Our Core Values

Integrity – Mission-Driven – Service-Oriented – Build Lasting Relationships – Inclusion – Lead with Purpose – Think Big

Our team is deeply connected to the communities we serve, including military families, diverse-ability individuals, and justice-involved talent. With a mission-driven, service-oriented approach, we are passionate advocates for underserved talent, working with integrity to make a difference.

Committed to small businesses, we build lasting relationships while transforming hiring practices through a skills-based, inclusion model. We lead with purpose, aiming to create impactful change, with a Think BIG attitude so communities can thrive and flourish.

Our History

The ASCEND brand began its journey in 2018 in Simpsonville, SC, under the name Veterans ASCEND. The platform was created to address the challenges Veterans face during their transition to civilian life, such as crafting resumes and navigating applicant tracking systems that often reject their applications. Veterans ASCEND was designed to eliminate these barriers, offering Service Members and Veterans a direct and efficient way to match with employers without the need for resumes.

In 2020, the service expanded to include the entire Military Family, recognizing the unique obstacles Military Spouses encounter, including frequent permanent change of station (PCS), resume gaps, and unconscious or conscious bias. By 2022, the platform evolved into Talents ASCEND®, with the innovative Career AI Talent Equalizer (CATE®) at its core. This expansion opened the platform to the broader career-seeking population while maintaining its focus on underserved communities such as service members, veterans, military families, first responders, individuals with disabilities, and justice-involved individuals. To amplify its advocacy efforts, The ASCEND Collective® was established, furthering its mission of creating equitable hiring opportunities for all.

The ASCEND Collective® is the non-profit division of the ASCEND brand.

Our mission is to revolutionize the employment journey for veterans, military spouses, individuals with diverse abilities, and those impacted by the justice system.

🌟 Our innovative approach removes the reliance on traditional resumes, instead aligning candidates’ Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes (KSAs) with employer needs through an AI-powered matching system.

This isn’t just about finding jobs—it’s about empowerment, personal branding, and dismantling barriers to employment. From skills translation and career readiness to resource connections and ongoing support, we’re dedicated to uplifting underserved talent every step of the way.

Veterans ASCEND is dedicated to advocating for our military veterans, valuing their highly transferable skills, assisting in their successful transformation back to civilian careers.

MilSpouse ASCEND is dedicated to advocating for our military and veteran spouses, assisting in their successful connections to careers with small businesses who value their skills.

ABILITY ASCEND is dedicated to the diversely-abled community. Advocating for their abilities to normalize the experience of successful employment opportunities.

Mission2 ASCEND is dedicated to the justice-impacted community. Advocating for their second chance to regain purpose in finding viable employment.