Welcome To Space Career Labs
The Present and Future Space Industry Is On Track To Grow Exponentially but Is Facing a
Bunch of problems
There's A Labor Shortage
There are not enough workers globally for Present and Emerging Industry Demands.
The challenge with labor shortages doesn’t end with standard roles. In the U.S. today, 70,000 cleared roles also remain unfilled. Given that recent studies estimate firms lose $20,640 per month for each vacant cleared position, this challenge must be addressed to collect significant amounts of revenue that would otherwise be lost.
- aviationtoday.com
There's A Serious Lack of Diversity
Diversity Is The Answer To The Labor Shortage Problem
The release of the Interagency Roadmap to Support Space-Related STEM Education and Workforce emphasizes administrative actions “to bolster our nation’s capacity to inspire, prepare and employ a diverse and inclusive space workforce.”
- Whitehouse.gov
There's A Lack of Opportunities
There are not enough opportunities for students, young professionals, and career changers to develop the skills the industry needs. Many existing training programs are low capacity and/or very high cost.
- spaceskills.org
We Have To Do A Better Job Of Training PEOPLE
Regardless of where talent comes from, there is a lack of onboarding and upskill training being offered by companies. One reason for this is that until the past decade, space was largely dominated by government organizations and their supporting prime contractors. It was a largely static industry from a workforce perspective, with a slow, predictable growth rate.
The commercial space boom has changed the environment drastically and requires companies to continuously work to develop and evolve the knowledge and skills of their staff to remain competitive. Organizations that invest in their people will remain at the cutting edge of best practices, technology, policy, law, and other important areas. Simply put, a small investment in training improves communication, performance, creativity, and, most importantly, business outcomes.
There exist large groups of untapped talent across the aviation, auto, software and other well-developed industries. This skilled talent in adjacent industries, ripe for a transition to space, brings with them experience and knowledge to help streamline and improve company performance.
- thespacereview.com
WE ARE SPACE CAREER LABS
The Solution To The Space Industry Workforce Problem
Our Company
Space Career Labs was created to solve a global problem in the trillion dollar space industry. Our company provides B2B and B2C services that is resolute in growing the much needed space workforce pipeline.
Our Mission
Our mission is to disrupt the space and STE(A)M workforce by identifying the interdisciplinary, soft skills and nontraditional skill sets needed for the future of the space and STE(A)M industries, increase the space and STE(A)M labor workforce by developing a diverse global pipeline, and investing in the skills of non traditional workers and by streamlining pathways into the present and future space industry.
Space Careers Labs
MEET THE Team
Dr. Stanley and Dr. Melissa Patton are the founders of Space Career Labs. This power couple has worked in the space/STEM and technology sectors for over 10 + years. Before launching Space Careers Labs, they held positions as a VP in the space industry, head of product development, UX/UI designer, and startup CEO. They have previously launched an edtech company that scaled quickly, reaching thousands of users.
Dr. Melissa Patton
Dr. Stanley patton
Dr. Melissa Patton
Dr. Melissa Patton is a mission-focused leader and entrepreneurial trailblazer with a proven track record in inspiring forward-thinking and innovative space products for both domestic and international audiences. With a deep expertise in cross-functional collaboration, Melissa seamlessly bridges the gap between technology, product, sales, strategic partnerships, marketing, and financial teams to deliver high-impact results. As a change agent, Melissa prioritizes data-driven decision-making, leveraging both quantitative and qualitative insights to document programmatic productivity and drive organizational growth. A staunch advocate for disruptive innovation, Melissa actively promotes the integration of AI (artificial intelligence) and PLG (product-led growth) strategies, ensuring the delivery of cutting-edge solutions.
Dr. Patton is dedicated to inspiring excellence through a user-centric approach, consistently producing quality products and programs that meet the highest standards. Her commitment to continuous improvement is matched by her ability to foster strong relationships and facilitate conversations at the highest levels, including with international diplomats on behalf of the United States.
