Blue Named LearningElite Organization by Chief Learning Officer

Editor's Note: This article was originally posted on September 16, 2023 and has since been updated.

Blue & Co., LLC is thrilled to announce that it has been recognized as a LearningElite organization in the bronze category by Chief Learning Officer, a program that honors the best organizations for learning and development. This is the first year that Blue has applied for the program and it is one of 59 organizations who made the list.

“Our values of being responsive, caring advocates inspired us to begin making investments in developing our people nearly 15 years ago,” said Brad Shaw, managing director. “Because we brought in an incredible team, the learning and development programs that we have since built have allowed Blue to create a legacy of excellence that strategically enables us to grow now and into the future, despite the talent acquisition uncertainty that the accounting industry faces.”

Brad Shaw, Managing Partner (left) smiles as he meets and provides guidance with Building Leaders participants as they identify their final group project.

Through a combination of on-the-job coaching, technical trainings, and leadership development programs like Bridges, Pathways, and Building Leaders, Blue’s learning and development team provides employees with professional growth opportunities for each stage of their career journey.

🔍 RELATED: Talent Development Hosts Building Leaders Alumni Event

Since their inception, these programs have led to promotions of our employees.

54% of graduates from the Bridges future leaders’ program have been promoted to Manager and nearly 45% of graduates from the Building Leaders program are now Directors at Blue.

“Developing our team members is something we’re incredibly passionate about,” said Chad Pfeifer, chief people officer, “My team and I are thrilled that top organizations are recognizing the Blue difference!”

Participants of the summer 2023 Pathways program complete a team-building exercise together. The Pathways program is designed for new managers to help them hone their leadership skills and learn organizational policies and procedures.

🔍 RELATED: Blue's Development Program for New Managers

For more than a decade, Chief Learning Officer’s LearningElite program has served as a robust, peer-reviewed ranking and benchmarking system that recognizes organizations with exemplary workforce development strategies that deliver significant business results.

“Learning and development has evolved at a rapid pace amid the lighting speed of change in our world. It is incredible to see what these organizations have achieved in fostering agile and adaptable learning cultures,” said Ashley St. John, chief content officer and editor-in-chief for Chief Learning Officer. “It is an honor to recognize the accomplishments and successes of these leaders, teams and organizations.” 

To qualify, a team of nearly 300 judges evaluate corporate programs across five dimensions: learning strategy, leadership commitment, learning execution, learning impact and business performance results. They then rank the organizations programs as Bronze, Silver, or Gold. A company’s total scores determine where they place.  

The final ranking was revealed October 15, 2023, at the LearningElite Gala in San Diego, California.

To learn more about these award-winning programs and what our employees have to say about them, visit our Talent Development page.

Chief Learning Officer is dedicated to serving as a platform and vehicle for C-suite and senior-level learning and development professionals to connect and advance in the profession and their personal careers.

About BetterWork Media Group

BetterWork Media Group manages Chief Learning Officer and Talent Management, serving workforce communities of C-suite and senior-level practitioners, executives, scholars, consultants and solution providers in corporate learning and talent management. BetterWork Media Group provides a unique platform to connect, support and empower workplace communities via award-winning content, research, events, webinars and digital media. BMG's founders have more than 70 years of collective experience in the media industry.