Shown at WoodCrafters headquarters are (seated) Mariluz Lugo, Dr. Shirley A. Reed, Bonnie Gonzalez, Teresa Rodriguez (WoodCrafters Corporate Social Responsibility manager), (standing) Rick Barr, Mike Willis, David Suarez, Hernan Gonzalez, Bob Stewart, Ronald G. Congleton, Wanda Garza, Carlos Margo, Eric Piater and Samuel Lugo, (WoodCrafters executive vice president of finance).

Staff from WoodCrafters Home Products of Weslaco recently hosted a special plant tour for Ronald G. Congleton of the Texas Workforce Commission. Congleton, the commissioner representing labor, was in Weslaco on Nov. 10 to present a TWC Skills Development Fund Grant to a consortium comprised of South Texas College, WoodCrafters and Rio Grande Container.

 Prior to the grant announcement, Congleton joined STC leaders and other guests for the tour of the WoodCrafters plant. Rick Barr, executive vice president of human capital, gave the group an overview of the company. Other presentations were given by Mariluz Lugo, director of communications, and Eric Piater, Plant 1 manager, who conducted the tour.

 Barr said the company, a leading international manufacturer of home furnishing products, has grown considerably since it was founded in Weslaco in 1983. The company began as a single assembly line with only 20 associates. Today, WoodCrafters employs more than 1,700 associates and operates eight offices and manufacturing plants in the United States and Mexico. The Weslaco plant remains its largest facility and serves as its corporate headquarters.

 STC representatives on the tour included President Shirley A. Reed, NAAMREI Executive Director Wanda A. Garza and Carlos Margo, regional manager for the STC Institute for Advance Manufacturing. Other guests were Weslaco Economic Development Corp. President David Suarez and Executive Director Hernan Gonzalez, Workforce Solutions President Bonnie Gonzalez and Vice President Mike Willis, and Bob Stewart of TWC.

 Congleton said he was impressed with the WoodCrafters plant and was glad to have the opportunity to learn more about company.

 Following the tour, Congleton visited the STC Mid-Valley Campus to present a $234,629 job skills grant that will benefit WoodCrafters as well as Rio Grande Container. The grant will be used to custom train 212 new and incumbent workers, and is designed to increase workers’ technical skills in advanced manufacturing.

 During the grant presentation at STC, Barr told the audience that WoodCrafters’ vision statement begins with four important words, “development of our people.” He said the purpose of the grant was aligned with his company’s vision and expressed his gratitude to be a part of the grant consortium.

Elizabeth Suarez, transit director for the City of McAllen, speaks at a news conference at the McAllen Metro Bus Terminal on Monday.

McALLEN, Nov. 22 – The City of McAllen has been awarded a $1.9 million federal grant to retrofit three of its McAllen Metro transit buses so that they run on electricity rather than diesel.

The City is providing a local match for the $2.1 million pilot project. The aim is to reduce energy consumption and fuel costs by 80 percent, as well as extend the life of the buses by an additional six years.

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez made the announcement at the McAllen bus terminal on Monday morning. Cuellar said only 46 cities across the nation had received Tigger III grants for the retrofit program and that McAllen was one of only four cities in Texas to benefit.

Also speaking at the news conference was Elizabeth Suarez, transit director for the City of McAllen. Suarez said the retrofitting would begin in early in 2012 and be complete by early 2013. She said the pilot project is a joint partnership with McAllen Economic Development Corporation, South Texas College and Olev Technologies, Inc., of North Reading, Mass. Olev stands for On-Line Electronic Vehicle. It will involve four en-route charging stations constructed along the route where the buses can be charged with electricity.

“It is about improving the environment. We will have a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which means less pollution. It will save us money. We will save about 80 percent of our diesel bill because we will not be using diesel,” Suarez said.

McAllen Metro began operations in 1997 and in its first year an average of ten thousand trips were made on its buses each month. Now, the average is well over 40,000 trips monthly. McAllen Metro’s slogan is ‘Ride Green, Ride Metro.’

Suarez said the pilot project involves partnering with the plan with the pilot project is to convert three buses that are used on the same route. Indeed, she said it would be the highest used route, which is Route 4, which circulates all of the hospitals as well as the Plaza Mall.

