Workforce Solutions named Board of the Year by TVC

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County received the Texas Veterans Commission's Workforce Board of the Year for 2013 at the annual conference, which was held at the Dallas Sheraton Hotel and Convention center on September 20th.  The award was presented for the Board's commitment to assisting our workforce veteran representatives, Tarrant County veterans and their families, and supporting the Texas Veterans Commission mission. Judy McDonald, Executive Director and Sal Adamski, Workforce Improvement Director were on hand to accept this award. Some of the projects that led to this recognition included:

• Connecting our veteran representatives to the Tarrant County Veteran Diversion Program (Veterans Court).
• Hosting the Annual Veterans Appreciation Breakfast.  
• Establishing the Tarrant County Veterans Coalition.
• Coordinating the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Hiring Fai at NAS JRB
• Securing 1,000 vouchers for the Microsoft Elevate America Veterans Initiative through the Microsoft Corporation and the Gulf Coast WDB.
• Coordinating veteran training slots, in cooperation with Tarrant County College's Corporate Services Department, for their Veterans CNC Training program. 

Mark your calendars and please help spread the word for the 2nd Annual 

All of this information can be found on the Job Fair Information Page of our website.

Veterans, Family Member and General Public: 

We invite you to join the Texas Workforce Commission, Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County and our partners for the 2nd Annual statewide Hiring Red, White & You! job fair.

Please pre-register online to expedite your entrance to the event. We will also have onsite registration, but to avoid waiting in line and to maximize your time at the job fair we encourage you to preregister online today!

Employers:

Join the Texas Workforce Commission, Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County and our partners for the 2nd Annual statewide Hiring Red, White & You! job fair, designed to connect you-Texas employers-with Texas veterans and their spouses who can bring valuable experience and discipline to your workplace.

Employer Registration Link:    

Please help spread the word to anyone who is currently looking for employment! We will see you on November 14th! 

GE Transportation (Locomotive and Mining facilities) located near the Texas Motor Speedway has been selected as one of five finalists by the Texas Workforce Commission for the Employer of the Year. The winner of the award will be announced at TWC's annual conference in December. Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County along with Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas coordinated efforts to nominate GE based on the following actions:

• GE's capital investment to the community, which amounted to over $200 million
• The creation of over 400 new jobs and a payroll of approximately $1billion by 2020
• The utilization, and support of the Work In Texas and workforce system
• The use of their subject matter experts (SME's) to develop a skills development grant proposal which was awarded by TWC in the amount of $745,00
• Supplying transportation for their workers to training sites in south Fort Worth and Denton
• Developing a staffing plan, which included 20% staffing with veterans
• Their support of the Board's Career and Technology projects, STEM and the Manufacturing Consortia

The "official" letter from TWC will be in your Items of Interest packet this month.   

Our fall ArlingtonAnswers.com job fair was held on Thursday, September 26, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Church on Rush Creek.  We had 77+ employers and a dozen resource agencies participate in this year's event.  Job Seekers were able to participate in workshops on Interviewing Basics and The Art of Networking as well as resume critiquing.  The City of Arlington Public Library Mobile Unit was also on hand to provide computers for job seeker so they may apply for jobs online and register on www.workintexas.com. Preliminary numbers indicate that we helped over 1,050+ job seekers! It was a great turn out. Thank you again to our partners in this event: The City of Arlington and the Mayor's Office, ArlingtonAnswers and The Church on Rush Creek. While at the Job Fair we ran into former Board Member Wayne Brittingham who was providing career assistance and instruction to job seekers.  We should have results from our survey soon and will be sure to share that and hiring information as it comes in.

From Left to Right: Marty Collier, Judy McDonald, Mayor Robert Cluck, Amber Gosser, Brian McFadden and Carey Morgan . Thank you again to ArlingtonAnswers.com, The Church on Rush Creek and The City of Arlington for partnering with us on such an important event! 

Thank you to all of the employers who participated in the ArlingtonAnswers.com Job Fair.  

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce invite you to the 3rd Annual Connecting Education with Industry Summit at Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD's Hollenstein Career and Technology Center on October 29, 2013 from 8:30a.m to 3:00p.m. 

