Keeley Companies and Maryville University announced an innovative partnership that will redefine the relationship between business and higher education. Together, Keeley and Maryville are committed to developing the workforce of the future, dedicated to making a positive impact in underserved communities, and focused on providing economic leadership in the St. Louis area and beyond.

The partnership expands and creates opportunities for Keeley Companies team members — called Keeley’ns — to further their education and learn new skills. Keeley Companies has experienced tremendous growth in recent years and needed a fast solution to help team members obtain the necessary training to rise to today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.

“I could not be more excited about our partnership with Maryville University,” said Rusty Keeley, CEO of Keeley Companies. “Our cultures and goals continue to align, and this partnership is going to bring incredible opportunities in the months and years to come. I am so thankful for our relationship and cannot wait to see what the future brings.”

Together with Maryville, modules were developed to upskill Keeley’ns in areas such as leadership and business acumen. The modules and corresponding assessments include examples specific to Keeley Companies’ people-centric culture and the industries in which they serve.

The program includes a new, best-in-class learning management system that will allow Keeley’ns to access hundreds of courses at any time, regardless of location. This enhanced educational content will provide something for everyone. Whether Keeley’ns are looking to improve their leadership or learn new ways to keep their team members safe, they will have endless opportunities to learn new skills.

This partnership is also going to offer Keeley’ns with new, accredited certificate programs. These programs will consist of college accredited courses that will funnel up to a custom certificate, opening doors for Keeley’ns to continue their education and advance in their careers.

“This partnership will positively impact the way businesses think about upskilling and reskilling their workforce,” said Dr. Mark Lombardi, president of Maryville University. “At Maryville, we don’t believe one-size-fits-all when educating individuals or when working with businesses. Keeley came to us looking for a learning model that uniquely served their workforce development needs, and together, we’ve built something that will empower their team members and help their businesses grow and thrive.”

Additionally, on-campus guest speakers, through a new Executives in Residence Program, will provide Maryville students with the opportunity to hear from Keeley Companies leaders as they speak on a wide range of business and leadership topics. These guest speakers and other events will allow for networking opportunities for Maryville students seeking internships or entering the workforce, allowing them to gain valuable skills before they graduate.

For more information, visit maryville.edu/MaryvilleWorks.

Thank you St. Louis Business Journal for your coverage of this good news!