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<strong>2017</strong><br />
Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas<br />
IMPACT REPORT<br />
Serving the Counties of<br />
Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, and McLennan
Vision<br />
A highly valued workforce system that<br />
meets the economic demands of the Heart<br />
of Texas communities.<br />
Mission<br />
To provide a well-trained workforce for<br />
employers in order to ensure the economic<br />
growth of the region.<br />
2 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
Table of Contents<br />
Veterans Employers Job Seekers Child Care<br />
02<br />
04<br />
05<br />
06<br />
Vision and Mission<br />
Message from the<br />
Board Chair & the<br />
Executive Director<br />
Heart of Texas<br />
Workforce Development<br />
Board, Inc.<br />
Local Employers<br />
Honored at Texas<br />
Workforce Conference<br />
08<br />
10<br />
12<br />
14<br />
Priority of Service for<br />
Veterans<br />
Solutions for Employers<br />
Preparing Job Seekers<br />
for Success<br />
Connecting Youth<br />
16<br />
18<br />
20<br />
22<br />
Affordable Quality<br />
Child Care Solutions<br />
Annual Awards of<br />
Excellence<br />
Local Workforce Development<br />
Board Awards<br />
Financial Data<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 3
Message from the Board Chair & the Executive Director<br />
Dear Colleagues and Friends:<br />
It is our pleasure to share with you the <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> for Workforce Solutions for the Heart<br />
of Texas. Our report highlights the work that we are dedicated to and the results that demonstrate<br />
our commitment to the Heart of Texas region.<br />
This year, we served a total of 20,737 job seekers and helped 1,558 employers to find quality<br />
candidates. We ranked 5th in the state among workforce development boards in assisting youth to<br />
gain a credential and we provided child care for 3,056 children.<br />
We are proud of our employers who were recognized at the 21st Annual Texas Workforce<br />
Conference for their dedication to the Heart of Texas region and to the state of Texas. We are also<br />
proud to highlight our own outstanding achievement of winning six of eight TWC Local Workforce<br />
Development Board Awards this year.<br />
Our accomplishments are shared with our partners and sponsors who have supported us throughout<br />
the year. We thank our Chief Elected Officials, Board of Directors, and Committee members for<br />
their visionary leadership and guidance to advance our vision and mission. We also thank the<br />
Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas staff for their daily commitment to provide solutions<br />
for our customers.<br />
We look forward to the year ahead, and are excited about the future and how we will continue to<br />
do great work in the Heart of Texas region. As always, thank you for your continued confidence in<br />
Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas.<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Norman Conner<br />
Board Chair<br />
Heart of Texas Workforce Development Board, Inc.<br />
Anthony Billings<br />
Executive Director<br />
Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas<br />
4 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
Heart of Texas Workforce Development Board, Inc.<br />
Serving the counties of Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone & McLennan<br />
Chief Elected Officials<br />
Judge Justin Lewis<br />
Lead Chief Elected Official<br />
Hill County<br />
Judge Don Pool<br />
Bosque County<br />
Judge Jay Elliott<br />
Falls County<br />
Judge Linda Grant<br />
Freestone County<br />
Judge Daniel Burkeen<br />
Limestone County<br />
Judge Scott Felton<br />
McLennan County<br />
Mayor Kyle Deaver<br />
City of Waco<br />
Board of Directors<br />
Norman Conner<br />
Board Chair<br />
McLennan County<br />
Paige Key<br />
Chair Elect<br />
Bosque County<br />
Alvin Pollard, Sr.<br />
Secretary/Parliamentarian<br />
McLennan County<br />
Shirley Crockett<br />
Treasurer<br />
McLennan County<br />
Keith Stanford<br />
At-Large Member<br />
All Counties<br />
Diane Cowan<br />
Oversight Committee Chair<br />
McLennan County<br />
Teodoro (Ted) Taveras<br />
Past Chair<br />
Limestone County<br />
Linda Calhoun<br />
Bosque County<br />
Wesley Carter<br />
McLennan County<br />
Howard Childs<br />
McLennan County<br />
Clyff Curry<br />
All Counties<br />
Warren Davis<br />
Freestone County<br />
Richard (Ricky) Edison<br />
Hill County<br />
Laura Harborth<br />
Hill County<br />
Thomas Hervey<br />
McLennan County<br />
