Workforce Solutions East Texas Brings Home Performance Award and $75K from Texas Workforce Commission Annual Conference
Workforce Solutions East Texas • December 13, 2019
Left to right: WSET staff, Tassie Whitener; TWC Commissioner Aaron Demerson; WSET staff, ShaRhonda Miles; WSET staff, Monty Scroggins; WSET staff, Mary Jane Wagner; TWC Executive Director, Ed Serna; WSET Board member, Mary Berry; WSET Board member Claretta Allen; WSET Executive Director, Doug Shryock; WSET Board member, Claude Figueroa; WSET Board Chairman, Robert Haberle; WSET staff, Regina Allen; WSET staff, Keith Huddleston; WSET staff, Valerie Hatten; TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel; TWC Commissioner, Julian Alvarez III.
Workforce Solutions East Texas (WSET) was recognized for outstanding performance with a Texas Rising Star Child Care Award and a $75,000 performance incentive grant at the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) 23rd Annual Texas Workforce Conference held December 4-6th in Grapevine. As one of the conference highlights, local workforce development boards are recognized for outstanding accomplishments with performance awards. The awards are presented by TWC Commissioners Bryan Daniel, Chairman, Commissioner Representing the Public; Aaron Demerson, Commissioner Representing Employers; and Julian Alvarez III, Commissioner Representing Labor.
WSET received a $75,000 performance incentive grant for the Texas Rising Star Child Care Award, designating it as one of the top three performing agencies in the State. This award originated in 2017, and the East Texas board has been an award recipient for each of the three years it has been available. The Award honors local boards having improved the quality of child care through the development of exemplary child care programs, that demonstrating positive outcomes for the population served. This year, WSET staff created “Recipes for Early Childhood Quality Education,” a 14-section book with 116 pages of objectives, “ingredients,” and directions for 99 quality education learning experiences. Activities in the book guided educators through quality experiences by providing future activities. A total of 1,100 books were distributed within East Texas: to each TRS educator and every regional child care provider.
"I am extremely proud of Workforce Solutions East Texas and all who played a role in our successes at the TWC Annual Conference in Grapevine...the Board, our Executive Director, our amazing staff and the system partners and operators. To try to name everyone individually would be impossible. It truly represents a team effort,” said board Chairman, Dr. Robert Haberle. “Bringing home to East Texas recognition by the Texas Workforce Commission and our peers is truly an honor that reinforces the dedication of our local region to workforce excellence."
The conference also recognizes an employer in each board region of the State with an Employer of Excellence Award. WSET nominated Times Square Grand Slam (TSGS), a family entertainment center located in Tyler, Texas, to be recognized with the award. TSGS employs 200+ employees and have partnered with WSET to offer on the job training and work experience programs as well as providing positive employment opportunities for struggling members of the community.
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is currently accepting applications for the Upskill Texas grant program. This technical training initiative provides crucial funding for Texas businesses looking to enhance their workforce's skills and remain competitive in today's rapidly evolving economy. Upskill Texas offers financial support to employers that are: Expanding their operations Retooling their processes Introducing new services or product lines Experiencing organizational structure changes that could avert layoffs Through Upskill Texas, employers may be reimbursed up to $3,000 per trainee for 100% technical training. The majority of the trainees must have been employed by the business for at least six months. To be eligible, businesses must have 100 or more employees located in Texas and provide a 50% employer match, which can include trainee wages and benefits. Private employers may appoint a designee for the grant, including community or technical colleges, third-party trainers, or workforce development boards. Projects can range from $150,000 to $500,000. Follow the link below to learn more.
Workforce Solutions East Texas is strengthening its role as a workforce development leader in the Palestine area by bringing some of the region’s top employers directly to the community. Through a growing series of hiring events hosted at the Palestine office, local job seekers are gaining direct access to employers, career opportunities, and a dedicated team ready to help them take their next step. The events have already generated strong results. On August 14, Wayne Sanderson Farms brought 51 job seekers to the Palestine office for a hiring event. The response was so strong that the company was able to fill its entire first shift through the event, demonstrating the impact that direct connections between employers and job seekers can have. The momentum continued on September 4, when East Texas Beef Processors welcomed 50 job seekers to its hiring event at the Palestine office. The strong turnout provided the company with an opportunity to connect with local talent while giving residents a chance to learn more about available careers and employment opportunities. These events are doing more than filling positions. They are helping Workforce Solutions East Texas build stronger relationships with employers throughout the region while establishing the Palestine office as a convenient, trusted resource for businesses and job seekers alike. By creating opportunities for employers to recruit locally, Workforce Solutions East Texas is helping strengthen the connection between the region’s workforce and the businesses that drive its economy. Residents looking for their next career opportunity are encouraged to stop by the Palestine Workforce Solutions East Texas office, meet with employers, explore available positions, and connect with the staff who are ready to provide guidance and support throughout their job search. As the Palestine office continues expanding its employer partnerships and hiring event offerings, Workforce Solutions East Texas is demonstrating what workforce development looks like in action: bringing employers and job seekers together, responding to the needs of the local economy, and creating pathways to opportunity right here in the community.
After 30 years with the same employer, Ms. Paul never imagined she would have to start over. Her career with a staffing company had been built over three decades of experience in customer service and payroll. Then, without warning, she was laid off. “It was nerve-wracking. I’m a single mom of two. How are we going to survive?” After such a long career with one employer, Ms. Paul wasn't sure where to begin. The job market had changed, and she worried about finding a position that valued her experience while meeting her salary needs. That's when she discovered Workforce Solutions East Texas and the RESEA program. Ms. Paul initially knew very little about RESEA. Through the program, she discovered the resources available through WorkInTexas.com, including the Virtual Recruiter, Resume Builder, job search tools, career exploration resources, and WIOA opportunities. But the greatest impact came from the personalized support of her Career Navigator, Cheryl Jackson. Cheryl helped Ms. Paul update her resume, explore new career possibilities, prepare for interviews, and regain confidence in a job market she hadn't navigated in 30 years. “Cheryl gave me the confidence to job search and interview. Thirty years ago was so different from now, so her guidance was very helpful.” Through career exploration and mock interviews, Ms. Paul discovered opportunities she had never considered and gained the confidence to present her skills to employers. “She gave me the confidence and support I needed.” Today, Ms. Paul is working in payroll and invoicing for a staffing company and will soon take on additional responsibilities in fleet management. What began as an unexpected and frightening transition became a new chapter filled with possibility. RESEA didn't just connect Ms. Paul with resource, it helped her recognize that after 30 years of experience, she wasn't starting over. She was moving forward with confidence. Her advice to others facing an unexpected job loss is simple: “Use all of your resources. You never know where a job will come from, so use everything.”
