INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc. (“Tech Prep Inc.”) is
the Texas nonprofit and federal 501(c)(3) corporation that leads the Lower
Rio Grande Valley Tech Prep Consortium and the Lower Rio Grande Valley School-to-Careers
Partnership. Tech Prep Inc.’s Board is a regional board, serving Cameron,
Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties. The corporation’s voting members
include 32 independent school districts, 6 colleges and universities, the
Region One Education Service Center, and numerous professional and civic
organizations working together under the leadership of one private-sector-led
board.
In July 1996, Tech Prep Inc., as the School-to-Careers Partnership, assumed
the responsibilities formerly assigned to the Region 21 Quality Workforce
Planning Committee to publish a labor market information report for Cameron,
Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties. Fulfilling this responsibility required Tech
Prep Inc. to analyze local labor market trends and to identify the most probable “best
jobs”–current and emerging–in the Rio Grande Valley. Using
the latest labor market information available from national, international,
state, and local sources, Tech Prep Inc. has published an annual labor market
information report every year since 1996.
The Cross-Border Institute for Regional Development (CBIRD) is a bi-national
collaborative created to serve as a catalyst for regional development in
the southern United States and northern Mexico—and in particular in
the Lower Rio Grande Valley (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties).
CBIRD has a U.S. subsidiary organization, the CBIRD-Texas Regional Action
Council, Inc. (CBIRD-TRAC), that has contracted with Tech Prep Inc. to develop
and implement a Communities Career Ladder program that will bridge the gap
between labor market studies, education and training programs, and the business
community’s actual and predicted needs. This labor market study is
an extension of the work conducted by Tech Prep Inc. in the past and is also
the first component of the CBIRD Communities Career Ladder program.
Reporting about the Lower Rio Grande Valley’s labor market is a challenge,
for the region is undergoing rapid change and is impacted by the economies
of both Texas and Mexico. The region is experiencing rapid economic growth,
and the students, parents and working adults who live here need to understand
labor market changes to prepare well for the future and to experience personal
economic success. The information in this report will provide invaluable
career information for students, parents, and educators and can be used by
public schools and postsecondary institutions for program planning. In addition,
this report is intended to meet the needs of workforce development boards,
chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and other community
leaders, and to support development of a regional Communities Career Ladder
system.
Data from state, local, and national sources was gathered and analyzed
in the preparation of this report. In addition, local employer input
was included
in the report through employer focus groups that met in Brownsville, Harlingen,
McAllen, Raymondville, Rio Grande City, South Padre Island, and Weslaco.
More than 100 employers from various Rio Grande Valley cities participated
in these groups and shared insights about workforce trends and needs. Many
occupations included in the final targeted occupations list in the report
have been included because of local needs identified through the discussions
in these employer focus groups.
It is important to note that employers throughout the Rio Grande Valley
requested that Tech Prep Inc. share with educators, students, and parents
the need
for youngsters to acquire foundational skills such as work ethics, honesty,
integrity, loyalty, willingness to accept responsibility, customer service
and human relations competencies, and critical thinking and problem-solving
skills. Employers stressed that these skills are needed along with academic
excellence, literacy in both English and Spanish, and work-related skills.
Complete notes from the employer focus groups have been included in the
appendix.
The 2002 report provides a listing of targeted occupations and correlates
those occupations with actual programs offered by school districts, colleges,
and other educational service providers. This report may be reviewed or downloaded
through Tech Prep Inc.’s website (http://www.techprepRGV.com), and
a limited number of hard copies of the report are available through Tech
Prep Inc.’s Harlingen office (956/364-4509).
Many organizations and individuals contributed to the preparation of Tech
Prep Inc.’s 2002 Targeting the Future report, beginning with the visionary
leadership provided by the CBIRD-TRAC Board and by Tech Prep Inc’s
Partnerships Committee Co-Chairs, Ed Tamayo and Adrian A. Arriaga, CCIM,
CEA. Tamayo is Executive Vice President of the First Community Bank in Harlingen,
and Arriaga is a real estate broker who owns AAA Real Estate & Investment
in McAllen. Tamayo is immediate past chair of the Tech Prep Inc. Board of
Directors and a member of the Board of Cameron Works, Inc. Arriaga serves
as Vice President of the Tech Prep Inc. Board of Directors, as chair of the
WorkFORCE Solutions Business Advisory Committee, and as a member of the Lower
Rio Grande Valley Development Council.
