Arlo Change Makers: Jeff Makey

Straight out of high school, Jeff Makey dove into the trades, finding work framing houses and gaining firsthand experience in construction. But it wasn’t long before his adrenaline-fueled hobbies drew him toward a different kind of high-stakes environment – fire and rescue. His natural leadership and drive earned him a seat on his local fire department’s board of directors, where he began to discover a hidden talent. It was here that he uncovered a gift for teaching others – specifically, the kind that matters when everything’s on the line.

“I realized I was good at teaching people,” he says. “I could organize training in a way that made it click. And I really loved doing it.”

Driven to build something more, Jeff convinced Western Carolina University to let him create a custom undergraduate degree in Industrial Training and Education Design. While teaching college-level courses as part of the program, he funded his tuition by continuing to work in construction – learning in the classroom and leading on the jobsite.

Eventually settling in Asheville, NC, Jeff’s appetite for excitement led him to the whitewater industry. He became a guide and soon launched his first company, offering job training for whitewater professionals. It was there that Jeff pioneered the first-ever Swift Water Rescue certification program designed specifically for whitewater guides – a credential that earned recognition from both the U.S. Park Service and U.S. Forest Service as an industry standard.

As life evolved, Jeff became a father. The demands of family life brought him back to more traditional hours, working once again as a licensed general contractor. But the lessons he’d learned across industries, and his sharp eye for gaps in training, revealed a glaring need – not a shortage of skill, but a shortage of structured, accessible training that helped workers grow into leaders.

“We were training people to build homes,” Jeff says, “but not helping them build careers. There was so much focus on getting the job done, but very little on developing the people doing it.”

That passion led him to launch cLearn, a North Carolina-based training and consulting company built on one mission: to develop people, not just skills. With a deep understanding of how adults learn and a vision to transform workplace education, Jeff launched cLearn to raise the standard of training in the construction industry.

Today, cLearn is one of the most forward-thinking adult education providers in the trades. From continuing education and onboarding to fully customized certification development, Jeff’s team helps builders, contractors, and construction leaders upskill, comply, and grow.

From framing houses to framing futures

When Jeff launched cLearn, he made an intentional choice: instead of trying to build training programs for everyone, he’d specialize in construction and the trades. An industry where hands-on skills are critical, but structured career development and quality education are often missing.

What started as continuing education has since grown into full-scale consulting and onboarding programs for construction firms across the U.S. Each program is handcrafted to reflect the culture, values, and language of the company it’s built for. 

“We look for what we call ‘hidden goals’ – things like tone, terminology, or internal language,” says Jeff. “For example, one of our clients doesn’t use the word ‘sales’, they call it ‘project development’ because that better fits their brand. That matters. So we build training that fits that identity.”

This attention to detail is part of why cLearn only works with clients who are serious about investing in their people. “If a company doesn’t believe in developing their staff, we’re not the right partner,” Jeff says. “And that’s okay.”

cLearn’s training doesn’t just “tick boxes” – it raises standards, builds confidence, and helps workers move up, not just show up.

Building people by building trust

Jeff doesn’t shy away from calling out what’s broken in traditional training. He knows what it’s like to sit through one too many boring training sessions – coffee in one hand, Mountain Dew in the other. 

“Most builders don’t want to sit through PowerPoints. They’re mandated to be there. So we said: let’s respect their time and give them something meaningful.”

What makes Jeff’s approach different is his unwavering focus on how people learn best – when content is relevant, when they feel respected, and when they’re given a chance to apply it in the real world. By understanding different learning styles and blending formats – video, reading , discussion, practice, Jeff is a trend setter in adult training using techniques never seen before. 

In a typical cLearn session, you won’t find a facilitator reading slides. Instead of lectures, classes are presented with humor and energy. Participation is central. “We don’t have students. We have participants. And half the time, they’re the real experts in the room.” Says Jeff. You’ll find short bursts of content, hands-on problem-solving, and real conversations. Jeff uses “micro-participation” techniques – like polls, opinions, and open-ended prompts – to keep learners engaged and alert.

“Unfortunately, continuing education isn’t always all that educational. In fact, the classes are usually PowerPoint snoozefests that make you question the intentions of the geniuses who came up with this requirement in the first place.” Says Jeff. “We believe that CE doesn’t have to feel like a nail in the foot. It should be informative, interactive, and maybe even a little bit fun – or at least a valid excuse to take a day off.”

“We use outcomes to reverse-engineer our learning design – this is how we know training is working.” Says Jeff. “Ask, ‘’what should learners be able to do after this’.”

He’s hit the nail on the head with this approach. His training programs have won numerous awards and gained national recognition. And once again, Jeff’s expertise landed him on a board of directors – this time with the local home builders association. But the most important bit? This approach has earned cLearn a loyal following of builders, contractors, and construction leaders who keep coming back for more.

“I want cLearn to be the company that proves you don’t have to cut corners to create great training,” he says. “You just have to care enough to do it right.”

Rebuilding after Hurricane Helene

One of the most powerful examples of Jeff’s passion for delivering impactful training comes from September 2024, when Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented destruction to the mountainous regions of North Carolina – an area rarely impacted by such severe weather. The storm, deemed a 1-in-1000-year event, left widespread damage in its wake. As recovery efforts began, Jeff and the cLearn team knew they had something to offer.

“We already had course content on water restoration and insurance negotiation,” Jeff explains. “So we opened it up – free of charge – to local contractors. It was a way we could step up and support our community with what we do best: education.”

In partnership with Sherwin-Williams they provided the venue, promoted the event, and brought in a production company – who volunteered their services – to professionally film the session. The result was a fully donated, high-impact learning experience for local builders navigating post-disaster realities.

“It wasn’t about branding or business. It was about doing the right thing,” Jeff says. “Everyone pitched in. It was a true collaboration.”

Today, Jeff is speaking at industry events, consulting national companies, and building new certifications  for fast-growing contractors, and expanding cLearn’s course offerings. As cLearn continues to grow, Jeff remains committed to advancing the construction industry through education.

Arlo Change Makers is a series that highlights the passionate people behind training organizations that are changing people’s lives. 

We are proud to be the platform behind Jeff and cLearn – helping them streamline administration, scale their business and deliver more impactful training.