systematic reliance... Read More