As the year comes to a close, I wanted to reach out personally to say thank you.
Thank you for being part of a professional community that believes talent should be evaluated by capability, not pedigree, and that opportunity should be created through intention, not chance. This year reinforced for us that employers who lead with clarity, readiness, and skills-first thinking are shaping the future of work in meaningful ways.
As we look ahead, I’m excited to share the launch of Vanguard Rising, our new Experiential Applied Learning Lab at The ASCEND Collective. Vanguard Rising prepares veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses before they reach an organization — through AI-powered skills translation, career readiness training, and hands-on, project-based learning aligned to real workforce needs.
This model allows employers to engage with talent earlier, reduce hiring risk, and build pipelines grounded in demonstrated performance rather than resumés or assumptions. It’s a practical, scalable approach to workforce development — and one we believe aligns well with how leading organizations are thinking about talent in the coming year.
As part of this next chapter, I also want to invite you to support this work through a year-end, tax-deductible contribution. Your support helps fuel programs like Vanguard Rising and Northern Compass Academy, ensuring we can continue preparing talent and opening doors — not through charity, but through readiness and opportunity.
Ninety percent of every dollar donated goes directly to program delivery, supporting veterans, military spouses, and other underrepresented talent as they move from potential to performance.
Make a year-end, tax-deductible gift:
https://givebutter.com/TACAnnual
Whether your connection to The ASCEND Collective is as a partner, employer, advisor, or supporter, I’m grateful for your role in this ecosystem. I look forward to continuing the conversation and exploring ways we can collaborate in the year ahead.
Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a strong start to the new year.
Warm regards,
Robyn J. Grable
Founder & CEO
The ASCEND Collective
