The World as the Classroom

Connecting students with real-world mentors and learning opportunities

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Competency-Based Learning

New Hampshire’s leader in education reform since 2013

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Real-World Learning

Bridging education and career through hands-on mentorship

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10,000 Mentors

Building the largest mentorship network for students nationwide

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Empowering Students

Hands-on experiences that prepare students for college and careers

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2013
Year Founded
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Mentor Goal
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Board Members
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Active Initiatives

About NCCBL

The National Center for Competency-Based Learning

Organization

Organization

The National Center for Competency-Based Learning (NCCBL) is a New Hampshire based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 2013.

Vision

Vision

“The World as the Classroom.” We believe that learning happens everywhere—not just within the walls of a school building.

Mission

Mission

“To institutionalize real world, hands on, learning opportunities for our students by serving as the prime catalyst in harnessing mentors at the local, state, and national levels.”

Board Members

Experienced leaders committed to education reform

Brennan McCall

Brennan McCall

Board Member

With more than 20 years of leadership experience across the hospitality, retail, and gaming industries, Brennan McCall serves as General Manager of Revo Casino & Social House. He has held senior leadership roles including Director of Casino Operations at SLS Casino Las Vegas, Director of Operations at Bally’s Kansas City, and Director of Casino and Gaming Operations at Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Brennan is known for his collaborative, people-first leadership style and passion for developing and empowering team members, with a commitment to building workplace culture grounded in service excellence, accountability, and memorable guest engagement.

Dr. Dan Miner

Dr. Dan Miner

Board Member

Dr. Dan Miner is a Johns Hopkins Medical School graduate who has been a radiologist for 30 years, currently practicing at Exeter Hospital, NH. He is a board member of Hurricane Island Outward Bound in Maine. Experiential learning is in Dan’s DNA—his father, Josh Miner, started Outward Bound in the United States.

Daniel Schwarz

Daniel Schwarz

Board Member

Daniel Schwarz is an attorney with over 35 years of experience in labor, employment, and general trial law. A Northwestern University graduate, he earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law. He co-founded Flygare, Schwarz & Closson PLLC in Exeter, NH, representing municipalities in collective bargaining, grievance hearings, and public sector labor appeals across state and federal courts. He later served as Principal at Jackson Lewis, P.C. in Portsmouth, NH, and has worked as a mediator and arbitrator—including pro bono service for the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. Beyond his legal career, Daniel has served on the Board of Directors of Families First of the Greater Seacoast (now Greater Seacoast Community Health) for over 25 years, including as Board Chair, and previously served on the Board of The Music Hall in Portsmouth. He volunteers with the American Red Cross and Gather, a New Hampshire nonprofit addressing food insecurity, and has been a dedicated supporter of youth baseball as Umpire in Chief for Portsmouth Little League and District II Little League.

Dr. Fred Bramante

Dr.h.c. Fred Bramante

Founder & Former Chair

Fred Bramante is a former middle school science teacher and longest-serving member of the New Hampshire State Board of Education in state history. During his tenure as Board Chair (2003–05) he led the first statewide school redesign effort since 1919, resulting in N.H. becoming the first state to move to a competency-based system. In 2020 he was named one of the State’s Top Innovators for his education redesign efforts.

Jack Potvin

Jack Potvin

Board Member

Jack Potvin is a builder, product leader, and mission-driven entrepreneur passionate about using technology to improve lives at scale. Jack’s work centers on applied AI, product leadership, and building optimistic systems that empower people and communities.

Jacqueline Guillette

Jacqueline Guillette

Board Member

Jacqui is a retired school superintendent with a 44-year public education career spanning teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent roles. Through Capstone Consulting LLC she spent 8 years developing partnerships between schools and advanced manufacturers throughout New England, helping students understand career opportunities in advanced manufacturing.

Joel Olbricht

Joel Olbricht

Treasurer

In addition to serving as Treasurer of NCCBL, Joel Olbricht is a finance and management leader with 35+ years of experience. As President & CEO of OSGroup, his professional interests include leadership, income and estate tax planning, business management, strategic planning, building wealth, marketing, and technology planning.