The event will highlight industry professionals from Healthcare, Logistics and Advanced Manufacturing as they explore career needs for the future. This summit, which focuses on aligning education with the current economy, will also provide an opportunity for educators and industry professionals to partner in the advancement of STEM career paths for our future workforce. 

Keynote speakers for the event include Richard Froeschle, Director of the Labor Market and Career Information with Texas Workforce Commission, Wes Jurey, President and CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and Lt. General Rick Lynch, Executive Director of UTARI (University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute). 

These words filled FACT project staff with pride and amazement as Bruce Davidson, Texas ReEntry Services' (TXRS) Mentor-Navigator, shared this report from a grateful father excited about the positive change in his son's life since his enrollment in the Responsible Fatherhood FACT project.  With a 15-year history of abusing drugs, incarceration, and separation from his children, Mr. James had not worked since 2008.   A 36 year-old father of two boys, he went to Texas ReEntry Services desperately hoping to find work.  He found employment and much more .  . .  Upon learning about all the services available through FACT, he determined to take this opportunity to turn his life around and become the responsible father that had eluded him until now.

Since enrolling in FACT, Mr. James has completed the Couples Seminar at The Parenting Center, Boot Camp provided by Workforce Solutions and Texas ReEntry's Job Readiness Training.  He is currently attending a weekly Nurturing Parent class and is looking forward to CNC training provided by FACT to solidify his career choice.  He has a new attitude on life, is drug free, paying child support, and has regular visits with his children. On Monday, September 30, he moved into a home.  His father drove from Oklahoma to provide Mr. James with a Pick-up truck, stating for the first time in a long time he was comfortable giving his son a vehicle after seeing what a responsible individual he has become in just a few months.  He wanted to also stop by to personally express his appreciation for the difference Project FACT has made in his son's life.

Since FACT program implementation began in March, 2012, 601 participants have completed services, including 192 who successfully found employment, with an average starting salary of $13 per hour.  Service activities assist fathers and other eligible parents reach their goals of economic stability, responsible parenting and healthy relationships.  Other program outcomes include:

• 414 accessed Workforce Solutions employment services
• 219 reported improved relationship and communication skills
• 184 completed job readiness training
• 144 completed financial literacy training

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County was proud to again be part of the latest Distinguished Employers of Fort Worth Teens event. The Fort Worth Chamber celebrated the businesses who have taken part this year at an event on September 4, 2013. Fort Worth Chamber President and CEO, Bill Thornton helped kick off the celebration and Judy McDonald was happy to provide closing remarks. As always it was a wonderful event!

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County was proud to participate in the Arlington Chamber's Tiara Tuesday event at the Ballpark on September 12, 2013. "Tiara Tuesday" is a wonderful opportunity for women and their friends to network and learn about women in the Arlington business community. 

Tiara Tuesday supports the Arlington Chamber Foundation and the annual Women's Alliance Judith Carrier Scholarship. Judy McDonald, Renee Parker and Amber Gosser represented us well.  

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County was also proud to this month be a part of the Arlington Chamber's Annual Awards Dinner. 

Thank you to everyone who attended the Chamber's Annual Dinner and sat at our table: pictured here Board Member Estrus Tucker with Sal Adamski, Workforce Improvement Director. Not pictured: Judy McDonald, Amber Gosser, Judge Whitley and his wife Brenda, Pam Dawson and Bruce Payne. 

At the Arlington Chamber Annual Dinner from Left to Right: Sal Adamski, Judy McDonald, former Board Member Bill Lynch and current Board Member Teresea Madden-Thompson 

Thank you to Board Member, Carlos De La Torre for showing his support at the ArlingtonAnswers.com Job Fair! 

We are very excited to be working with CLC and TCC on the Bringing Ex-offenders Training to Enhance Re-entry (BETTER) Grant. Angela Traiforos, Executive Director of CLC kicked off the celebration and informational meeting at the TCC Opportunity Center on September 13, 2013.

Debby Kratky, Capacity Building and Training Unit Director for Workforce Solutions updated the group on the role of Workforce with the grant. 

 Troy Vaughn, Associate ViceChancellor for Continuing Education Services with TCC discussed the training and services that would be provided in the grant from TCC.