“We are looking at tailoring this to make an impact on our transit system. These buses are taking people to work at the hospitals, at the hotels, at the shopping centers, and our passengers that, for instance, that go to dialysis daily or that have family at the hospital or who are going out to do their shopping. We are really looking to see all of the opportunities that transit has on our community,” Suarez said.

Currently, McAllen Metro has 15 buses, of which eight are operating at peak time. Suarez said the three buses will be retrofitted and that the conversion will last for the life of each bus. “This is a really good use of federal dollars because the buses we are converting have already met half of their useful life. So here, we are asking for a chunk of change, we retrofit these buses, we extend their live, the chassis will live another six years. So, we are getting 18 years for a 12 year bus,” she said.

Asked how much it would cost to convert McAllen Metro’s entire fleet of buses, Suarez said about $14 million.

In her interview with the Guardian, Suarez also spoke about the economic impact of having a pilot project in McAllen, not just about the environmental benefits.

“The project is really promoting innovation in the industry. Typically, when projects like this get piloted you have a huge draw from the industry, people coming down to visit the projects, spending nights in our hotels, eating in our restaurants,” Suarez said.

“With this project, we are hoping to be able to look at how transit really does impact economies and why it is important. Transit officials really do believe that for every dollar you invest in transit you draw at least $25 in economic impact. We are hoping to show our elected officials, both locally and federally, that an investment in transit means a long term improvement for our economy.”

Suarez was asked what else she would like to tell the wider Valley public, through the Guardian. She said making the public aware of what public transportation does for a community.

“Public transit gives people a low cost alternative. It is good for the environment. It makes an economic impact. If you think, a dollar invested in public transit goes so much further than a dollar invested in public highways. There comes a point where you can no longer continue to build streets. If you were to imagine a roadway with 40 people in 40 cars and the congestion that causes, compare it to those 40 people on one bus. What is the difference? It makes sense,” Suarez said,

Suarez also said public transit makes less of an impact on a taxpayer’s pocket.

“It is better on your pocket. You are going to go from $50 for gas a week to ten dollars in bus fare for a pass a week.  That is a $40 saving on your pocket. You are not having to pay for car insurance, maintenance. And, on the roadway it is less congestion, less headaches and less pollution to our environment.”

Suarez said that for government officials the challenge is to take into account all of these issues. “It is no longer about making a decision that makes economic sense, but how does it impact quality of life in our community,” she said.

The Guardian concluded its interview with Suarez by asking if other Valley communities could benefit from the advances McAllen was making in public transit and whether the entire region could have an integrated bus service to allow greater mobility for those unable to afford their own vehicles or the cost of filling their vehicles with gas.

“As an optimist in this industry I do believe that the answer is yes. How we get there is a hard decision because it requires a hefty investment that local folks have to make. We know that McAllen is committed to this. They have seen it. They have shown it. The number of local dollars they invest in us has grown significantly over the last ten years. We have worked really hard to show that in our city we are going to do the best that we can with the money that we get. We hope we attract other cities to go into the same venture we have,” Suarez said.

At the check presentation. Back row from left are Teresa Rodriguez, Wanda F. Garza, Dr. William Serrata, Jesse Villarreal, Carlos L. Margo, Monte Churchill, Jose Cruz and Bonnie Gonzalez. Front row from left are Harold Jones, Representative Armando "Mando" Martinez, TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronald Congleton, Mariluz Lugo, Weslaco Mayor Miguel D. Wise, STC President Shirley A. Reed, Samuel Lugo. Not pictured is State Senator Eddie Lucio Jr.

 South Texas College has partnered with two Mid-Valley manufacturing companies to provide job training using a $234,629 Skills Development Fund Grant from the Texas Workforce Commission. The business partners include Rio Grande Container Inc. and Wood Crafters Home Products, LLC.

 “This is a great day for Weslaco and STC. The college is committed to creating jobs, economic development, and one of the strategic directions of the college is to serve as the catalyst for regional economic prosperity and social mobility,” said STC President Shirley A. Reed. “That means bringing jobs to the Mid-Valley and helping you be prepared to take advantage of those jobs so that you can really earn a good living for you and your family, that’s really what South Texas College is all about.