Robert Humphrey<br />
McLennan County<br />
Bill Hunter<br />
McLennan County<br />
Pam McPeak<br />
McLennan County<br />
Apurva Naik<br />
All Counties<br />
Roy Nash<br />
McLennan County<br />
Willis Reese<br />
Falls County<br />
Leahna Risi<br />
McLennan County<br />
Celia Stem<br />
Falls County<br />
Kathleen (Kathy) Stubbs<br />
Limestone County<br />
Scott Vernon<br />
McLennan County<br />
Sandra Whitlatch<br />
McLennan County<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 5
Local Employers Honored at Texas Workforce Conference<br />
<strong>Impact</strong>ing the Economy and Workforce<br />
At this year’s Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) 21st Annual Workforce Conference, held<br />
November 29 - December 1, <strong>2017</strong> in Dallas, Big Creek Construction, Ltd., Domtar Personal<br />
Care, and Tractor Supply Company all received state recognition. Nominated by Workforce<br />
Solutions, Tractor Supply Company received the Employer Award of Excellence for Workforce<br />
Solutions for the Heart of Texas. The award honors private sector employers that are actively<br />
involved with Texas Workforce Solutions and have made a positive impact on employers,<br />
workers and the community.<br />
Domtar Personal Care (Domtar) was recognized as one of three finalists for the statewide<br />
TWC Large Employer of the Year and Big Creek Construction Ltd.<br />
(Big Creek) was recognized as one of three finalists for the<br />
statewide TWC Small Employer of the Year. Nominated<br />
by Workforce Solutions, both Domtar and Big Creek<br />
were recognized as employers who are valuable<br />
contributors to the Texas workforce system and<br />
who have significantly impacted the economy<br />
and workforce in the Heart of Texas region.<br />
Tractor Supply Company honored as Employer Award of<br />
Excellence<br />
(Pictured from left to right: Julian Alvarez III, TWC Commissioner<br />
Representing Labor, Ashley R. Willis, Tractor Supply Company<br />
MSHRM/HR Specialist, Ruth Hughs, TWC Commissioner Representing<br />
Employers, and Andres Alcantar, TWC Chairman and Commissioner Representing<br />
the Public)<br />
6 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
Big Creek Construction, Ltd. honored as a <strong>2017</strong><br />
Small Employer of the Year Finalist<br />
(Pictured left to right: Teresa Roper, HR Manager,<br />
Chris Wolfe, Chief Financial Officer, Michele<br />
Brown, HR Orientation Administrator, Kevin<br />
Whitmire, Recruiter, Big Creek Construction, Ltd.)<br />
Domtar Personal Care honored as a <strong>2017</strong><br />
Large Employer of the Year Finalist<br />
(Pictured left to right: Billy Porter, Manufacturing<br />
Manager, Eric Brown, Supply Chain Manager,<br />
Richard Furnace, Finance Manager, Carmen Rodriguez,<br />
Quality Manager, Ruth R. Hughs, TWC<br />
Commissioner Representing Employers, Scott<br />
Vernon, Human Resources Manager, Clay Hood,<br />
Plant Manager, Lisa Pablo, Engineering Manager,<br />
Luke Foit, Reliability Manager, Julian Alvarez III,<br />
TWC Commissioner Representing Labor, and Andres<br />
Alcantar, TWC Chairman and Commissioner<br />
Representing the Public)<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 7
4 1,683<br />
Total Veterans Served<br />
8 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
Priority of Service for Veterans<br />
Providing Direct Connections to Employment<br />
Providing priority of service for veterans is a<br />
Workforce Solutions priority. We are dedicated to helping<br />
veterans and their spouses effectively transition into the<br />
civilian workforce. This year, Workforce Solutions served<br />
1,683 veterans, of which 328 were disabled veterans.<br />
328<br />
Disabled Veterans<br />
Served<br />
Employers recognize the skills and talents that veterans<br />
bring to the workforce; thus, it is Workforce Solutions’<br />
goal to directly connect veterans to hiring employers.<br />
Throughout the year, 315 veterans attended Workforce<br />
Solutions Job Fairs and Hiring Events.<br />
Two job fairs were specifically held for veterans and their<br />
spouses in <strong>2017</strong>. In May, the Veterans Job Fair was held<br />
in partnership with the Texas Veterans Commission. In<br />
November, the annual Hiring Red, White & You! Veterans<br />
Job Fair was held in partnership with the Texas Workforce<br />
Commission, the Texas Medical Center, and the Texas<br />
Veterans Commission and connected 81 veterans to<br />
hiring employers. As a result, 144 veterans were directly<br />
connected to 78 hiring employers.<br />
Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas aided veterans<br />
