Who We Are
Career Key exists to put students at ease and support faculty data-driven decisions with science-based career guidance that works.
It all began in 1997, when our founder — a counselor educator at N.C. State University — put the first validated career assessment on the Internet to make science-based career guidance more affordable and easier to use by students, faculty, and counselors.
Why we’re different
We use the latest technology to create practical tools based on the best science and practices of career counseling. We prioritize,
Student engagement
Technology including Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Responsible AI Policy
Research and theory
CEO Juliet Jones and her father, Founder Dr. Lawrence K. Jones.
How we measure success
Our vision is “career well-being for all.” We seek to maximize Career Key’s impact on individuals’ career well-being. Over 26 years, we’ve helped over 40 million people… and counting.
By sticking with our original 3 priorities – student engagement, technology and research – we continue to grow our impact.
Student-first. Faculty-led. Science-backed.
Leadership & Advisors
Juliet Jones-Vlasceanu — President & CEO
Juliet Jones-Vlasceanu is President and CEO of Career Key, where she led the company's transformation from assessment provider to courseware publisher. Under her leadership: LTI 1.3 certification, AI-enabled coaching, distribution partnerships with VitalSource and Follett, 99% year-over-year online revenue growth, and 100% institutional customer renewal.
Juliet practiced labor and employment law for a decade before joining Career Key in 2006. Princeton University (B.A.), Seattle University School of Law (J.D.). Global Career Development Facilitator. Past-President, Washington Career Development Association. More on LinkedIn.
Dr. Lawrence K. Jones — Founder and Chief Scientist
Dr. Lawrence K. Jones is Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University and Career Key's founder. He created Career Key Discovery — the first research-validated career interest inventory on the Internet (1997) — and the Career Decision Profile, validated across 116 publications in 10+ countries. His work applying Holland's Theory has reached over 40 million people through K-12 platforms. Dr. Jones and his wife Jeanine, a high school librarian, founded Career Key because they believed every person deserved access to expert career guidance. Read more about our founder →
Pam Nelson — Senior Advisor, Education
Pam Nelson brings deep experience in K12 and higher education partnerships as well as edtech growth and product market fit. She previously held senior leadership roles at The College Board, Apple, PowerSchool and Pearson, and has extensive relationships across the K12 and higher education landscape. As a former Co-Chair of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) Education Division's Board for 8 years, Pam advises on strategic partnerships, business and product development. More on LinkedIn.
Dr. Kerri Keller — Senior Advisor, Higher Education
Dr. Kerri Keller has spent over 30 years in higher education career services and workforce development. From 2002 until her June 2026 retirement, she served as Director of the Career Center at Kansas State University, where she led career advising, program assessment, and curriculum development. Dr. Keller advises Career Key on higher education product development, faculty engagement, and the latest research in academic advising and counseling psychology. More on LinkedIn.
Our Team
Suman Gurung — Director of Technology
Suman oversees all aspects of Career Key’s technology including security, architecture, deployment and development operations. He has extensive experience developing edtech and digital learning tools, software applications and web services for over 10 years. Suman completed his bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from Siddaganga Institute of Technology, India.
Kristine Compton — Customer Success Manager
Kristine is in charge of onboarding and supporting students and their higher education institution partners, K12 schools, non-profits and TRIO grants. For more than 20 years Kristine has experience in B2B media, digital marketing and account-based marketing, her professional career includes publishing, social media, advertising and platform technology with an emphasis on customer experience and revenue management.
Philanthropy
Career Key has donated to organizations working for the development of youth, alleviation of human suffering, and environmental protection for over 25 years.
The Larry and Jeanine Jones Memorial Scholarship, established in 2023 in partnership with Friends of NAEOP, awards $5,000 annually to TRIO participants in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho — low-income, first-generation college students. Dr. Jones was the first in his family to attend college, making this a natural extension of Career Key's founding mission.
Larry and Jeanine Jones, Career Key Founders
Memberships & Partnerships
American Counseling Association
National Career Development Association
National Association of Colleges and Employers
The Global Community for Academic Advising
American School Counselor Association
Distribution Partnerships
Business Schools
K12 CCR Platform
Career Key is in the top U.S. College & Career Readiness Platform Naviance, by PowerSchool.
Certifications
Certified Learning Tools Interoperability® (LTI®) v1.3.