Accelerating Learning

We are a leading provider of integrated software, assessment, and analytics solutions, utilizing a flexible and extensible technology platform to power superior learning outcomes and skills proficiency.

We focus on professions with strong employment growth and significant compliance requirements for employment such as licensure or certification.

We’re already a part of your life.

  • Physicians
  • Nurses
  • Medical Assistants
  • Pharmacy Technicians
  • EMTs
  • Fitness Trainers
  • Insurance Professionals
  • Many other Professional Careers

How did Ascend Learning help you today?

We help prepare and educate many of the professionals you encounter everyday. We’re proud to help so many of the professionals in your community achieve success in their careers.

Our Mission

Do you have the Ascend state of mind?

We are passionate

We change lives every day.

We are selfless

We put the collective good ahead of our own.

We are courageous

We have the commitment to decide and act quickly.

We embrace change

We anticipate change, champion it and grow from it.

We are accountable

We own the results we deliver.

We are inclusive

We are eager to include all people and diverse perspectives.

We trust employees

We provide freedom and expect responsibility.

We have high expectations and reward achievement

All employees are eligible for generous, job-specific incentive compensation.

Does this sound like you?

Search our job listings to find the perfect fit for you.

Search our job listings

We’ve passed the competition.

If you care about high passing rates on exams

We develop the technology used to teach each individual by providing the information they need, delivered the way they want it, to succeed.

Our tools include analytically-proven assessments, multi-media remedial content and video based real-life simulations. They’re offered in many formats such as streaming online, interactive online content and printed materials.

Our culture breeds leadership.

Greg Sebasky

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Chief Executive Officer

Greg Sebasky

As Chief Executive Officer of Ascend Learning, Greg Sebasky looks over the education landscape and sees tremendous opportunity. His vision for the company is clear: Be the leading career solutions provider, delivering outcomes-based online education to help people enter, sustain and succeed in their chosen fields. It’s a path he’s been on since joining Ascend in early 2014. Greg is a 30-year veteran leader of  companies with markets in healthcare and education services. Before joining Ascend, Greg served as chairman of Philips Electronics’ North American division.  

Greg earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BBA in Accounting. He lives in the Boston area with his family. 

Mandeep Johar

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Chief Financial Officer

Mandeep Johar

As Ascend Learning’s chief financial officer, Mandeep is an experienced and well-regarded leader who cultivates talent and develops high-performing teams that work to grow our brands organically, excel at mergers and acquisitions and invest in high value solutions.

Before joining Ascend Learning, Mandeep spent 24 years with the General Electric Company, where he held multiple senior CFO roles in the United States and Europe.  He has a strong track record of driving growth and operational excellence.  Mandeep served on several boards of GE subsidiaries and joint ventures globally and is the Vice Chairman of the board of Inspirica, a charity focused on alleviating homelessness.

Mandeep received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his Bachelor of Science, Summa cum Laude, from Muskingum College.

Ash Siebecker

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Chief Technology Officer

Ash Siebecker

As Ascend Learning’s Chief Technology Officer, Ash Siebecker is responsible for innovative strategy designed to mature our technology foundation with a focus on customer delight, efficiency and security.

Before joining the senior leadership team as CTO, Ash spent almost four years as Ascend Learning’s Vice President of Software Engineering for the Clinical Healthcare business.  In that position, Ash played a crucial leadership role in helping drive both ATI Nursing and National Healthcareer Association’s architecture and platform strategy, designing and deploying platform and product enhancements, and working with teams to deliver an ever-higher level of innovation for ATI and NHA customers.

Ash brings to his role 20 years of software engineering experience, with a combination of experience in the healthcare information technology (IT) industries and high-volume manufacturing. He previously spent time at Euronet leading the Americas and Australia SW Engineering organization.  Prior to that he spent several years at Cerner Corporation, one of the nation’s leading healthcare IT companies, where he managed several software engineering organizations delivering a variety of solutions, both enterprise and client-facing.  Ash also spent nearly seven years at Motorola/Freescale semiconductor. During much of his time there, he led the computer integrated manufacturing department at one of Motorola’s premier semiconductor fabrication facilities.

Ash resides in Olathe, Kansas and enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, fishing and hiking.

Larry Gold

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Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Larry Gold

Larry leads a team of lawyers providing legal support for Ascend Learning and its brands. He is an accomplished legal counselor, transactional attorney and innovative leader, with more than 25 years’ experience supporting technology and life sciences companies in the areas of corporate law and securities regulation, mergers and acquisitions, Board and shareholder governance, intellectual property, contracts, employment law and litigation.

