LOS ANGELES, CA — May 26, 2020 — The Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation is proud to announce that after reviewing multiple applicants, they have selected Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships at Instride, to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort of Exceptional Women Awardees.

"Michelle is an expert in the education field, understands education’s importance to overall societal impact, and has an intense ongoing commitment to collaboration and partnerships," said Larraine Segil, Chair and CEO of The Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation, "We are delighted to select her to join the other women leaders in our EWA group."

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Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships, Instride, has been selected to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort of Exceptional Women Awardees

The Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation selected Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships at Instride, to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort.

LOS ANGELES – April 22, 2024 – InStride, a human capital management company providing strategic education benefits, today announced a hybrid education model that empowers healthcare organizations to fill critical roles by developing talent from within. InStride’s hybrid clinical cohorts combine online learning with in-hospital training, enabling providers to rapidly fill critical roles such as medical assistants, surgical technologists, and radiologic technologists. With over 400 employee participants across multiple states, InStride’s model is operating at an unprecedented scale in the industry—delivering both workforce and financial impact. Already, two major healthcare systems have saved over $10 million by using this model to train surgical technologists, cutting contingent labor costs.

“Healthcare systems find their hands tied, as they can’t hire their way out of today’s clinical workforce shortages,” said Craig Maloney, CEO at InStride. “Together with our partners, we’re changing that by making it easier than ever to identify and develop that talent from within. Our hybrid clinical cohorts are a scalable and cost-effective way to fill these high-need roles, and our hands-on program support ensures both employees and organizations see results.”

Addressing critical healthcare workforce shortages

Allied health professionals make up over 60% of the healthcare workforce, yet many of these roles face significant shortages. For example, radiology technologist vacancies have surged to 18%, nearly triple the rate from three years ago, delaying imaging services and prolonging hospital stays. Healthcare organizations must find solutions to train and retain this talent internally rather than relying solely on external hiring.

InStride’s hybrid, cohort-based approach

Unlike traditional training models, InStride partners with healthcare providers to develop clinical cohorts tailored to address specific workforce needs. By combining structured online learning with hands-on experience, these programs are designed for efficiency, higher completion rates, and real-world impact.

Key features of hybrid clinical cohorts include:

Cohort-based learning: Employees progress through structured programs together, fostering peer support and improved completion rates.

Custom pathways for high-demand roles: Programs cover medical assistants, surgical technologists, and emerging pathways for radiologic technologists and cytologists.

On-the-job training: Integration with onsite hospital training programs ensures learners gain real-world experience while earning credentials.

InStride’s clinical cohorts ease strain on healthcare teams by delivering end-to-end support that sets employees up for success. From cohort design to clinical training, InStride works closely with healthcare leaders and academic partners to ensure the right participants are enrolled and fully supported. With clear visibility into employee progress, organizations can confidently fill high-need roles with employees who are ready to step in and make an impact.

Franklin University, one of InStride’s academic partners collaborating to deliver clinical cohorts,  offers a clear view of the model’s success:

“We have seen firsthand how these clinical cohorts drive stronger learner outcomes," said Jonathan McCombs, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Health and Public Administration at Franklin University.  "Learners consistently achieve higher pass rates on certification exams—23 percentage points above the national average on the NCCT TS-C exam—thanks to the combined strength of the program's structure, practitioner faculty, close support, and our close alignment with workforce needs."

By providing a clear pathway to certification, InStride’s cohort-based approach bridges the gap between education and employment in high-demand clinical fields. With stronger outcomes and ongoing support, healthcare providers build a steady pipeline of skilled professionals, reducing turnover, lowering hiring costs, and addressing workforce shortages in roles like surgical technology and beyond.

InStride is a human capital management company that solves corporate talent challenges through strategic education benefits and skills development solutions. By breaking down barriers to learning, fostering career growth aligned with organizational goals, and simplifying program management, InStride delivers lasting impact. Partnering with forward-thinking companies like Labcorp, Adidas, and SSM Health, InStride drives meaningful social and business outcomes by providing access to life-changing education. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

Providing a new model for healthcare systems to address critical workforce shortages

InStride’s Hybrid Clinical Cohorts Fill High-Need Roles in Healthcare

AUSTIN, TX — April 4, 2025 — Interplay Learning, the leader in immersive skilled trades training, today announced a partnership with InStride, a public benefit company that enables corporate partners to provide career-aligned, debt-free education to their workforce. Through this collaboration, Interplay Academy’s job-ready certificate programs will be available via InStride’s Career Education Paths, expanding access to high-quality skilled trades training for employees at leading companies nationwide. 

InStride’s corporate partners, including Medtronic and Ascension, are offering their employees access to Interplay’s industry-recognized training at no cost. By investing in their employees, these corporate partners will enable their teams to build in-demand skills, advance their careers, and contribute more effectively to the company. At the same time, they benefit from a stronger, more skilled workforce while reinforcing their commitment to employee growth and reducing barriers to education, including the financial strain of student loan debt.

Interplay Academy’s expert-created career-readiness pathways feature immersive 3D simulations, expert-led videos, and knowledge checks to support a diverse range of learners in building job-ready skills. By providing self-paced, hands-on practice in a safe, engaging, and virtual environment, Interplay Academy helps learners develop skills more efficiently and earn industry-recognized credentials faster. 

"Together with InStride, we're creating opportunities for thousands of people around the country to explore a career in the skilled trades, to develop new, highly in-demand skills, and to continue growing their careers," said Doug Donovan, CEO and founder of Interplay Learning. "This partnership represents the future of workforce development and the powerful potential of expanded access to education." 

InStride’s corporate partners will now be able to offer training from Interplay in several in-demand skilled trades disciplines, including appliance repair, building maintenance, electrical, HVAC, multifamily maintenance, plumbing, and residential construction. 

Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride, commented, “Right now, both our corporate partners and their employees are hungry for education that gets them real, usable skills—skills that translate into being job ready, fast. Interplay's immersive, VR-powered programs deliver on that need with hands-on training in the skilled trades. This partnership lets us meet employees where they are and stay ahead of the curve in how people actually want to learn and grow their careers.”

For more information about Interplay Learning, visit www.interplaylearning.com.

Interplay Learning, the leader in immersive learning for the skilled trades, now includes Industrial Training International (ITI), the global leader in specialized industrial learning solutions. Leveraging instructor-led training, online simulations, AI and VR, Interplay helps organizations and educational institutions upskill faster, reduce risk and increase operational readiness. With nearly 600,000 people trained, Interplay is shaping the future of workforce development, building better careers and better lives.

Recent accolades include Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024, AHR’s 2024 Innovation Award, IACET 2024 Innovation of the Year Award, NFMT 2024 Vision Awards and Forbes’ 2023 America’s Best Startup Employers.

Visit www.interplaylearning.com to learn more.

InStride is a human capital management company that helps organizations attract and retain talent, upskill employees, and fill critical workforce roles through education programs. By breaking down barriers to learning, fostering career growth aligned with organizational goals, and simplifying program management, InStride delivers lasting impact. Partnering with forward-thinking companies like Labcorp, Adidas, and SSM Health, InStride drives meaningful social and business outcomes by providing access to life-changing education. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

The new partnership will give employees around the country free access to Interplay Learning’s job-ready certificate programs for the skilled trades

Interplay Learning Partners with InStride to Offer Skilled Trades Training Through Employer-Sponsored Education

LOS ANGELES – February 11, 2025 – InStride, a human capital management company providing workforce education solutions, today announced the launch of its Capability Accelerators. This solution, developed in partnership with some of America’s most innovative companies and leading academic institutions, delivers tailored, role-specific learning paths aligned with business strategy. By combining academic rigor with practical application, these cohort-based programs help top talent build skills that directly impact business performance.

“L&D leaders are searching for education programs that deliver real business outcomes that they can measure,” said Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride. “InStride’s Capability Accelerators are co-designed with employers and academic partners to take employees through cohort- and role-based learning that helps advance their careers as it ties directly to business strategy.”

InStride’s solution addresses critical skills gaps and workforce demands.

Contextualized and role-specific academies: Customizable learning tracks built in collaboration with business leaders for specific roles, including first-line managers, manufacturing operations leaders, and early and mid-career healthcare leaders.

Interactive, cohort-based learning: Learners collaborate in dynamic, applied scenarios while receiving personalized coaching and feedback delivered by real experts and enhanced by advanced AI tools, ensuring rapid skill application and measurable improvement.

University content with real-world relevance: Programs blend rigorous academic insights with practical tools, equipping employees to tackle today’s challenges and drive innovation.

“InStride is transforming workforce education by building a bridge between rigorous learning and the real-world, corporate context, making these programs highly relevant and impactful,” said Jeff Schulz, VP of Professional Services at InStride. “By focusing on role-specific capabilities and contextualized learning, we’re empowering organizations to build stronger talent pipelines specific to their unique context and prepare future leaders for success.”

InStride’s Capability Accelerators are already making strides in reshaping leadership and talent development:

Plant Management Accelerator: Created for a Fortune 500 global automotive technology company, this accelerator prepares aspiring plant leaders with skills in financial acumen, manufacturing innovation, and supply chain management, ensuring readiness for critical leadership roles.

Healthcare Frontline Leadership Accelerators: Designed for a multi-state health system with 40,000 employees and aimed at high-potential individual contributors and first-line managers, these programs build critical patient-centered leadership capabilities, strengthening manager and team performance, and driving internal talent retention and growth.

These early examples illustrate how InStride’s customizable Capability Accelerators address businesses’ unique workforce challenges and strategic goals, offering an alternative to off-the-shelf leadership skill training.

The unique value of these programs lies in their ability to tackle the most common pain points faced by L&D leaders:

Relevance: Programs are contextualized to each organization’s industry and roles, ensuring practical application of skills.

Engagement: Cohort-based learning fosters collaboration and builds a culture of continuous education.

Results: The solution delivers measurable business outcomes, from improved employee retention to faster promotion rates.

Whether addressing leadership gaps, building manager capacity, developing AI fluency, or enhancing business acumen, InStride ensures that education investments translate into tangible impact for both employees and organizations.

Learn more about InStride’s Capability Accelerators.

InStride is a human capital management company that helps organizations retain talent, upskill employees, and fill critical workforce roles through education programs. By breaking down barriers to learning, fostering career growth aligned with organizational goals, and simplifying program management, InStride delivers lasting impact. Partnering with forward-thinking companies like Labcorp, Adidas, and SSM Health, InStride drives meaningful social and business outcomes by providing access to life-changing education. Visit instride.com or follow InStride on LinkedIn for more information and up-to-date news.

Custom, cohort-based learning tracks deliver measurable results in 3 to 12 months

InStride Launches Capability Accelerators: Tailored Learning for Talent Development

InStride is the premier global provider of strategic enterprise education for companies that need to align their talent & workforce needs with business objectives.

Michelle Westfort, SVP Academic Partnerships, Instride, has been selected to join the EWA Spring 2020 Cohort of Exceptional Women Awardees

Recent press releases

InStride’s Hybrid Clinical Cohorts Fill High-Need Roles in Healthcare

Interplay Learning Partners with InStride to Offer Skilled Trades Training Through Employer-Sponsored Education

InStride Launches Capability Accelerators: Tailored Learning for Talent Development

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