Kim Caldbeck Joins Board of Directors at Interplay Learning
Kim Caldbeck, former Coursera CMO and education expert, has joined Interplay Learning's Board of Directors as the company announces new strategic investments from ECMC Group and Masco Ventures to support its growth in providing online and VR training for skilled trades amid a labor shortage.
AUSTIN, Texas — April 13, 2023 — Prominent education and training expert and former Coursera executive Kim Caldbeck has joined the Board of Directors at Interplay Learning, a leading provider of online and virtual reality training for the essential skilled trades. The company also announced the addition of ECMC Group and Masco Ventures as strategic investors. These developments support Interplay’s next phase of growth, aiming to provide effective and engaging training experiences that drive individual growth and organizational success.
Kim Caldbeck expressed her enthusiasm for joining Interplay Learning, stating: “As someone committed to creating positive change and expanding economic opportunity for all, I am excited about supporting Interplay in executing its vision. Both employers and educators recognize the transformative impact the company’s training solution has on people’s lives. I look forward to advancing Interplay’s growth and impact by sharing my past experience building Coursera into a global brand that now delivers learning to millions.”
Caldbeck brings extensive experience in education and technology management and leadership. She most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer for Coursera, one of the world’s largest online learning platforms, and previously held a marketing leadership role at Facebook.
In addition to Caldbeck’s appointment, ECMC Group and Masco Ventures’ recent investments in Interplay Learning demonstrate their strong commitment to supporting the advancement of trades education and addressing the growing labor shortage.
Doug Donovan, founder and CEO of Interplay Learning, commented: “At Interplay Learning, we’re helping customers build better careers and better lives for their employees and themselves, while offering a powerful solution that addresses the critical skilled talent labor shortage. The ECMC Group Education Impact Fund and Masco Ventures investment in Interplay supports our strategic vision of expanding our impact, and Kim’s insight and expertise will bolster our leadership team and help guide us through an exciting new phase of growth and innovation.”
Interplay Learning is transforming skilled trades professional development with online learning experiences accessible via desktop, mobile, and VR. The company works with educational institutions and skilled trades businesses in fields such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, multifamily maintenance, and facilities maintenance. Interplay’s platform enables organizations to recruit, train, and retain top talent, helping to combat labor shortages, enhance productivity, and gain a competitive edge.
ECMC Group’s Education Impact Fund is a mission-driven venture fund investing in companies focused on improving access and outcomes within postsecondary education and employment. The fund supports entrepreneurs to innovate, scale their impact, and generate competitive returns.
Masco Ventures, a subsidiary of Masco Corporation, invests in companies that further Masco’s commitment to innovation. Their focus includes investments in products and services that augment water management, create a connected in-home experience, enhance customer service, and provide new ways to reach Masco’s customers.
About Interplay Learning
Austin-based Interplay Learning offers scalable and effective training for the essential skilled trades, helping business leaders, educators, and their teams build better companies, better careers, and better lives. Interplay Learning’s immersive online and VR training platform for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, hospitality, multifamily maintenance, and facilities maintenance workforces includes expert-led video courses, hands-on 3D simulations, knowledge checks, and custom learning paths to upskill advanced technicians and help new technicians be job-ready in weeks, not years.
Interplay Learning was named to the 2022 Inc. 5000 and Inc. Best in Business lists and earned three honorable mentions in Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards.
Related
Interplay Learning named to Deloitte’s 2025 Technology Fast 500 list - Interplay Learning
Interplay Learning, a leader in immersive training for skilled trades and industrial crafts, was named to Deloitte’s 2025 Technology Fast 500 list for its rapid revenue growth driven by innovative simulation-based training solutions that address the skilled labor gap and support workforce development across industries such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and industrial maintenance.
SkillMill Immersive Training Platform
The SkillMill Immersive Training Platform, now rebranded as the Interplay Career Development Platform, offers over 500 hours of expert-driven, scalable, and science-based immersive training courses and simulations for skilled trades such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and appliances, enabling businesses, educators, and workforce programs to efficiently upskill their teams with advanced hands-on learning technology previously reserved for elite professions, all managed through a user-friendly platform designed to accelerate workforce development and improve real-world problem-solving skills.
Virginia Technical Academy Integrates Interplay Learning's VR Simulations for Skilled Trades Training
Virginia Technical Academy has integrated Interplay Learning’s online courses and virtual reality simulations into its skilled trades curriculum to provide students with immersive, hands-on training in areas like electrical wiring, HVAC troubleshooting, and plumbing, thereby enhancing practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and overall readiness for careers in the trades.
3D & VR Sim-Based Training for Students
Interplay Learning provides online, on-demand 3D simulation and virtual reality training for skilled trades students, offering industry-aligned courses and certifications across various trades, enabling flexible, safe practice environments, curriculum integration, progress tracking, and proven success in preparing students for workforce readiness as endorsed by educators and employers.
Interplay Learning Newsroom
Interplay Learning, a leading provider of immersive training for industrial and skilled trades, has recently been recognized by TIME and Forbes for its industry impact and financial strength, while partnering with companies like Konecranes to deliver VR crane simulation training that expands customer training capacity and reduces equipment downtime.
Interplay Learning wins IACET Instructional Impact Award - Interplay Learning
Interplay Learning, a leader in immersive skilled trades training, won the 2025 IACET Instructional Impact Award for its innovative use of VR, AI, and simulation technologies that deliver measurable educational outcomes and improve workforce development, following its 2024 Innovation of the Year Award for its AI-powered Skill Advisor and Mentor virtual assistant.