STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Success Stories
Partnering for Progress:
Real-World Wins from WGU Collaborations
Partner: Grainger
Industry: Manufacturing
Fueling Career Growth Through Education: Grainger’s WGU Advantage
About Grainger
Grainger is a Fortune 500 industrial supply company and leading distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products and services. Founded in 1927, Grainger operates across North America, Japan, and the UK, offering over 30 million products, serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide. With 26,000 team members and $17.2B in annual sales, Grainger lives its mission—We Keep The World Working®—by delivering reliable solutions that help businesses run efficiently.
Investing in Team Member Growth
Grainger is proud to be a Great Place To Work-Certified™ company, repeatedly recognized for putting its people first. A cornerstone of that recognition is Grainger’s commitment to learning and growth, ensuring team members have the tools to advance their careers. Through its Education Assistance Program, both full-time and part-time Grainger employees are eligible to receive:
- Up to $5,250 annually toward qualifying degrees
- 50% reimbursement for costs beyond $5,250/year, with no cap—an uncommon employee benefit
Furthering Growth Through Partnership
In FY2022, Grainger partnered with Western Governors University (WGU), a leading nonprofit, accredited online university offering 60+ degree programs across four schools: Business, Technology, Health & Nursing (Leavitt School of Health), and Education.
“A big draw was the competency-based model,”
says Catie Blackburn, Talent Consultant with Grainger.
“That really gets a lot of ears perking up with team members.”
- Cate Blackburn, Talent Consultant
WGU’s competency-based education (CBE) lets students advance by proving mastery through assessments rather than logging seat time, allowing them to skip material they already know and focus on what’s new. Combined with Grainger’s tuition reimbursement program and WGU’s low tuition, the result is a faster, more affordable path to a degree.
Adds Catie, “Another big draw was WGU’s flexibility. Not all our team members have flexible schedules, so they need to be able to log on at night or during off-hours. We have third shift workers and team members across multiple time zones, so flexibility is essential—and WGU offers that.”
Victor’s Journey
SVictor Licea, District Sales Manager for Grainger’s government vertical in Los Angeles, first heard about WGU from his wife, who had completed her nursing degree with WGU. Impressed by how well the program fit her busy schedule, he was further encouraged by Grainger colleagues who had earned their degrees through WGU. When he learned about Grainger’s tuition reimbursement program, the decision became clear: he could complete a high-quality degree without taking on significant debt or stepping away from work.
A first-generation college student, Victor joined Grainger with an associate degree and started his career as a direct seller. After several years on the front lines, he transitioned into leadership roles, where he realized that completing his bachelor’s degree would strengthen his leadership skills and better equip him to support his team.
The competency-based education model made it possible for Victor to complete his bachelor’s degree in just six months. Rather than repeating material he had already mastered through years of sales and leadership experience, he was able to test out of familiar topics and focus his time on areas where he wanted to grow—such as advanced management, analytics, and business strategy. Because coursework was available online 24/7, he could study early in the morning, late at night, or on weekends, weaving school into an already demanding work schedule.
“Balancing work and school would have been nearly impossible with
a traditional program,” he explains. “Our jobs are extremely fulfilling but
also demanding, and the WGU model fit perfectly. I could go faster
where I was ready, slow down when I needed more time, and
still deliver for my team at Grainger.”
- Victor Licea, District Sales Manager
For Victor, the degree was more than a credential—it was transformative. The concepts he learned applied directly to his day-to-day responsibilities, from project management to leadership development, allowing him to bring fresh ideas and approaches back to his team in real time.
Ashley’s Perspective
Ashley Davis, Customer Service Experience Supervisor at Grainger’s corporate office in Lake Forest, also appreciates how Grainger’s education benefit supports career growth. She began her Grainger career as an Account Relationship Manager in sales before stepping into her current leadership role, where she oversees a team in one of the company’s contact centers.
With two years of college in musical theater behind her, Ashley decided to pivot to “something more practical” that would support a long-term career. Grainger’s Education Assistance Program gave her the opportunity to pursue her BS in Business Management at WGU. “I didn’t have to take a lot of time off, which made it so much easier to finish,” she recalls, noting how WGU’s flexible format allowed her to fit schoolwork around coaching calls, meetings, and life at home.
Completing her degree has had a direct impact on her work. “I feel more confident in my decision-making and in coaching my team,” she says. Today, Ashley leads a team in Grainger’s contact center, observing calls, coaching team members to deliver exceptional customer experiences, interviewing new hires, and advocating for her team’s needs. “The courses on management and organizational behavior gave me tools I use every day to motivate my team and improve performance.”
Ashley adds that when she interviews candidates for the contact center, one of the questions she always asks is, ‘Why do you want to work for Grainger?’” She follows that with: “One of the benefits I brag about is how Grainger paid for my education.”
Ashley’s enthusiasm has made her one of the program’s strongest advocates. She regularly encourages colleagues to explore WGU, has helped two team members enroll, and continues to mentor them through the process. “I tell them it’s not just about getting a degree—it’s about opening doors for yourself,” she explains.
In Heather's Words
Heather Fowler, an Enterprise Learning & Development Consultant at Grainger for 12 years, had put her education on hold. As her kids approached college age, she asked herself how she could keep telling them to never give up if she hadn’t finished what she started.
With encouragement from her colleague Catie and support from Grainger’s partnership with WGU, Heather enrolled and started her BS in Management program in January 2025. “I got hooked up and I’ve had my foot on the gas ever since,” she says. A conversation with another Grainger colleague also solidified her choice. “She told me what she loved about WGU was that it was completely self-paced; you can move as fast as you want,” Heather recalls. “That really spoke to me, because I knew if I had the skills and experience, I could move through a course quickly.
Heather adds, “But it’s not an easy ride—you still have to know the content. I’ve been fortunate to have a career that exposed me to a lot of these concepts, which has helped me move faster. At the same time, the program has challenged me in areas I don’t regularly focus on.”
Heather has already applied what she’s learning to her work.
“I’ve picked up new tools and processes in training and development
that I now use regularly. It’s helped me sharpen my approach
and recognize the benefits of following certain processes more consistently.”
- Heather Fowler, Enterprise Learning and Development Consultant
Heather also sees the program as reinforcing her role as a mentor and leader. “I teach a class on building resilience, so I wanted to model what it looks like to stay committed to a goal,” she explains. “This experience has added more to my story when I’m talking with new leaders and educating them on how to support their own teams’ growth.”
While Heather has always been deeply committed to Grainger, she now shares her own journey as an example of how powerful the company’s education benefit can be. “Grainger has paid for most of my education since I was 22. I use that as an example of how valuable our benefits are,” she says.
Heather hopes to complete her degree by the end of the year—possibly as soon as October—and is already considering a master’s degree next. “The process with Grainger and WGU has been so smooth. I can’t imagine not taking advantage of this benefit again.”
Conclusion
Since FY2022, Grainger has seen team member enrollment in WGU programs grow by more than 600%, reflecting the strong appeal of combining a flexible, competency-based education model with a robust tuition assistance program. Looking ahead, Grainger and WGU will continue to explore ways to make education even more accessible, potentially offering options for employees who may not be ready to commit to a full six-month term. By investing in its people and partnering with an innovative university, Grainger is building a stronger, more skilled workforce and staying true to its mission to Keep the World Working®.
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Human Resources Strategist, Office of Personnel Management
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