Building a robust and strong workforce pipeline is vital for any community to be globally competitive, and this is especially true for San Antonio. With businesses like Valero, NuStar Energy, HEB, and Toyota in San Antonio, the future of our workforce is top-of-mind for CEOs across our community and nation. Last Wednesday, members of the LSA 42 Class explored just a small number of the programs and partners who help to ensure students and adults have access to robust workforce programs in our community.
Hosted by San Antonio College, the team started with a focus on the employee perspective. LSA members listened to a global analysis of the workforce system by Diane Rath, President of the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG). Following this overview, members were provided perspective from current Alamo Academies students on programming available in our K-12 system in partnership with the Alamo Community Colleges. Students at the Academies are able to attend college classes during the morning of each school day while continuing to attend their “home’ campus in the afternoon. The five industry areas of focus for the Academies include Aerospace, Information Technology, Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing, and Heavy Equipment.
Next on the agenda was a site visit of Mission Solar and listening session with SA Works Board Co-Chair and LSA Alum Kate Rogers who described how business and industry is working to better engage with the PK-20 system. Members were able to participate in a round-robin style tour and listening session. During her remarks, Rogers commented on the multiple ways employers, like those represented in the class, can become engaged in work-based learning opportunities for students in High School or College.
This lead-in was perfect to begin the afternoon sessions where the focus then turned to the employer perspective. Moderated by SA Works Executive Director and LSA Alum Romanita Matta-Barrera, a panel of employers was assembled, representing the automotive, tech and manufacturing industries. Panelists included: April Ancira, Ancira Auto Group, David Heard, TechBloc and Michael Kiolbassa, Kiolbassa Provision Co. During the discussion, panelists remarked on the importance of essential skills/life skills and the apparent gap in this training. Additionally, employers stressed the need for training institutions to become more nimble in their delivery systems in order to accommodate incumbent worker training so as not to lose current workers who may want to upskill for potential employment growth and promotion within their companies.
Ending the day, the class was fortunate to hear from former Texas Secretary of State, current VIA Metropolitan Transit Chair, and LSA Alum Hope Andrade who provided remarks on leadership and the importance of civic engagement. “With each job I have ever done, I have always asked, “What else can I do? Who can I help to make my community better and stronger than it was before,” said Andrade. She encouraged LSA members to use this year to identify an area of focus and civic engagement they can partake in once they have completed their LSA year.
For more information on LSA, please visit www.leadershipsa.org; SA Works, please visit www.sanantonioworks.org; and the Alamo Academies, please visit www.alamoacademies.com.
