About Us
Our team
Who We Are
The Misfits and Associates was founded by John Schlatter and Miche Grant, two workforce-development strategists who share a belief that real change happens when you challenge assumptions, rethink systems, and build solutions around people — not bureaucracy.
Together, John and Miche bring more than two decades of combined experience designing, implementing, and evaluating workforce programs across adult education, WIOA services, employer engagement, apprenticeship development, and cross-sector partnerships. Our backgrounds complement each other:
- John brings deep expertise in strategy, employer services, WorkKeys job profiling, process mapping, program design, and regional workforce ecosystem-building.
- Miche is a seasoned organizational leader with extensive experience in operations, federal and state grant management, complex work plan development, reporting systems, compliance, and team leadership.
We both spent years working inside workforce systems — from front-line instruction to executive leadership — and saw firsthand where programs succeed, where they stall, and where innovation is desperately needed. The Misfits was created to fill that gap.
We specialize in helping organizations design smarter processes, build stronger employer relationships, implement high-impact programs, and turn scattered systems into aligned, measurable strategies.
Most importantly:
We do things differently — on purpose.
Our style is practical, honest, deeply collaborative, and relentlessly focused on outcomes that matter.
Our history
The Misfits and Associates was founded in September 2024 by two long-time colleagues who shared a simple belief: meaningful change happens when you’re willing to challenge what has always been done. After years of working together across major workforce development initiatives, community partnerships, and regional innovation projects, we saw a growing need for a consulting approach that was bold, people-centered, and unafraid to rethink outdated systems.
We launched The Misfits to fill that gap.
Built on decades of combined experience in workforce strategy, program design, employer engagement, and regional collaboration, our firm began as a passion project—then quickly became a trusted partner for organizations looking to innovate. From our first contracts, we focused on delivering practical solutions backed by deep expertise, creativity, and a belief that every community and employer deserves systems built for today’s challenges, not yesterday’s routines.
What started as a two-person vision has grown into a dynamic consultancy committed to helping clients navigate complexity, build stronger partnerships, and create sustainable impact. And while our capabilities have expanded, our foundation remains the same: think differently, work collaboratively, and never settle for the status quo.
Our specialities
Describe the business services you do best.