Before Ascend, Larry worked for 10 years as General Counsel of Cimpress (Vistaprint), a publicly traded, global technology company where he served as an executive during a period of explosive growth that saw the company increase revenue more than 10-fold to $2B and expand operations to more than 30 countries. At Cimpress he also took on responsibility for executive compensation and talent, as well as founding and leading the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility program. Previously, Larry was a corporate partner at law firms DLA Piper and Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, where he represented emerging growth companies, venture capital firms, underwriters and executives.

Larry received his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School and a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Pennsylvania. He is an avid sports fan, loves to travel and read, and most of all enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Cheryl Kennedy

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Chief Human Resources Officer

Cheryl Kennedy

Cheryl Kennedy has more than 20 years of leadership experience aligning people and culture with organizational purpose and strategy to achieve results. Prior to Ascend she served as the chief human resources & sustainability officer at Welch’s, where she led the design and execution of a cultural renovation that accelerated business outcomes and helped triple profits in three years.

Prior to Welch’s, Cheryl served in multiple leadership roles with Hasbro, leaving as their senior vice president of human resources. In her role, she implemented Hasbro’s DEI strategy, led the redesign of the employee experience including performance and talent management, and upgraded HR systems and infrastructure including a global job model and reward structure.

Cheryl earned her bachelor’s degree in general studies and MBA in finance from the University of Rhode Island. She resides in Massachusetts with her family and enjoys all kinds of fitness including yoga, indoor cycling and hiking.

Jeff Langenbach

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Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy

Jeff Langenbach

As executive vice president of corporate development & strategy, Jeff Langenbach drives Ascend Learning’s corporate growth and M&A strategy. He brings more than 25 years of experience across finance, M&A execution, business development, and department administration, as well as significant international experience.

Prior to Ascend, Jeff oversaw corporate strategy and growth initiatives as the chief development officer at PharmaCann and served as senior vice president with Apollo Education Group and subsidiary president of Apollo Global. He also worked in investment banking for more than a decade at Credit Suisse Securities and Donaldson, Lufkin Jenrette (DLJ).

Jeff earned his master’s degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin. He is an avid traveler and has visited over 50 countries across six continents. Jeff enjoys outdoor activities, particularly skiing, sailing and hiking, and spending time with his three children.

Laurie McCartney

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President, Fitness and Wellness

Laurie McCartney

IN MEMORY

Laurie led Ascend Learning’s fitness & wellness segment and oversaw several brands including National Academy of Sports Medicine, AFAA and ClubConnect. Prior to Ascend, she led marketing and operational efforts for a number of major brands, including Disney, Teleflora, POM Wonderful, Stila Cosmetics, YogaWorks, and Forever 21. She also previously served as CEO of Makerwear Design and was also the founder of Babystyle, a leading multi-channel retailer of maternity, baby and children’s products. To learn more about Laurie’s life and accomplishments, visit our blog

Sean Burke

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President, Healthcare

Sean Burke

As president of Ascend’s Healthcare segment, Sean Burke leads several Ascend brands, including ATI Nursing Education, MedHub, BoardVitals, NursingCE, National Healthcareer Association and Kognito. Sean is a customer-focused brand leader with a demonstrated track record of leading successful healthcare industry go-to-market and product portfolio transformations. He joined Ascend Learning in 2020 after 25 years of progressive experience at GE and GE Healthcare, where he held roles including President & CEO – Asia Pacific (Japan, Korea, Australia & New Zealand), Chief Commercial Officer – US & Canada and Chief Marketing Officer of Diagnostic Imaging and Healthcare IT.

Sean earned a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in management and marketing from Boston College. Outside of work, Sean enjoys spending time with his family in addition to skiing, traveling and cooking.

Mehul Patel

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President, Safety & Security and International

Mehul Patel

As president of Ascend Learning’s safety & security segment and international, Mehul Patel leads several brands including JB Learning, Public Safety Group, ExamFX, ClickSafety and CDX Learning Systems. Mehul brings more than 20 years of experience driving growth through acquisitions and corporate strategy, with a broad background in marketing, operations and product management.

Prior to Ascend, Mehul served as chief operating officer at PharmaCann. He also has an extensive background in education, including serving as group president with Adtalem, president of Apollo Global with Apollo Education Group and senior leadership roles with Kaplan, Inc., Thomson Learning/NETg, and UNext.

Mehul earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois and resides in the suburbs of Chicago with his family, where he enjoys watching and rooting for his hometown Chicago sports teams. He also enjoys global travel and has visited over 40 countries across six continents.