Center of Excellence

Building America's Most Accountable Workforce Ecosystem

KPConnect was established as a national model to unite higher education institutions, secondary school districts, labor organizations, and industry employers into unified, debt-free career pathways.

28+
Partner Colleges
Community & technical colleges
120+
School Districts
Secondary career academies
450+
Employer Partners
Hiring apprenticeship grads
94.8%
Credential Pass Rate
Industry certified
Our Purpose

Eliminating Barriers to Economic Mobility

Traditional postsecondary education often saddled students with unsustainable debt while failing to guarantee employer-ready competencies. KPConnect inverts this equation by making employers active co-investors in talent development from day one.

Earn While You Learn:

Every apprentice receives progressive wages, benefits, and zero tuition debt.

Full Credit Transferability:

Coursework articulates directly toward associate and bachelor degree requirements.

Direct Hire Commitments:

Over 94% of our graduates transition immediately into full-time roles with their sponsor employer.

Apprenticeship is not an alternative to higher education — it is the highest form of higher education, combining rigorous cognitive instruction with real-world technical mastery.

DR
Dr. David Richardson
Executive Director & Chancellor Emeritus
Governance & Oversight

Leadership Team & Advisory Board

Guided by experienced workforce executives, university chancellors, labor leaders, and industrial technologists.

Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins, Ph.D.

Director of Academic Alliances

Former Dean of Career Education with 18 years in college curriculum articulation.

Marcus Thornton

Marcus Thornton

VP of Industry Partnerships

20+ years leading industrial operations and engineering talent acquisition.

Amara Patel

Amara Patel, J.D.

Chief Policy Officer

National advisor on federal workforce legislation and state funding mechanisms.

Carlos Morales

Carlos Morales

Director of Student Success

Oversees wraparound support, mentor matching, and barrier removal funds.

Join Our Coalition of Excellence

Whether you represent an academic institution, an industry employer, or a community foundation, there is a role for you in shaping the future of workforce education.

Get In Touch With Leadership