SkillSpout is thrilled to announce our Gold Sponsorship of the 2026 NorthCoast 99 Awards, presented by ERC. This is more than a sponsorship. It’s a statement about what we believe: that the best workplaces are built by people who never stop investing in their teams.
About ERC and NorthCoast 99
ERC partners with organizations across Northeast Ohio to solve the complex workplace and people challenges that don’t come with easy solutions. Through HR consulting, training, compensation support, employee relations guidance, and workplace resources, ERC helps leaders create cultures where employees can grow, thrive, and do their best work.
What sets ERC apart is its relationship-first approach, providing practical expertise, trusted guidance, and real people who understand the day-to-day challenges organizations face.
Each year, ERC presents NorthCoast 99, now in its 28th year, one of the region’s most prestigious workplace recognition programs. NorthCoast 99 honors 99 outstanding Northeast Ohio organizations that have demonstrated exceptional practices in attracting and retaining top talent. From employee engagement and well-being to inclusion and organizational strategy, the award celebrates what it actually looks like to put people first. The 2026 Awards Ceremony takes place on September 16, 2026.
About SkillSpout
SkillSpout delivers what many AI investments don’t: measurable hours back. We combine strategy, hands-on training, and full implementation into a single, structured path, so your team isn’t patching together solutions. We go deep, learning your business, your workflows, and your people, then build the systems and team capability to bring real AI results. Because the best AI outcomes don’t replace human knowledge and context. They’re built on it.
ERC knows this firsthand. They are currently working through SkillSpout’s Human-First AI Maturity Model, progressing from foundational AI fluency through applied use, embedded workflows, and into agentic AI capability, building real, practical skills at every stage.
ERC walks the walk when it comes to putting people first, and that is exactly the kind of organization we love doing this work with. NorthCoast 99 celebrates the best workplaces in Northeast Ohio, and we are proud to be the partner helping ERC build an AI strategy worthy of that standard.
Mel McGee, CEO, SkillSpout
Why This Partnership Matters
The organizations that pursue NorthCoast 99 recognition are not looking for shortcuts. They are building something intentional, and they are doing it by investing in their people. That is exactly who SkillSpout is built for.
As a Gold Sponsor, SkillSpout will be present throughout the NorthCoast 99 program from May through November, connecting with company leaders, HR professionals, and the broader Northeast Ohio business community. We are not here to be a logo on a banner. We are here to have real conversations about what AI transformation looks like when it is built around the people doing the work.
We’re thrilled to have SkillSpout as a valued sponsor of the NorthCoast 99 Awards. Their commitment to talent development and organizational excellence aligns seamlessly with the spirit of this recognition. We are grateful for their partnership and support in helping us celebrate Northeast Ohio’s top workplaces and the leaders who make them exceptional.
Carrie Morse, COO, ERC
Learn more about ERC and NorthCoast 99. Learn more about SkillSpout.