Kendra Bostick

Kendra Bostick, Doctoral Candidate, LCSW, MEPD

Board Member

Kendra Bostick is the CEO and Co-founder of Kikori, a women-owned social impact company dedicated to democratizing access to experiential Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) activities proven to enhance academic performance, student engagement, and positive behavior. Under Kendra’s leadership, Kikori has grown into a global platform with users in 94 countries, equipping educators with research-backed tools that foster belonging, meaningful connections, and whole-child development. She is completing her Ph.D. in Education at the University of New Hampshire, where her research focuses on measuring the impact of experiential activities on youth’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. She also holds a Master’s in Experiential Learning and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. A bilingual Spanish speaker, her passion for connection and cultural exchange has taken her to over 30 countries.

Nathan Harris

Nathan Harris

Board Member

Nathan Harris is a retired Medical Executive with 34 years of operations, marketing, and executive management experience in the medical device & military avionics industry. He held V.P. of Sales & Marketing positions at multiple medical device companies and spent 13 years at Medtronic. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education at the University of New Hampshire.

Dr. Nischal Chandra

Dr. Nischal Chandra

Technology Chair

Nischal has over 25 years of industry experience in Healthcare, Finance, Insurance, IT, and Telecommunications. He delivers multimillion-dollar AI solutions at global scale and currently serves as Director of Software Engineering at Oracle Health & AI. He holds a DBA, M.S. in Quality Assurance, and B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and is also Chief AI Officer at Apollos University.

Dr. Robert McLaughlin

Dr. Robert McLaughlin

Board Chair

Bob is co-founder of the National Collaborative for Digital Economy and brings decades of experience in education, STEM reform, educational policy, and large-scale technical assistance. He has chaired the Association of Teacher Educators’ National Commission for Technology, and led a nine-state consortium undertaking systemic STEM reform and education technology integration.

Mentor Connect

10,000 Mentors — Re-Launching Q2 2026

Free

For Individuals

Mentor Connect is an innovative mentorship engagement platform accessible worldwide. Anyone 18+ can sign up for free and start connecting with relevant individuals for:

  • Jobs
  • Internships
  • Apprenticeships
  • Volunteering
  • Networking
  • Coaching
Enterprise Edition
Enterprise

Enterprise Edition

For commercial and not-for-profit organizations:

  • Dedicated Hosting
  • Customized Features
  • Unique Workflow
  • Administrator Portal
  • User Management
  • Helpdesk Solution
  • Tiered Pricing Structure
  • Special non-profit pricing for 501(c)(3) organizations
Academic Edition
Academic

Academic Edition

For academic institutions of all levels, the Academic Edition provides:

  • All Enterprise Edition features
  • Oversight for Minors
  • Career Credentialing for School Credit

Extended Learning Opportunities

Real-world experiences that prepare students for college and careers

NHELO Program Design Handbook

NHELO Program Design Handbook

The NHELO Program Design Handbook was created, in part, as a resource for the NCCBL. It provides a comprehensive guide to designing Extended Learning Opportunity programs.

Get Handbook

ELOs & Internships

How are ELOs and Internships getting New Hampshire students ready for college and careers?

Other Projects

Related initiatives advancing education and civic engagement

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Civics & Civility

Promoting civic education and respectful dialogue in communities across New Hampshire.

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Civility Movement

Building a national movement focused on civility and constructive discourse in public life.

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Passion For Learning Schools

Schools designed around passion-based, student-centered approaches to lifelong learning.

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News

Latest updates and media coverage

January 1, 2018

Manchester High School West adopts Mentor Connect Academic Edition

September 19, 2017

Fred Bramante: The father of Competency-Based Learning likes direction SAU 9 is heading

Featured in the Conway Daily Sun — a look at how competency-based education is reshaping New Hampshire schools and communities.

Read Article
June 11, 2013

It’s Not About Time; It’s About Learning: Fred Bramante at TEDxYouth@IFTA