Mt Pleasant, S.C. – STEM Premier, an online platform linking current and future workforce talent with recruiting needs, announces a $9 million strategic investment from K12 Inc., a leading provider of online curriculum. STEM Premier’s platform will be incorporated into K12’s nationwide Career Technical Education programs in order to match students with hard-to-fill careers in healthcare, IT, construction and manufacturing.
Co-founded by Casey Welch, STEM Premier’s platform has proven to be an effective approach to tapping into the future workforce in South Carolina. The company partnered with South Carolina Manufacturing Alliance in a proactive initiative called SC Future Makers to address common workforce issues. SC Future Makers is addressing the ongoing challenge of identifying emerging talent and developing skilled manufacturing associates.
“The resources in South Carolina have been critical to our growth. We have been honored to partner with many organizations in the State to address the workforce challenge.” said Casey Welch, STEM Premier CEO. “Attracting the investment of a national leader in educational technology will provide us the opportunity to accelerate both of our companies’ missions.”
STEM Premier is located in Mt Pleasant, employees more than 15 people and boasts more than 370,000 talent profiles from more than 19,000 schools across the country. The company has received investments and support from notable South Carolina organizations such as Home Telecom, SCRA’s investment collaboration SC Launch, Inc. and Comporium, among others.
“This investment is affirmation of the hard work being done by the team and the impact they have already created,” said Lee MacIlwinen, SCRA Regional Manager and STEM Premier Board Member. “STEM Premier has been a Client Company of SCRA’s since 2014 and it is rewarding to see this next phase of growth.”
“Having K12 Inc., a leading nationwide online curriculum provider, invest in STEM Premier validates the work that has been done in South Carolina to make the online recruiting tool for students, educators and employers a leader in this space," said William S. Helmly, Home Telecom President and CEO. ”I am pleased with the new partnership and excited to see the exponential growth now possible from the added resources.”
“K12’s investment is about more than just a capital infusion, it’s about opening new avenues for students and employers to connect. That’s what makes this really exciting,” stated Comporium’s Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer, John Barnes, Jr. “Comporium and STEM Premier have common goals in connecting people and in fueling workforce development. We’re pleased that STEM Premier is getting an increased opportunity to expand its capabilities in both areas.”
About STEM Premier
STEM Premier is the first online app that assists students in designing a career pathway, educators in recruiting top talent to their schools, and employers in developing a stable, continuous talent pipeline. Through a mobile digital portfolio, students (age 13+) showcase their skills and abilities, receive personalized career guidance, match with over $20 billion in scholarships, and get directly connected with post-secondary institutions and companies looking for the next generation of talent. For more information, visit www.stempremier.com.