 “We are pulling together all the colleges, universities, public schools, employers, communities and corporations so that this region will lead the entire nation in advanced manufacturing’” she added. “That’s our mission, that’s our commitment, and that’s where the jobs are.”

 On Nov. 10, 2011, TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronald G. Congleton presented a check to South Texas College President Shirley A. Reed and representatives from the partnering companies at a special ceremony at the college’s Mid-Valley Campus in Weslaco.

 “This is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, but it also has an unemployment problem,” said Congleton. “We’re very proud of what you’re doing down here. This grant will help in upgrading 156 current workers and lead to the creation of 56 new jobs. Now that may not sound like a lot, but to those 56 people, that means a world of difference. Having a job means self-respect and dignity. Not having one brings depression and despair. This is the reason that having a job is so important.”

 Several regional dignitaries were in attendance to help celebrate the occasion, which shed the light on the all the positive work taking place in the Rio South Texas Region. 

 “These representatives of both public and private sectors have come together today for an exciting capital investment in our most valuable resource, our human capital, our local residents and citizens,” said Weslaco Mayor Miguel D. Wise. “More important, the investment will provide 212 workers with valuable skills and empower them to make them more productive and competitive.”

 “Leadership is not the ability to tell people what to do, it’s the ability to make people want to do the right thing through example. It’s how you lead your life,” said State Senator Eddie Lucio Jr.  “South Texas College is not only one of the top community colleges in Texas, but one of the very best in the country. This (grant) will be able to help a couple hundred people reach their goals and address their needs. We have an incredible community in the Valley, here in Weslaco, with people who really do care. The grant will go a long way to help us continue to grow.”

 The grant will be used to custom train approximately 212 new and incumbent workers in methodologies aimed at increasing workers technical skills in advanced manufacturing. Those trained will include production crew members, leaders and machine operators.

 “If you look at Wood Crafters’ vision statement, it begins with four words that says, ‘development of our people,’” said Rick Barr, executive vice president of human capital for Wood Crafters. “I think that focus is consistent, and it seems that this program aligns with what our vision is for the company, and that’s to see our people develop, see their families be blessed and prosper, and as a result of that we will see Weslaco and the Rio Grande Valley be a benefactor of that also.”

 Upon completion of the trainings, participants will earn an average hourly wage of approximately $11.75 an hour.

 “What we need here is jobs, and that’s no surprise. We’re working everyday to improve and help people. It’s tough, but we’ve got good people,” said Harold Jones, president and owner of Rio Grande Container. “I love Weslaco and we need to work together to help improve it. We went through World War II, and we made it. We’ve gone through a few more wars, and we made it. And we’re going through an economy that kills everybody, but we’ll make it with talent and hard work.”

 The Skill Development Grant training is coordinated and provided by STC’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing, a NAAMREI affiliate. STC’s IAM is tasked with identifying employer needs for workforce talent development and helping find solutions that keep the regional advanced, manufacturing industry growing. Currently, the Rio South Texas Region in the world leader in advanced, rapid response manufacturing.

 For additional information about STC’s IAM and similar grant-funded or customized training call 956-872-6197 or visit http://manufacturing.southtexascollege.edu/iam.

 The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and the services it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 512-463-8556 or visit www.texasworkforce.org.

Blas Castaneda

EDINBURG, Oct. 24 – One of the great champions of workforce training and economic development along the Texas-Mexico border is leaving Laredo Community College after almost 40 years of service.

However, Blas Castaneda is not retiring. He plans to start a consultancy firm in the New Year with associates in San Antonio, Austin and Washington, D.C. The firm will focus on economic development, workforce training, organizational leadership and governmental affairs.
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“I am retiring from the college but do not rule me out. My work with the community and the border region is not finished,” Castaneda said, in an exclusive interview with the Guardian.

In the interview, Castaneda gave a glimpse of the sort of things he still wants to achieve and the passion he still has to help the region grow.

“We can probably land one or two more assembly plants along the border. We are poised for great things. We have a high caliber workforce. We have the mindset,” he said.

“Just because we live on the border does not mean we cannot have the best level of education, the best level of workforce training, the best level of health care. We have to continue to work together to make sure we get the resources we need. They (state and federal government) never used to give us any money. Now, we see our students recognized at the national level. Imagine with a little bit more money what we could do.”

