Penn Foster, a provider of digital and data driven learning services for skills and jobs, has combined with Carrus, a national online healthcare training and professional development provider. Concurrently, Revelstoke Capital Partners, a Denver-based private equity firm, has exited its investment in Carrus through the combination with Penn Foster. 

“The combination of Penn Foster’s skills-based training and Carrus’ career placement services creates numerous, compelling benefits to students and employers as we aim to the close the gap between employment and training,” said Frank Britt, CEO of Penn Foster. “We have long admired Carrus, a company whose values, mission and culture mirror our own. Together we will create greater value for employers by connecting them with highly trained employees entering the job market in ‘hard to staff for’ areas, while also providing learners with accessible, high quality, skills-based training and placement services to ensure a seamless transition to the workforce.”

“We’ve seen firsthand the rapid shift in the labor force that has left more and more middle-skill workers behind. Healthcare jobs are among the most in-demand and evolving in the economy and it’s crucial we address this issue now by providing workers with the tools and knowledge to meet employers’ ever-changing needs,” said Misty Frost, CEO of Carrus. “Frank and the Penn Foster team have built an impactful platform with a proven track record of improving employment outcomes for graduates each year. This partnership will enable more aspiring healthcare professionals to access skills-based training that can lead to higher-wages and better jobs in the industry.”

“Revelstoke’s mission to help build leading healthcare service and technology companies would not be possible without exceptional management teams,” said Russell Cassella, managing partner, Revelstoke. “Misty and the Carrus team have spurred tremendous growth for the Company through their strategic vision and in the face of ever-growing demand for training in the healthcare services sector. We are extremely proud of what Carrus has achieved and look forward to seeing the business continue to thrive through its new partnership with Penn Foster.”

William Blair & Co. LLC and Winston & Strawn LLP acted as financial advisor and legal counsel, respectively, to Carrus.