Merit America ranked #1 in Education on Fast Company's annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2026. March 24, 2026 Merit America joins the ranks of Google, Nvidia, Adidas, Walmart, and more WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 24, 2026) - The national nonprofit Merit America has been named to Fast Company's prestigious list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2026 - ranking #1 in Education. This year's list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations. Alongside the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company recognizes 720 honorees across 59 sectors and regions. "For tens of millions of Americans stuck in low-wage work, opportunity remains out of reach. Its education system was built for a different era, fixated on degrees while overlooking millions of capable workers. AI is about to make things so much worse. At Merit America, Merit America provide fast, flexible, and affordable pathways for working adults that deliver proven wage gains and real economic mobility. Merit America is honored to be named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. As one of the fastest-growing nonprofits in the country, Merit America remain committed to building an education and workforce system that actually works," said Connor Diemand-Yauman & Rebecca Taber Staehelin, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs of Merit America. Merit America prepares Americans stuck in low-wage work for better-paying careers by fusing industry-recognized credentials with personalized coaching and targeted job search support. Its cutting-edge model blends flexible, data-driven online learning with high-touch coaching, built specifically for working adults balancing jobs and family responsibilities. Through accessible financing and innovative partnerships with major companies such as Google, Amazon, and Chime, learners gain in-demand skills with minimal risk. Merit America stands out not just for growth, but for results. Since 2018, the organization has served more than 20,000 learners nationwide. In a 2024 wage analysis, alumni reported an average annual wage increase of $21,000 three or more months after program completion, generating more than $1.4 billion in cumulative wage gains to date... In an industry often focused on enrollment and completion metrics, Merit America breaks through by anchoring success in sustained wage gains and long-term economic mobility. Merit America is expanding its program offerings to meet the demands of an AI-influenced economy, with new career tracks in AI Essentials, Human Resources, Semiconductor and Advanced Manufacturing, and Supply Chain Planning. Beyond individual outcomes, Merit America's model is influencing how employers, policymakers, and funders think about skills-based hiring and worker-centered approaches to AI adoption. The World's Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company's hallmark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To determine honorees, Fast Company's editors and writers review companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. The result is a globe-spanning guide to innovation today, from early-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world. "Our list of the Most Innovative Companies is about spotlighting organizations that don't just adapt to change - they drive it," said Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. "The companies we honor this year are redefining what leadership looks like in 2026, pairing bold ideas with measurable impact and turning breakthrough innovation into real-world value. They are setting the pace for their industries and offering a blueprint for what sustained innovation can achieve." The full list of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies honorees can now be found at fastcompany.com. It will also be available on newsstands beginning March 31, 2026. Fast Company will host the Most Innovative Companies Summit and Gala for honorees on May 19 in New York City. The summit features a day of inspiring content, followed by a creative black-tie gala including networking, a seated dinner, and an honoree presentation. ABOUT MERIT AMERICA Merit America is a national nonprofit preparing workers stuck in low-wage roles for family-sustaining careers at scale. Named by the New York Times as "the hybrid future of training programs for the disadvantaged," Merit America offers fast and flexible training and job search programs that work for working adults, and are aligned to the most in-demand roles in the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. economy. Founded in 2018, Merit America has served more than 20,000 learners across the country and has driven more than an estimated $1.4 billion in cumulative wage gains. For more information, visit https://meritamerica.org/about/. ABOUT FAST COMPANYFast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow business publication Inc. For more information, please visit fastcompany.com. March 4, 2026

Michael Gilchrist promoted to Chief Program Officer. Washington, D.C. - Merit America, a national workforce development nonprofit, has announced the promotion of Michael Gilchrist to Chief Program Officer (CPO). Gilchrist previously served as the Managing Director of Program Strategy. In his new role, he will oversee Merit America's Program, Coaching, Design & Innovation, and Operations functions, bringing deep experience in program strategy, workforce development, and mission-driven leadership to the role. "Michael is an extraordinary leader whose vision, integrity, and deep program expertise have had a profound impact on Merit America," said Anne Keenan, Managing Partner at Merit America. "His ability to pair operational excellence with compassion and to build systems that scale without losing sight of humanity is rare and exactly what this moment calls for. We are thrilled to welcome him into this critical executive role and onto the Operating Committee." Gilchrist's career spans the education and workforce sectors. Before joining Merit America in 2022, he served as a Title I secondary school administrator in Washington, D.C., where he led schoolwide instructional improvement, postsecondary access efforts, and educator talent development for historically underserved communities. A first-generation college graduate, Gilchrist's commitment to educational and economic mobility is deeply rooted in his own lived experience. During his tenure at Merit America, Gilchrist has played a central role in strengthening the organization's program model, integrating AI-enabled systems, expanding new career pathways, and building high-performing, mission-driven teams that support working adult learners from enrollment to positive career outcomes. "Stepping into the Chief Program Officer role is energizing, and I'm genuinely excited for what's ahead," said Gilchrist. "My own life was shaped by access and opportunity, and that's at the core of why I care so deeply about this work. I'm looking forward to strengthening the systems, coaching, and program design that enable learners to build real mobility and partnering with our incredible teams to deliver outcomes with consistency, excellence, equity, and humanity. It's an honor to help lead this next chapter for Merit America." Gilchrist attended Old Dominion University and Western Governors University, where he completed his bachelor's in Educational Studies and master's in Curriculum and Instruction. He will begin a doctoral studies program in Spring 2026. Outside of work, Gilchrist invests his time in coaching young professionals, supporting community initiatives, and creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow. Merit America is a national nonprofit preparing workers stuck in low-wage roles for family-sustaining careers at scale. Named by the New York Times as "the hybrid future of training programs for the disadvantaged," Merit America offers fast and flexible education and job success programs that work for working adults, and are aligned to the most in-demand roles in the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. economy. Founded in 2018, Merit America has served more than 15,000 learners across the country and has driven an estimated $1 billion in cumulative wage gains. For more information, visit meritamerica.org/about.