The news that Castaneda’s work as a tireless advocate for the border region is not coming to an end will delight his legions of friends from Brownsville to El Paso, and Matamoros to Juarez.  A measure of the esteem in which the former migrant worker, educator and grant writer extraordinaire is held was on show last Thursday when University of Texas-Pan American President Robert Nelsen held a reception in his honor.

This reception followed a meeting of the North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Educational Institute’s core leadership team at UTPA. Castaneda has been a key member of the NAAMREI team since its inception. Among those in attendance at the reception were McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez and NAAMREI Executive Officer Wanda Garza.

“I was honored that Dr. Nelsen and NAAMREI had the reception for me,” Castaneda said. “People like Wanda Garza and my friends at NAAMREI treat you like family. You think you are going to do one day’s work with them and you end up doing ten years. And that is OK because when you are treated so well you are really motivated and inspired.”

Castaneda has worked under five presidents at Laredo Community College. He is currently Chief of External Affairs and Economic Development. His other posts have included clerk, teacher’s aide, and faculty member.  Asked to list his greatest achievements, Castaneda said he has been most proud of his work in helping Laredo’s students and business community succeed, his efforts to help rural communities with their economic development needs, and getting border leaders to think and act regionally. He is also pleased to have helped find the resources to bring a number of technological, allied health and learning centers to Webb and Zapata counties.

“I believe every opportunity we can get to help our business and industry we must take. The more successful they are the more job creation is going to happen in our community,” he said.

Asked what changes have had the most impact during his many years at LCC, Castaneda pointed to technological advances.

“Twenty years ago your competitor was across the street. Today your competitor is across the ocean. Due to technology and cost efficiencies we are having to compete with other countries that are trying to take our lunch,” he said.

For many years, Castaneda has chaired the Texas Border Coalition’s workforce training and education committee. This has meant taking the lead in developing a legislative agenda to bring more resources to the border for, among other things, adult basic education. He has also chaired Future of the Region, Inc., otherwise known as FORI. It was through this vehicle that he helped rural communities between Laredo, Corpus Christi, and the Rio Grande Valley secure broadband and other online capabilities.

“With the Texas Border Coalition, it has been important to develop a legislative agenda and take it to Austin and Washington, to ensure the state and federal government learns about our workforce training needs,” Castaneda said.

“TBC’s weekly conference calls have been invaluable. It is difficult sometimes but if you make the effort and you use your time wisely you can do it. I pay tribute to Mayor Richard Cortez, Mayor John David Franz, Mayor John Cook, and (Maverick County) Judge Pepe Aranda.”

In recent years, working with NAAMREI has been a priority for Castaneda. He said it is vital LCC play an active role in the group once he has retired, including having a seat at the core leadership team’s table.

Castaneda said he has been most impressed with the regional partnerships that have developed because of NAAMREI and with the leadership shown by UTPA President Nelsen and his predecessor, Blandina Cardenas.

“It has been leadership by example. This president and the former president sometimes get criticized for what they do but people do not realize this work is not being done to achieve results today. They are doing the work for the next five to 20, 25 years for the region, for the students. It is strategic planning,” Castaneda said.

Castaneda said he has especially enjoyed working on economic development projects with Wanda Garza, who, in addition to being NAAMREI’s chief executive has headed economic development and workforce training for South Texas College. “Wanda is considered the best of the best in Texas. She is a true planner. Within NAAMREI, she has helped everyone. She has not put anyone less than any other,” he said.

Castaneda said he cannot stress enough the importance of border leaders working together for the betterment of the entire region. He said his experience as a former city council member in Laredo has helped in this regard.

“I have sometimes had to tell the elected officials, take your turf hats off and come and sit down and work for the betterment of all the communities. We are not here to promote one city. We are here to promote the entire region,” he said.

That strategy is already paying dividends, he said, citing the “great strides” being made by border universities and community colleges such as UT-El Paso, UT-Brownsville, UTPA, Texas A&M International, LCC, STC, and TSTC.

“This border region is poised to become ten times better than it was ten years ago. You can see it in our colleges. We have a lot of smart young folks who are willing and eager to become doctors, to become engineers, to become nurses, to become welders,” Castaneda said. “Sooner or later, the whole border region is going to be one of the best economic blocs anywhere in the country.”

