Announcing Ascend Collective Partnership
The ASCEND Collective and L-EAF Lab Launch Strategic Partnership to Advance Skills-First Workforce Readiness.
Willmington, MA [13 August 2025] — The ASCEND Collective®, a nonprofit championing career readiness and inclusive hiring practices for underserved talent, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with L-EAF Lab, a national leader in Experienced-Based learning models that prepare students for real-world impact in emerging industries.
This collaboration aligns the missions of both organizations: equipping individuals—especially untapped talent, college students, career changing graduates, veterans—with the tools, training, and access they need to thrive in the workforce of today.
“At The ASCEND Collective, we believe that career readiness is about more than a credential—it’s about matching real potential with real opportunity,” said Robyn Grable, Founder and CEO of The ASCEND Collective. “Our partnership with L-EAF Lab helps expand that reach by tapping into a forward-thinking education model that empowers individuals to build confidence, capability, and connections.”
L-EAF Lab’s immersive learning model prepares students—including those historically left out of traditional pipelines—to step directly into roles in fields like cybersecurity, agentic AI, and digital infrastructure. By integrating The ASCEND Collective’s skills-matching concierge platform and wraparound employment services, graduates from these programs will gain direct access to career opportunities with employer partners who value capability over credentials.
“We’re not just preparing learners for jobs—we’re helping them shape the future of work,” said Simon Holzapfel, CFO at L-EAF Lab. “Partnering with The ASCEND Collective adds a powerful employment bridge for the communities we serve. It closes the loop between education and sustainable employment.”
This partnership will deliver:
● Experience-based, industry-aligned lean-agile training for high-demand roles
● Digital credentials that validate skills and experience
● Career coaching and matching through The ASCEND Collective’s nationwide employer network
● Expanded opportunities for underserved and nontraditional learners, including veterans, military families, and second-chance talent
Together, The ASCEND Collective and L-EAF Lab are building an inclusive workforce ecosystem that values skill, supports growth, and redefines what talent looks like.
For more information, visit:
🌐 www.ascendcollective.org
🌐 www.l-eaflab.org
Media Contacts:
Cate
The ASCEND Collective
Cate@theascendcollective.org
Pinny Sutkin
Co-Founder (L-EAF Lab)
psutkin@l-eaflab.org
