CAEL Announces New Senior Vice President

INDIANAPOLIS – The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) today announced that Jack Mills has joined the organization as senior vice president of partnerships, impact, and insights. Mills, who has more than two decades of experience leading inclusive economic development strategies by building effective and equitable industry, workforce, and community college partnerships, will oversee growth in CAEL’s client and funder collaboration.

“Jack’s thought leadership and entrepreneurial mindset have guided diverse partnerships across the country around equitable economic growth driven by collaboration among industry, workforce development, and education stakeholders,” said Earl Buford, CAEL president. “His expertise, experience, and people-centered approach to driving organizational success are an ideal fit for CAEL.”

Mills’ career includes extensive experience with funders -- in particular, regional workforce funder collaboratives. He directed the National Network of Sector Partners (NNSP), where he launched long-term local, state, and regional partnerships, securing more than $5 million in funding for program development and collaborating with other national organizations to increase state policy and funding support for industry partnerships in 26 states. While leading the NNSP, he worked with college and state-level leaders on improvements to workforce training at every community college in the state of Mississippi, resulting in millions of dollars of increased public, foundation, and employer funding for the institutions.

Most recently, Mills served as chief strategy and innovation officer for Partner4Work, the leader of the public workforce system for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. He has also served as senior advisor for workforce systems at the Insight Center for Community Economic Development, a national research and economic justice organization. Earlier in his career, Mills held leadership positions at Jobs for the Future, the Office of Workforce Development at the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.

Mills holds a bachelor of arts in social anthropology and a master of public administration in workforce development and economic development from Harvard University.

About CAEL
Recognizing that adult learners are the backbone of the U.S. economy, CAEL helps forge a clear, viable connection between education and career success, providing solutions that promote sustainable and equitable economic growth. CAEL opens doors to opportunity in collaboration with workforce and economic developers; postsecondary educators; employers and industry groups; and foundations and other mission-aligned organizations. By engaging with these stakeholders, we foster a culture of innovative, lifelong learning that helps individuals and their communities thrive. Established in 1974, CAEL, a Strada Education Network affiliate, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization. Visit cael.org to learn more.

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