Blas Castaneda, center, is recognized for his service to the North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative. Presenting him with a plaque are Dr. Robert S. Nelsen, NAAMREI chair, and Wanda Garza, NAAMREI executive officer.

Castaneda, chief external affairs and special projects officer for Laredo Community College, recently announced his retirement after almost 40 years of service to the college.

 Paying tribute to Castaneda were NAAMREI Chair and UTPA President Dr. Robert S. Nelsen, and Wanda Garza of South Texas College, who serves as NAAMREI executive officer.

 “Blas has been a driving force behind the economic transformation of the Rio South Texas region,” Garza said. “He helped foster a collaborative spirit that is attracting global investments and positioning the region as a world leader in logistics and supply chain, and rapid response and advanced manufacturing.”

 Nelsen echoed Garza’s praise of Castaneda and thanked him for his representation of the college and the Laredo community.

 Laredo’s education, government and economic development entities are part of the seven county NAAMREI network, a consortium of more than 60 border partners in business, education, economic development, industry, finance and government. The partners are focused on creating a regional infrastructure for advanced and rapid response manufacturing.

 Castaneda told the group that his work in the Rio South Texas region is not finished. He will become a consultant after retiring from the college and wants to remain active in helping the region grow.

Shown at the NAAMREI Economic Development Forum are, from left, Blas Castaneda, chief external affairs and special projects officer for Laredo Community College; Raudel Garza, Rio South Texas Economic Council executive director; Jack Damron, Region One ESC executive director; Wanda Garza of South Texas College, NAAMREI executive director; Rose Benavidez, Starr County Industrial Foundation president and vice chair of the STC Board of Trustees; Dr. Robert S. Nelsen, president of The University of Texas-Pan American and NAAMREI chair; and Keith Patridge, McAllen Economic Development Corp. president.

Yes, there is a lot of magic in the “Magic Rio Grande Valley.”  And that magic is its people, says Dr. Robert S. Nelsen, president of The University of Texas-Pan American.

 “The magic in the Valley isn’t agriculture. It isn’t the citrus industry,” Nelsen said at an economic development forum for the North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative Core Leadership Team held Oct. 20 at UTPA.

 “It isn’t even manufacturing,” added Nelsen, who serves as NAAMREI chair.

 “The magic in the Valley is its people. It is the individuals who are here,” he said in his presentation, “Using Talent Development as an Economic Development Tool.”

 Nelsen told the audience of economic development, workforce, education and manufacturing leaders that the region needs to take advantage of its young population. With an average age of 25.9, the region has a young, trainable population, he said.

 He also stressed that manufacturing needs to be talked about in terms entrepreneurship and creating new businesses, instead of the previous way of looking at it in terms of Fortune 500 companies.

 Since its inception 10 years ago, NAAMREI has focused on building a talent pipeline that runs through the Rio South Texas region. Developing that talent network was the organization’s first step in creating an advanced manufacturing infrastructure for the seven county border region.

 “Talent and innovation are what drive global competitiveness for advanced manufacturing,” said Wanda Garza of South Texas College, executive director for the NAAMREI consortium. More than 60 private and public sector groups form the NAAMREI alliance, which includes economic development organizations, manufacturers, workforce agencies, public schools, community colleges, universities, and city and county governments.

 “The Rio South Texas region has over 87,000 students in post secondary education,” she added. “Our talent and geographic location provide the region with the competitive advantage.”

 But having a well educated and trained workforce also creates challenges, explained Keith Patridge, president of the McAllen Economic Development Corp.

 “If we have educated and trained people with no jobs, we will lose that talent,” he continued. “For years and years we as a Valley have been a net exporter of talent.”

 Patridge said the solution is to “train them here” and “keep them here” by providing high skilled, high paying jobs in advanced manufacturing.

 “When you look at manufacturing and think of it from an economic standpoint, it is one of the few sectors where they ship money in and products go out. The money stays here,” Patridge said in explaining why NAAMREI leaders chose to focus on advanced manufacturing as a way to transform the region.

 He echoed Nelsen’s comments regarding entrepreneurism saying that the region must develop its entrepreneurial talent and provide training and educational opportunities. Citing an entrepreneurial activity report by the Kaufman Foundation, Patridge said the region ranked “very, very high.”