We gratefully acknowledge the collaboration and support of the Texas Workforce
Commission and two workforce development boards in the preparation of the
2002 report. Workforce development boards have tremendous responsibilities
for serving youth, adult workers, and employers in the Rio Grande Valley,
and these organizations utilize labor market information on a daily basis.
The two workforce boards serving Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties
have collaborated with the Texas Workforce Commission on a community audit
and employer survey providing data that will validate the information contained
in this report. Information about the community audit can be obtained from
either workforce board. The following organizations and individuals provided
invaluable collaboration and support for the preparation of the 2002 labor
market report:
•
Cameron Works, Inc., the workforce development board serving Cameron County–Stella
Garcia, Executive Director, and Gilbert Elizondo, Board Chair
•
WorkFORCE Solutions, the board serving Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties–Carlos
Herrera, President/CEO; Hector (Buddy) De la Rosa, Board Chair; Cuauhtemoc
Roldan, Resource Manager; and Gloria Ramos, Business Development Specialist.
We are also grateful for the collaboration and support of the Lower Rio
Grande Valley Development Council and its Executive Director, Kenneth Jones,
Jr.
This organization is the regional council of governments in which mayors
and other community leaders plan for regional growth and development, and
this group must work with labor market information to plan well.
In addition, we appreciate the collaboration and support provided by the
chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, and professional organizations
that cosponsored employer focus groups for the 2002 report. These organizations
work to attract new businesses to their communities and to meet the needs
of businesses that are situated here. These organizations’ work contributes
to the overall economic well-being and prosperity of the entire Rio Grande
Valley, as well as each local community. Thanks to the following organizations
that cosponsored the employer focus groups this year:
• Brownsville Area Manufacturers’ Association–Hector Quintanilla,
President
•
Brownsville Chamber of Commerce—Frank Feild, CEO
•
Brownsville Economic Development Council–Jason Hilts, President/CEO.
•
Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce–John Crutchfield, President and
CEO, and Nanette Fitch, Director of Economic Development and Liaison for
the Harlingen Manufacturers’ Association
•
McAllen Chamber of Commerce—Steve Ahlenius, President/CEO
•
McAllen Economic Development Corporation–Mike Allen, President/CEO;
Keith Patridge, Executive Vice
President
•
Raymondville Chamber of Commerce–Elma Chavez, CEO
•
Rotary International, Rotary District 5930-Rio Grande City–Samuel Ramos,
President; Billy Canales, Member
•
South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce–Roxanne Harris, President
•
South Texas Community College—The Partnership—Carlos Margo, Training
Manager
•
South Texas Manufacturers’ Association—Jim Welton, Director
•
The Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco–Hernan Gonzalez, Executive
Director
•
Willacy County Industrial Foundation, Inc.–Guy Fambrough, Board Chair
The subcontractors who worked on this report have done an excellent job. These
individuals from the University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg are knowledgeable,
talented, and hard-working individuals, and we gratefully acknowledge their
contributions:
• Roland S. Arriola, Vice President for External Affairs, UTPA
• S. J. Sethi, Ph.D., Associate Executive Director, Office of Center Operations
and Community Services (CoSERVE), UTPA
Tech Prep Inc.’s Partnerships Committee is responsible for overseeing the
preparation of the report, for reviewing the final draft before it is presented
to the Tech Prep Inc. Board—and then to the CBIRD-TRAC Board--for final
approval. We are grateful for the contributions of the many dedicated, talented
individuals who serve on Tech Prep Inc.’s Partnerships Committee:
•
Ed Tamayo, Executive Vice President, First Community Bank, Harlingen, Tech Prep
Inc. Board—Executive Committee; Partnerships Committee Chair
•
Adrian A. Arriaga, CCIM, CEA, Broker/Owner, AAA Real Estate & Investment,
McAllen; Tech Prep Inc.