to achieve median earnings of $6,064 per quarter by<br />
providing services such as job search techniques, resume<br />
assistance, direct job referrals, and through effective<br />
partnerships.<br />
$6,064<br />
Veteran Median<br />
Earnings per Quarter<br />
315<br />
Veterans Attended<br />
Job Fairs<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 9
Solutions for Employers<br />
That Meet Workforce Needs<br />
Providing solutions for employers to meet their workforce needs<br />
is a goal of Workforce Solutions. This year, through our Business<br />
Services efforts, we served 1,558 employers in the Heart of Texas<br />
region.<br />
Workforce Solutions provided services that included:<br />
• Performing employer site recruitment<br />
1,516<br />
Employers Receiving<br />
Specific Assistance<br />
Services<br />
• Providing specialized testing to job seekers on behalf of<br />
employers<br />
• Conducting Rapid Response services for employers to assist<br />
affected workers transition into the future<br />
• Providing employer meeting and interview space to<br />
conduct on-site interviews<br />
• Assisting employers to post job openings that attract<br />
qualified candidates<br />
Ranked<br />
10 th<br />
In the State for<br />
Total Employers Served<br />
• Providing quality candidate referrals to employers<br />
• Offering subsidized employment to aid employers to build<br />
a talented workforce<br />
Our dedication to assist employers to help find, develop, train, and<br />
retain a quality workforce resulted in Workforce Solutions providing<br />
384 job fairs and hiring events in <strong>2017</strong> to directly connect hiring<br />
employers to quality job seekers.<br />
384<br />
Job Fairs &<br />
Hiring Events<br />
held for Employers<br />
As a result, we provided 1,516 employers with specific employer<br />
assistance services and Workforce Solutions ranked 10th in the state<br />
among workforce development boards for Total Employers Served.<br />
10 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
1,558<br />
Total Employers Served<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 11
20,737<br />
Total Job Seekers Served<br />
12 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas<br />
12 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
Preparing Job Seekers for Success<br />
To Find and Retain Employment<br />
Preparing job seekers for successful employment<br />
is part of Workforce Solutions’ mission of providing a<br />
well-trained workforce. We take pride in helping job<br />
seekers find and retain employment and in aiding them to<br />
successfully transition into the workforce.<br />
19,870<br />
Job Seekers receiving<br />
Employment Services<br />
This year, Workforce Solutions served 20,737 job seekers.<br />
Among those who received workforce services included:<br />
• 6,627 Unemployment Insurance Claimants<br />
• 1,683 Veterans<br />
• 1,392 Welfare Recipients<br />
• 660 Ex-Offenders<br />
Job Seekers who received employment services in <strong>2017</strong><br />
totaled 19,870 and 83% of customers who completed a<br />
Workforce employment service were either employed or<br />
enrolled in college one year after completing a service.<br />
83%<br />
Of Customers Served<br />
are Employed/Enrolled<br />
in College 1 year after<br />
Completing Services<br />
4<br />
Responding rapidly to workers who are laid off is critical<br />
to their future workforce success. This year, Workforce<br />
Solutions helped place 2,445 Unemployment Insurance<br />
Claimants into employment within 10 weeks.<br />
Critical to job seekers' success is providing direct<br />
connections to employers. This year, Workforce Solutions<br />
held 384 job fairs and hiring events where 2,355 job seekers<br />
gained direct access to hiring employers.<br />
6,627<br />
Total Unemployment<br />
Insurance Claimants<br />
Served<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 13
164<br />
Total Youth Served<br />
14 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas<br />
14 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
Connecting Youth<br />
To Careers and Education<br />
C onnecting youth to careers and education is essential to help<br />
them become successful in finding and retaining employment<br />
and to gain the skills needed to meet employer needs.<br />
Through Workforce Solutions’ Youth Services, Workforce<br />
Solutions provided services to 164 youth in <strong>2017</strong> of which 117<br />
were out-of-school youth. Through our efforts:<br />
Ranked<br />
5 th<br />
In the State for helping<br />
Youth gain a Credential<br />