Melissa’s deep engagement within the Space Foundation business ecosystem have been pivotal in communicating capabilities and driving the organization’s roadmap forward. Through ongoing collaborations with the White House, NASA, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Boeing, and other key stakeholders, Melissa has successfully secured sponsorships and grants that fuel the Space Foundation’s mission.
Career Highlights
- Built 3 ed-tech products for educational company
- Supervised the development of 10+ product development efforts for mobile and web-based applications, leading to thousands of used
- Owned the SaaS product roadmap, delivering successful outcomes by prioritizing customer needs, leading to 55% increase in customer satisfaction and a 35% improvement in product adoption.
- Orchestrated PLG strategies that boosted revenue by <2x> driving business growth through innovative product strategies such as the implementation and creation of a new database management system.
- Backed customer-centric product development programming by leveraging continuous discovery frameworks to identify and deliver solutions that align with the needs of our users, furthering a 35% increase in user satisfaction.
- Bridgebuilder with 20 years of experience in higher education space with the collaborative delivery of 3 different e-learning platforms, the development and launch of a human service AS degree, lead on regional accreditation renewal.
- Workforce pipeline leader, who speaks regularly on preparing the next workforce for future jobs.
Education
- Benedictine University, Lisle, IL
EdD in Higher Education and Organizational Change
- Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, IL
MA in Community Counseling Psychology
- Drake University, Des Moines, IA
BA in English Writing
Scholarship Student Athlete/Track and Field
Certifications & Trainings
- Product Management Certification+Agile Product Owner + Scrum
- University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Women in Leadership Certification
- University of Michigan, Leading for Diversity, Equity, and Conclusion Certification
- Product Management: Mastering Product Roadmaps Certification
- Project Management Course: Beginner to PROject Manager Certification
- Product Design Management for Agile Practitioners Certification
- Mediation Certification
Dr. Stanley Patton is an outside the box thinker, organizational strategist, and force multiplier in the tech and creative space. He has held positions as startup founder, CIO, head of product, and technical project manager. Dr. Stanley continues to blaze a trail that scales organizations, increases revenue, and promotes strategic alignment.
Career Highlights
- Founded and scaled a multi-state, multi-city enterprise, impacting 15,000 kids and families annually through sports, S.T.E.A.M, and socio-emotional learning initiatives.
- Developed and executed business strategies, driving 250% organizational growth.
- Evaluated KPIs and led a team of up to 75 members, driving execution, measurement, and continuous improvement.
- Established new revenue streams by identifying market opportunities and launching innovative products/services.
- Secured multi-million-dollar B2B contracts by interfacing with C-suite executives and showcasing UXR, UI, Design, and UX capabilities across portfolios.
- Streamlined UX and Design for large-scale B2B and B2B2C organizations, leading MVP development and guiding stage-wise product releases.
Education
Bethel University, St. Paul, MN PhD. Organizational Leadership
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL MS. Management Information Systems
MBI, Chicago, IL BA. Non Profit Management
Certifications & Trainings
- Mastery of Design Thinking Certificate: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Google UX Design Certificate
Our Product Line
Our line of products were created to identify, invest in, and increase the education to workforce pipeline in the space industry. Each product is unique and reviewed by subject matter experts to inspire, prepare, and aid in the employment of the present and future space workforce.
Pathfinder
Pathfinder is our flagship proprietary platform that recruits and upskills a diverse workforce for the space industry. Our game-changing technology brings both businesses and potential workers together in one platform.
Cosmos Commander
Cosmos Commander is a state of the art edtech product that identifies K-12 Students and future workers through teamwork, assessment, aptitude, and ability. Cosmos commander is guaranteed to entertain, educate, and inspire the next generation of space workers.
Space Tour
Space Tour is an experience that bridges the gap between STE(A)M (science, technology, engineering, liberal arts, and math) and physical literacy, fostering community and industry engagement in a fun and impactful way.