Board–Vice President; Partnerships Committee Co-Chair
• Rosa G. (Rosie) Cavazos, Program Director, WorkFORCE Solutions (Hidalgo,
Starr,
and Willacy Counties)
•
Francisco Castellanos, Weslaco City Manager—Tech Prep Inc. and WorkFORCE
Solutions Boards
• Guy Fambrough, Chair, Willacy County Industrial Development Corp., Inc.,
Raymondville
(Willacy County)
• Stella Garcia, Executive Director, Cameron Works, Inc. (Cameron County)
• Dominique Halaby, Executive Director, Valley Initiative for Development
and Advancement
(VIDA), Weslaco (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties)
• Jeff Hembree, Deputy Superintendent, South Texas Independent School District,
Mercedes
(Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties)
• Carlos Herrera, President/CEO, WorkFORCE Solutions, Edinburg (Hidalgo
and Willacy
Counties)
• Kenneth N. Jones, Jr., Executive Director, Lower Rio Grande Valley Development
Council, McAllen
(Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties)
•
Maria Nuez Hall, Principal Agent and Personal Financial Advisor, Allstate Insurance
Company, Brownsville—Tech Prep Inc. Board (Cameron County)
•
Manuel Ochoa, Project Director, Motivation, Education and Training, Inc., Edinburg—WorkFORCE
Solutions Board (Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties)
• Keith Patridge, Executive Vice President, McAllen Economic Development
Corp.,
McAllen (Hidalgo County)
•
Hector Quintanilla, President, Brownsville Area Manufacturers’ Association
and Business and Industry Director, the University of Texas at Brownsville and
Texas Southmost College—Cameron Works, Inc., and Tech Prep Inc. Boards
• Cuauhtemoc Roldan, Resource Manager, WorkFORCE Solutions, Edinburg (Hidalgo
and
Willacy Counties)
• Stephen M. Vassberg, Associate Vice President for Workforce and Economic
Development,
Texas State
Technical College, Harlingen, Tech Prep Inc. Board (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr,
and Willacy Counties)
We cannot adequately express our gratitude for the cooperation and contributions
of our working partners in the 32 school districts, 6 colleges and universities,
Region One Education Service Center, the South Texas Career and Technology
Administrators and Supervisors Association, and the numerous other organizations
that are voting
members of Tech Prep Inc. Many of these organizations participated in the regional
focus groups that were held throughout the Valley, and these organizations
will be able to utilize the information in this report in working with students,
parents,
and adult workers throughout the Valley.
Finally, we are inexpressibly grateful for the visionary leadership provided
by the Boards of Directors of Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc., and
CBIRD-TRAC and its Executive Director, Abderrahmane Megateli, Ph.D.:
Tech Prep Inc. Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Cesar Maldonado, P.E., President and Board Chair; Executive Committee Chair
Adrian A. Arriaga, CCIM, CEA, Vice President; Partnerships Committee Co-Chair
Stephen M. Vassberg, Treasurer; Bylaws and Finance Committee Co-Chair
Maria Nuez Hall, Marketing and Awards Committee Co-Chair
Pat Hobbs, Universities and Colleges Committee Chair
Moose Miller, Marketing and Awards Committee Co-Chair
Janice H. Mumford, Professional Development Committee Chair
Sam O. Olivarez, Technology Initiatives Committee Chair
Ed Tamayo, Partnerships Committee Co-Chair
Joe Vasquez, Finance and Bylaws Committee Co-Chair
Perry A. Vaughn, Nominations Committee Chair
Linda Wade, Ph.D., Curriculum/Work-Based Learning Committee Chair Directors
Adrian A. Arriaga, CCIM, CEA, Broker Owner, AAA Real Estate & Investments,
McAllen
Jose Calvillo, Jr., Representative, South Texas Career and Technology Administrators
and Supervisors Association (representing the Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce
Development Board dba WorkFORCE Solutions)
Eduardo A. Campirano, Assistant General Manager and Chief Operations Officer,
Brownsville Public Utilities Board
Francisco Castellanos, City Manager, City of Weslaco (representing the Lower
Rio Grande Valley Workforce Development Board dba WorkFORCE Solutions)
John A. Edwards, Ph.D., Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services,
The University of Texas-Pan American (representing Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez, President)
Marilyn D. Gilbert, Energy Risk Manager, Brownsville Public Utilities Board
Josefa G. (Josie) Guerra, Director of Elementary Education, Rio Grande City
CISD (representing South Texas Workforce Development Board)
Maria Nuez Hall, Principal Agent and Personal Financial Representative, Allstate
Insurance Company (representing Cameron Works, Inc.)
Pat Hobbs, Vice President for Student Learning, Texas State Technical College-Harlingen
(representing Dr. J. Gilbert Leal, President)
Dean LaFever, Director of Rio Grande Valley, Southern Union Gas, Harlingen
Cesar Maldonado, P.E., Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, Assa Abloy
Door Group, Harlingen
Jose G. Martin, Ph.D., Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs; University
of Texas at Brownsville & Texas Southmost College (representing Cameron Works,
Inc.)