• 86% of Youth were employed or enrolled in college<br />
one year after completing services<br />
• 80% of Youth gained a credential after completing<br />
services<br />
• 65 Youth gained work experience of which 24 were<br />
Vocational Rehabilitation Services youth participants<br />
Workforce Solutions is dedicated to help youth obtain the<br />
credentials needed for future workforce success. As a result,<br />
Workforce Solutions ranked 5th in the state among workforce<br />
development boards for helping youth to gain a credential.<br />
By providing youth services that included tutoring, job readiness<br />
skills, soft skills such as professionalism and timekeeping, and<br />
financial literacy education, Workforce Solutions provided<br />
results to careers and education for youth.<br />
86%<br />
Of Youth Served are<br />
Employed or Enrolled<br />
in College 1 year after<br />
Completing Services<br />
65<br />
Youth gained<br />
Work Experience<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 15
Affordable Quality Child Care Solutions<br />
For Children, Families, & Early Childhood Workforce<br />
1,518<br />
Teachers & Administrators<br />
Trained<br />
Workforce Solutions Child Care Services (CCS) is a dualgeneration<br />
program that supports the health, safety and<br />
education of children and the economic stability of low-income<br />
families. This year, Workforce Solutions provided access to<br />
affordable, high-quality child care for 3,056 children.<br />
163<br />
Teachers Received<br />
Mentoring or Technical<br />
Assistance<br />
22%<br />
Increase in the Number<br />
of Children enrolled in a<br />
TRS Certified Program<br />
Workforce Solutions CCS supports the Early Childhood<br />
Workforce by providing mentoring, scholarships, training,<br />
curriculum and materials to child care teachers and directors.<br />
These quality improvement activities benefit all children<br />
enrolled in early childhood programs, not just those receiving<br />
a subsidy.<br />
Through our support, 1,518 teachers and administrators<br />
received training and 163 teachers received mentoring or<br />
technical assistance.<br />
The Texas Rising Star quality-rating program is a way of<br />
assessing, improving, and communicating the level of quality<br />
in early childhood programs. Through well-planned and<br />
comprehensive quality improvement activities, the CCS<br />
program increased the number of TRS Providers in the region<br />
to 29. The result is a 22% increase in the number of CCS children<br />
participating in a TRS quality-rated program.<br />
16 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas<br />
16 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
3,056<br />
Total Children Served<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 17<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 17
Annual Awards of Excellence<br />
Honoring Exceptional Businesses and Individuals<br />
Recognizing the exceptional commitment, hard work and dedication of businesses and individuals<br />
who add value to our region is important to Workforce Solutions for the Heart of<br />
Texas. We honor those that have both contributed and benefited from the service provided<br />
by our organization.<br />
During the 19th Annual Awards of Excellence Banquet, held January 19,<br />
<strong>2017</strong>, Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas honored exceptional<br />
businesses and individuals in the Heart of Texas<br />
region who have supported economic growth and<br />
collaborated with Workforce Solutions to benefit<br />
our workforce region.<br />
Among the award recipients honored were:<br />
Ms. Sherrie Sanchez, who received the<br />
Honorable Elenor Holmes Service to<br />
Community Award; the Greater Waco<br />
Chamber of Commerce, who received<br />
the Partner of the Year Award; Domtar<br />
Personal Care, who received the<br />
Employer of the Year Award; and Little<br />
Cougar, Inc. who received the Outstanding<br />
Child Care Provider Award.<br />
Sherrie Sanchez, Honorable Elenor Holmes Service to<br />
Community Award Recipient (pictured with Past Board<br />
Chair, Teodoro (Ted) Taveras)<br />
18 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, Partner<br />
of the Year (pictured above)<br />
Domtar Personal Care, Employer of the Year<br />
(pictured top right)<br />
Little Cougar, Inc., Outstanding Child Care Provider<br />
of the Year (pictured bottom right)<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 19
Local Workforce Development Board Awards<br />
An Outstanding Achievement<br />
This year, at the 21st Annual Texas Workforce Conference, Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas<br />
