WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
Job Brief

September 2023 ι VOLUME 14 ι ISSUE 7
Podcast card Image of marketing card for Southeast Texas Works! Podcast series.
"Southeast Texas Works!" PODCAST UPDATE
Mayor Roy West, newly elected mayor of the City of Beaumont, was the podcast guest in September and shared a positive and upbeat message about the city. A native of Beaumont, Texas, West enthusiastically explains his stance community involvement, mentoring young students to help improve their academic success, and appreciating the natural resources of the area. He talks about transportation and traffic congestion, issues resolved through working closely with the petrochemical industry, which West describes as the economic engine of Southeast Texas. Listen to Mayor West's episode at this link, https://setworks.org/podcasts/.

The "Level-Up Your College Journey" podcast, also released in September, features the workforce board's new hires, Alexis Miller and Caden Moran. Both are recent graduates of Lamar University Beaumont and prepared to take on community outreach, business and industry communications, and special projects such as grant writing and business forums. Caden talks about flexibility in choosing a degree plan and shares that he changed his major until he found the career that fit. Alexis explains how being involved in college projects lead to her representing Lamar University on ESPN during the 2023 Super Bowl.

Please be sure to listen to these past episodes:

E34: Economic Prosperity and Education in Hardin County

Hardin County Commissioner Chris Kirkendall is the podcast guest. He discusses economic development, commerce, and how Silsbee ISD Career and Technical Education is helping prepare the workforce of the future for in-demand and promising career opportunities.

E37: LIT: Preparing "gold-collar" Workers and the new Nursing Program

Dr. Sidney Valentine, president of Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT), joins the podcast to talk about the college's new Workforce and Allied Health Training Center and nursing program. Dr. Valentine also emphasizes the importance of blue-collar workers, whom he describes as "gold-collar", to the ever-growing industrial sector of Southeast Texas.

E19: ISET discusses Youth Pathways & Women in Industry

Claire Jackson, Social Responsibility and Community Affairs Manager at Motiva and Industry of Southeast Texas (ISET) representative, talks about how ISET works with education and workforce partners to introduce petrochemical careers and pathways to area students. Claire also talks about the Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas Youth Career Expo and ISET's Women in Industry initiative.

The Southeast Texas Works! podcasts are strategically designed to share information and views of business leaders, elected officials, professional educators, workforce board members, and others, on local issues, concerns, and successes. All podcast episodes are available on our website, setworks.org. Subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, and Stitcher podcast providers.

Please contact Pamela Wise and Kevin King at [email protected] for more information.

A World-Class Competitive Workforce for Southeast Texas.