New Harbor Capital Portfolio Company MindPlay Education Hires CEO

New Harbor Capital is excited to announce that portfolio company MindPlay Education (“MindPlay”, “the Company”) has hired Jeff Pendleton as Chief Executive Officer.

Founded in 1981, MindPlay is an educational software company with a simple yet compelling mission to unlock student success. Backed by research and fundamental principles in the science of reading, MindPlay’s products offer individualized reading and literacy instruction for students in grades K – 12. It also has a new elementary school-focused math product, as well as professional development products for educators that provide teachers with a deeper understanding of literacy issues and how best to facilitate student improvement. The Company currently serves more than 3,400 schools in over 40 states.

“We are thrilled to have an executive of Jeff’s caliber leading the MindPlay team,” said Justin Marquardt, Partner at New Harbor Capital. “His extensive education industry experience, leadership skills, and unique vision for the Company will be fundamental to the growth and development of MindPlay moving forward.”

Jeff Pendleton, CEO of MindPlay

Jeff Pendleton joins MindPlay as Chief Executive Officer after having most recently spent over 11 years in the education technology space at Imagine Learning. There, Jeff amassed considerable experience in private-equity-backed M&A, in addition to achieving regular organic growth. In his most recent role as Senior Vice President & General Manager, Jeff led the supplemental curriculum business unit with over 13 K-12 products, ranging from reading to math to computer science and social-emotional learning. Jeff describes himself as a people-first leader with an approachable leadership style. He is focused on ensuring a collaborative environment where all can thrive and work together to achieve ambitious goals. Jeff has a passion for education and technology and believes in the power of the two together to change the world for the better.

About MindPlay Education

Founded in 1981 by Judith Bliss and headquartered in Tucson, AZ, MindPlay Education is an educational software company that develops, publishes, and distributes cost-effective learning curriculum with clear objectives, engaging activities, and modern technology to support reading and math growth and development. MindPlay started as a development platform for educational publishers but quickly evolved to be a products business when Judith could not find any viable literacy solutions for a family member with dyslexia. Today, MindPlay offers individualized instruction for students in grades K – 12, as well as professional development products for educators that provide teachers with a deeper understanding of literacy issues and how best to facilitate student improvement. The Company currently serves more than 3,400 schools in over 40 states. For more information, visit https://mindplay.com/.