won six of eight Local Workforce Development Board awards. The awards recognize a Board’s work<br />
in responding to the needs of employers through skills training, job search assistance, and other workforce<br />
support services.<br />
Workforce Solutions was the recipient of the:<br />
• Service to Business Award which demonstrated our innovative approach to meeting employer<br />
needs through employer assessments and testing<br />
• Service to Workers Award which demonstrated our commitment to Texas workers by significantly<br />
improving services for early educators employed at Texas Rising Star facilities<br />
• Industry Sector Outreach Award which highlighted our efforts<br />
that had a positive impact in helping employers address workforce<br />
shortages in the Manufacturing Industry<br />
• Youth Inspiration & Career Awareness Award which<br />
focused on supporting career awareness and exploration<br />
through our YES! Expo initiative<br />
• Texas HireAbility Award which demonstrated our<br />
efforts in promoting employment opportunities for<br />
Texans with disabilities<br />
• Texas Rising Star Award which highlighted our commitment<br />
to improving quality child care through evidence-based<br />
training and relationship-based mentoring<br />
for early childhood professionals<br />
(Pictured on the left: Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas Board Awards)<br />
20 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
Texas Workforce Commission’s 21 st Annual<br />
Workforce Conference<br />
(Pictured Front Row, left to right: Board Members<br />
- Willis Reese, Shirley Crockett, Diane Cowan,<br />
Keith Stanford, Alvin Pollard<br />
Back Row, left to right: Board Staff - Eunice Williams<br />
& Julie Talbert, Executive Director Anthony<br />
Billings, Board Chair Norman Conner, Board<br />
Member Scott Vernon, Board Staff - Kary Kuecker<br />
& José Palacios)<br />
Texas Workforce Commission’s 21 st Annual<br />
Workforce Conference<br />
(Pictured left to right: Front Row, left to right:<br />
TWC Commissioner Julian Alvarez III, Board<br />
Member Shirley Crockett, Board Staff Julie Talbert,<br />
Board Member Linda Calhoun, TWC Commissioner<br />
Ruth R. Hughs.<br />
Back Row, left to right: Executive Director Anthony<br />
Billings, Board Members Clyff Curry &<br />
Diane Cowan, TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar,<br />
Board Member Keith Stanford)<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 21
Financial Data<br />
Fiscal Year 2016-<strong>2017</strong><br />
Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas is funded by federal and state funds, and through private<br />
grants. In Fiscal Year 2016-<strong>2017</strong>, Workforce Solutions administered $12,316,044 in program funds.<br />
Employment Services<br />
& Other<br />
$390,363<br />
Supplemental Nutrition<br />
Assistance Program<br />
$266,096<br />
Total Funding<br />
$12,316,044<br />
Child Care<br />
$8,422,177<br />
Temporary Assistance<br />
for Needy Families<br />
$1,157,420<br />
Workforce Innovation &<br />
Opportunity Act<br />
$2,079,988<br />
22 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
Heart of Texas Workforce<br />
Development Board, Inc. Board Staff<br />
Anthony Billings<br />
Executive Director<br />
Aquanetta Brobston<br />
Quality Assurance Coordinator/Equal Opportunity Officer/<br />
504 Coordinator<br />
René Clayton<br />
Manager of Industry & Community Initiatives<br />
Rochelle Goodnight<br />
Executive Secretary<br />
Lilian Signey- Hall<br />
Project Support Specialist<br />
Judy Hedge<br />
Administrative Support Specialist<br />
Sugey Jaimes<br />
Project Support Specialist<br />
Kary Kuecker<br />
Contract Manager of Workforce Centers & WIOA Youth<br />
Vicki Meek<br />
Budget & Contract Officer<br />
José Palacios<br />
Project Manager<br />
Julie Talbert<br />
Child Care Manager<br />
Eunice Williams<br />
Director of Strategic Planning<br />
<strong>2017</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 23
Connect with us<br />
#hotworkforce<br />
www.hotworkforce.com<br />
Administrative Offices<br />
801 Washington Avenue, Suite 700, Waco, TX 76701<br />
P: (254) 296-5300 F: (254) 753-3173<br />
The Heart of Texas Workforce Board, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer/programs and auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to include individuals with<br />
disabilities. TTY/TDD via RELAY Texas service at 711 or (TDD) 1-800-735-2989 / 1-800-735-2988 (voice).<br />
24 Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas
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