Moose Miller, President/CEO, Moose Miller Enterprises, Harlingen
Janice H. Mumford, Community Volunteer (Former Assistant Superintendent for
Curriculum and Instruction, McAllen ISD--retired)
Sam O. Olivarez, President/Owner, Barrera’s Supply Co., Inc., Mission
Hector Quintanilla, Director of Business and Industry, The University of Texas
at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College (representing Cameron Works, Inc.)
Celeste Sanchez, Assistant Superintendent, San Benito CISD (representing Cameron
Works, Inc.)
Jon M. Schill, Vice President/General Manager, RioVision, Inc., Weslaco (representing
the Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Development Board dba WorkFORCE Solutions)
Ed Tamayo, Executive Vice President, First Community Bank, Harlingen
Joe Vasquez, Vice President of Human Resources, Mid Valley Health Systems/Knapp
Medical Center, Weslaco
Stephen M. Vassberg, Associate Vice President for Workforce and Economic Development,
Texas State Technical College, Harlingen
Perry A. Vaughn, Executive Director, Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Associated
General Contractors of America, Inc.
Linda Wade, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools, Harlingen CISD
Frank Williams, Ph.D., Vice President for Instructional Services, South Texas
Community College (representing Dr. Shirley Reed, President)
Antonio Zavaleta, Ph.D., Vice President for External Affairs, The University
of Texas at Brownsville & Texas Southmost College (representing Dr. Juliet
V. Garcia, President)
Associate Members
Rosa G. (Roseie) Cavazos, Project Manager, WorkFORCE Solutions
Charles Champion, Jr., Special Projects Officer, Brownsville Independent School
District - Career and Technology Dept.
Ray Elledge, Division Manager, HINO Energy, a Division of HINO Electric Service
Company
Natalia Guerra, Student, South Texas Community College
Diamantiana Herrera, Area Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction,
McAllen ISD
Chris Martinez, President, Communication Workers of America Local 6229
Scott McVittie, Ph.D., Acting Tech Prep Director, University of Texas at Brownsville
and Texas Southmost College
Arnold Pedraza, Owner, Utility Engineering Specialists, McAllen
Mark Rainey, PHR, Assistant Administrator, Human Resources, McAllen Medical
Center, Edinburg Regional Medical Center, UHS Rehabilitation Pavilion
Hector Rendon, Education Specialist, Region One Education Service Center
Hilario (Larry) Rincones, Associate Director for Service Provider and Resident
Organization, College of Architecture, Center for Housing and Urban Development,
Texas A&M University-College Station; Weslaco
Ron Tupper, M.S., Director, South Texas Center for Rural Public Health, Texas
A&M University Health Science Center
Delia Weaver, Vice President, South Texas Association of Career and Technology
Administrators and Supervisors (representing the Board of the Association)
Lucy G. Ybarra, Career and Technology Education Director, Mission CISD
CBIRD-TRAC Board of Directors
Executive Committee Members/Committee Chairs
John Crutchfield, Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce--President
Frank Feild, Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce—Vice President
Patricia G. (Pat) Bubb, Tech Prep Inc.—Secretary/Treasurer
Patricia Fogarty, Strategic Interfaces, McAllen
J. Gilbert Leal, Ph.D., Texas State Technical College Harlingen
Directors
Apolonio Borrego, Wells Fargo Bank, Brownsville
Gerald Brazier, Ph.D., The University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg
Stella Garcia, Cameron Works, Inc., Brownsville
Jessica Glicken-Turnley, Ph.D., Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque
Jason Hilts, Brownsville Economic Development Corporation, Brownsville
Hiroshi Iwano, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Houston
George Kozmetsky, Ph.D., IC2 Institute, The University of Texas at Austin
Mario Reyna, South Texas Community College, McAllen
German Rico, Port of Brownsville
M. Jordan Scott, RGK Foundation, Austin
Michael West, Texas Department of Economic Development, Austin
Antonio Zavaleta, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost
College
The leadership, ideas, and vision of all of the individuals named above are
represented in the 2002 Targeting the Future report. We are grateful for the
contributions
made by all!
Patricia G. (Pat) Bubb, Executive Director
Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc.
Harlingen, Texas, December 2002