By bringing CLAOC’s established CareerOC program into the eKadence platform, the initiative created a modern digital workspace for managing the experience and activities , streamlining communications, and collecting student feedback. Consolidating these capabilities into a single connected platform eliminated the need for fragmented standalone applications, simplifying program administration and enabling facilitators to operate with higher efficiency. More than a traditional standalone Learning Management System, eKadence brings together the tools and environment needed to deliver meaningful work-based learning experiences, empowering students to engage in career exploration through a connected platform. 

“One of the biggest surprises was just how much easier eKadence made my day-to-day work,” said Melissa Arambula, Program Manager at CLAOC. “Instead of moving between different apps, so much of what I needed was available in one place. It saved me a tremendous amount of time and made managing and personalizing a program for hundreds of students much easier. We also received fewer support calls from students than we did with our previous LMS, ”

Participating students adapted quickly despite prior experience with different learning management systems, they transitioned easily to eKadence. The seamless transition during this pilot year demonstrates how eKadence can extend beyond the classroom to support work-based learning, career exploration, and internships. 

To further elevate career readiness, CLAOC plans to leverage eKadence’s AI-powered mentor Skrappy. Designed with built-in guardrails, Skrappy provides personalized career guidance helping students explore career pathways, reflect on their experiences, and connect their experience to future workforce opportunities.

“Our goal with eKadence has always been to make technology work for educators and program leaders rather than creating more systems for them to manage,” said Dang Vu, Executive Director of eKadence. “CLAOC’s program is a great example of what becomes possible when you bring the tools people need together into one platform. Educators can spend less time managing technology and more time creating meaningful experiences for students.”

Building on the success of this pilot year, CLAOC and eKadence plan to expand the platform’s role in guiding student career development and deepening workforce readiness. “That experience gave us confidence in eKadence’s ability to grow with our vision as we enrich our career experiences for even more high school and college students,” said Laurie Smith, Senior Director of Education Programs and Partnerships at CLAOC.

The continued collaboration underscores a shared commitment to building a practical, sustainable, and scalable workforce pipeline that connects Orange County students directly with career exploration and in-demand workforce skills. 

About CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County

CLAOC is a coalition of more than 50 CEOs working together to solve our county’s most urgent problems and build a thriving Orange County for all. To fuel economic growth, close gaps, and secure future prosperity for all our residents, our members are working together to develop and retain the talent and capital needed to create an inclusive, premier innovation hub. Our programming is building a strong talent pipeline in Orange County for key sectors and roles and helps employers find and retain top local talent. www.claoc.org