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.
This event is open to the public!
TWC-led Statewide Initiative Connects Veterans and Employers
Texas recorded a total of 14,461,300 nonfarm jobs after shedding 11,100 positions in September. Over the year, the state added 154,300 jobs for an annual growth rate of 1.1 percent, outpacing the national rate by 0.8 percentage points. Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,948,400 after adding 15,800 people over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 3,600 people. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas registered at 4.4 percent. “The addition of more than 154,000 jobs over the year reflects balanced growth across Texas industries,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “Texas continues to outpace the nation because of innovative programs like Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants, which are equipping students with skills that help businesses compete today and plan for tomorrow.” The Manufacturing industry had the largest private sector over-the-month increase in September after adding 4,700 jobs. Professional and Business Services added 1,600 jobs over the month while Information added 1,400. “The 15.9 million Texans in our labor force drive our economy, and TWC is dedicated to fueling their success,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “Through statewide initiatives like our annual Hiring Red, White & You! career fairs and the Texas HireAbility campaign, we are actively connecting Texans of all abilities with the critical training and resources they need to build prosperous, lifelong careers.” The Midland metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 3.2 percent in September. It was followed by the Abilene, Amarillo, College Station-Bryan, and San Angelo MSAs, which registered at 3.5 percent. “TWC is focused on ensuring that every Texan can find a rewarding career that allows them to contribute their unique skills and experiences to our economy,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett. “Initiatives like this month’s Texas HireAbility campaign help strengthen our communities and allow Texas businesses to tap into a dedicated and driven talent pool.” Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. * All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit TexasLMI.com . The Texas Labor Market Information Data for September is scheduled to be released on Friday, November 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (CT).
