Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas board members initiated the first steps of Strategic Planning
process during the December 8th 2020 meeting with a presentation from the chief strategist, Stan Odenthal,
The Odenthal Group LLC. Each workforce board is required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (WIOA) to develop a comprehensive plan identifying local workforce activities and goals to support
sustained economic growth of the region and economic self-sufficiency of individuals in the community.
As a preliminary to the session, Board members answered survey questions provided by The Odenthal Group.
Several areas were identified as critical to workforce development in Jefferson, Orange, and Hardin counties:
- Improve the development, implementation, and delivery of workforce services to employers
and businesses
- Ensure alignment between secondary education, postsecondary education, and
industry to provide our workforce area with a pipeline of quality future workers
- Ensure all existing resources are invested wisely and are efficiently expended;
and generate new resources to support mission and goals
Other goals identified include system alignment, program performance improvement and
strengthening relationships with industry, business, and education to effectively leverage resources.
Key stakeholders for all Southeast Texas industries have been identified and invited to
attend virtual planning sessions facilitated by The Odenthal Group in early January 2021 to help
further define the board's 2021-2024 strategic plan. Industries identified include petrochemical
and manufacturing, healthcare and medical, education and training, and business
(retail, restaurants, entertainment, and financial institutions).
"We invite our local business and industry leaders to join our planning sessions, provide
valuable local wisdom and help shape Southeast Texas' approach to sustained economic recovery
and effective workforce development", stated Marilyn Smith, executive director.
Please contact our Business Solutions representatives at
business@setworks.org
for planning session participation. Group sizes are limited.