 Patridge reported that a NAAMREI delegation recently met in Washington, D.C., with leaders from President Barack Obama’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership and the National Institute of Science and Technology. The new AMP initiative, announced in June, is a national effort to bring together industry, universities and the federal government to invest in emerging technologies to create high quality manufacturing jobs and enhance the nation’s global competitiveness.

 Patridge said his delegation felt a need to meet with White House representatives because NAAMREI goals are aligned with the AMP goals.

 “They are looking for something that will transform our economy,” he said, adding that NAAMREI has a head start on what is needed to create manufacturing jobs.

 “We really have an opportunity to lead the country,” Patridge said in referring to NAAMREI’s role in manufacturing. “We have the talent, the skills, the capabilities and, more importantly, the ability to work together to be the leader in the United States of America with this program.” 

 For the past 10 years, Patridge said NAAMREI partners have been setting the stage for public/private collaboration to create the next generation infrastructure for innovative advanced and rapid response manufacturing.

 He defined rapid response as taking an idea to the market place in as short a time and at as low a cost as possible.

 NAAMREI’s next step is to create a world-class research and education park that will be built in McAllen. With the master plan nearing completion, the NAAMREI delegation was able to show the Washington group that Rio South Texas has positioned itself to be a world leader in advanced manufacturing.

 Patridge said the Washington leaders, who were joined by U.S. Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, spent three and a half hours with the NAAMREI team, an indication of their interest in what the delegation had to say.

 “What they saw (about NAAMREI) was extremely important to them,” Patridge said, adding that the Washington group was impressed with NAAMREI’s achievements and future plans.

 “We were the first to come with an answer,” he said, noting that the NAAMREI delegation was able to convey its focus on manufacturing and outline plans for the research and education park.

 The park will be built on 400 acres of private and public land located in south McAllen near the foreign trade zone. It will also be an economic hub that will connect to a network of over 40 industrial parks in the Rio South Texas region.

 Other speakers at the forum were Raudel Garza, Rio South Texas Economic Council executive director; Henry Oh, regional director for the Texas Manufacturing Association Center at UTPA; and Dale Robertson, manager for the Texas Workforce Commission’s business outreach and project development.

 For more information on NAAMREI, call (956) 872-2770, or visit www.naamrei.org.

Increasing production, quality, performance and the bottom line was the objective of a South Texas College-led employer consortium meeting held at the McAllen Economic Development Corporation’s facilities at the end of March. A group of regional partners met with the goal of gaining support for the Credentials to Degrees Program that would provide employees with a career path for advancement in the region’s advanced manufacturing industry.

Eleven companies participated in the consortium meeting where they were presented with the proposed tuition reimbursement program that involved a cohort strategy that would increase employee engagement and performance.

“All of these companies already participate in training programs with the college and it makes sense to work in partnership to bring down costs and increase training all for the sake of improving quality and opportunity,” said STC Institute for Advanced Manufacturing Regional Manager Carlos Margo. “We hope to develop some truly innovative trainings that will benefit all participants.”

STC Executive Officer for the North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative Wanda Garza gave an overview of the initiative, while Margo and STC’s Dean of Business and Technology Mario Reyna discussed the cohort strategy and gave recommendations for four programs of study.

“The best part is that the training programs offer participants the chance to earn certificate and those credits will apply toward associate of applied science degrees,” said Reyna. “When a person who didn’t have college credit is shown they are capable of the work and earned a credit, it can become addictive. We think that given the chance, these employees will excel in ways we never thought possible and their employers and our region will share in their success because they will become assets to growing our business community.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, employers shared their respective tuition reimbursement programs and best practices.

“Each of these players at the meeting is an affiliate member of NAAMREI and have been leaders in workforce training for their employees,” explained Wanda Garza.”But as we continue our work to maintain the Rio South Texas Region’s status as the world leader in advanced manufacturing, we want to push them even further in their commitment to training because only through employee development will we continue to win big contracts and recruit new partner companies to our region.

“NAAMREI is an organization about teamwork and open communication,” concluded Garza. “This forum was another way for us to get employers talking openly and learning from each other. It was a great experience and we look forward to finding new ways to keep the dialogue going between all our consortium partners. These group trainings will benefit not just the employers, but our region as a whole.”