Mr. Asa Jessee

I have enjoyed my time serving as Chair of the Texoma Workforce Development Board. As I enter my final year as Board Chair, I would like to express what an honor it has been to work with a high performing organization such as Workforce Solutions Texoma. I am proud to be associated with an organization so well respected throughout the state by the Texas Workforce Commission, and other Workforce Development Boards. During my time as Board Chair, our national, state, and local economies have faced some of the biggest challenges in decades - impacting workers and the job market. Despite these challenges, I believe our region’s future looks bright. The staff at Workforce Solutions Texoma have proven their ability to identify regional challenges, build strategic alliances, and develop innovative solutions. These are the qualities necessary to work in partnership with local elected officials, economic developers, community leaders and employers to develop the strategies needed to continue to move our region forward.

KTEN Television

Ms Janie Bates

Economic downturns often increase interest in training and heighten awareness of its cost. While many adults have a negative image of vocational education, based on mistaken assumptions about the labor market, they have a very positive reaction to its foundational elements; a focus on career preparation, relevant skills, challenging careers, good-paying jobs, and college. Since the late 90’s, the fastest-growing high-skill, high-wage technical occupations require an associate's degree or certificate. Texoma's manufacturers have begun an initiative to educate students and parents about the viability of manufacturing careers; and to provide scholarships and internships to local high school students, with employment after completion. Workforce Solutions Texoma continuously researches hiring trends and emerging occupations to offer training scholarships in targeted associate degree and certificate programs. These scholarships have helped many youth, adults, and those who have been laid off, start new careers; and have helped Workforce Solutions Texoma meet the goal of providing greater employment and training solutions to our residents.

Workforce Solutions Texoma

Texoma Workforce Development Board Members

Chief Elected Officials The Honorable Drue Bynum Grayson County Judge Lead Chief Elected Official The Honorable Creta Carter II Fannin County Judge The Honorable John Roane Cooke County Judge The Honorable Bill Magers Mayor, City of Sherman

Asa Jessee - Chair KTEN Television

Debbie Eldredge Sherman Housing Authority

Linda Horton Early Childhood Consortium

Larry Adams Sign Warehouse

Lois Essenburg American Bank of Texas

Dee Lough Associated Travel

Alvin Bailey Denison Public Library

Mark Ewig CWA Union

Joyce McGehee Fannin Literacy Council

Elbert Bell HHSC

Sharon Felderhoff Muenster Milling

Brenda Parks DARS

Lea Ann Blain Voluntary Purch. Group

Gil Glover Trailblazer Health Ent,

Nila Patel Hampton Inn / Comfort Suites

Rodney Brent McCraw Oil / Kwik Chek

Janet Gott Grayson College

Kent Sharp Gainesville Econ. Dev. Corp.

Carol Brownlee Caterpillar

Obie Greenleaf NAACP

Dean Spence Enhanced Powder Coating

Sam Ciani Texas Instruments, Inc.

Jeanie Hardin Grayson College

Mark Taylor Grayson College

Sonny Cruse Bonham ISD

Kathryn Hicks Koch Sales

Candy VanSant Texoma Medical Center

Mike DeLong Sherman Boys & Girls Club

Keith Hoedebeck Spindletop Production

Earl Woolbright Texas Workforce Comm.

Texoma Workforce Centers

From October 1, 2010 September 30, 2011, to

the three

received visits. 62,809

employers.

1,811

Workforce Solutions Texoma

provided employment related assistance to

job seekers.

18,370

Workforce Solutions Texoma

provided employment related assistance to

entered employment. 8,557 Of those,

basic services The cost to provide

was

per Job Seeker.

$17.16

Job Seekers Bringing and

together

were filled. Job Openings

2,880

employers

Job Seekers

Cooke, Fannin and

received assistance. training

222

Grayson County

Unemployment Insurance laid off workers receiving

were employed

within

1,693

5,065

10 weeks of filing for benefits.

invested Workforce Solutions Texoma

targeted youth.

160

in the area’s future providing services including

work experience and training to

work Workforce Solutions Texoma helped parents

for an average of

child care assistance

676 children per day.

stay in school and

by providing

employment services Workforce Solutions Texoma was proud to provide

1,823

Veterans.

to

In 2011 the Texas Workforce Commission targeted the percentage of Child Care dollars spent by each Board for administrative and operational costs.

Workforce Solutions Texoma was proud to receive a $50,000 Award for having the Lowest Percentage.

Denison Industries, a world leader in Aluminum Castings, has long been an excellent partner in workforce development efforts in the Texoma Region. Serving the Aerospace, Automotive, Commercial and Defense Industries, Denison Industries has made a reputation of creating castings that eliminate the need for assembling multiple parts by casting them together as one. They are also known as a foundry that can do things no one else can.

Denison Industries has participated in the Business Education for Teachers Program the Real Life Math program, and the Texas Back-to-Work Program.

In short, whenever Workforce Solutions, or the Texoma Regional Consortium, has a need, Denison Industries says yes.

Cooke County

Unemployment in Cooke County began the Program Year at 5.9% and ended at 5.4%. The lowest point was April, 2011, when the Unemployment Rate dropped to 5.2%. During the same period, the Civilian Labor Force grew 4.1% from 22,618 to 23,541.

Fannin County

Unemployment in Fannin County began the Program Year at 9.2% and ended at 10.1%. The lowest point was October, 2010, when it was at 9.2%, the highest was June, 2011 at 10.7%. During the same period, the Civilian Labor Force declined 0.9% from 13,960 to 13,830.

Grayson County

Unemployment in Grayson County began the Program Year at 8.2% and ended at 8.3%. The lowest point was April, 2011, when it dropped to 7.9%. During the same period, the Civilian Labor Force grew 2.2% from 57,953 to 59,214.

The Civilian Labor Force grew from October 2010 – September 2011 for the US, Texas, and Texoma. Texoma saw absolute growth of 2,054 workers to a total of 96,585.

Texoma’s growth rate at 2.17% was higher than the state and the nation.

Unemployment for the Texoma Workforce Development Area was relatively unchanged during the period. The Area started at 7.8% and ended at 7.9%.

The lowest point for the Area was April, 2011, when the rate dropped to 7.5%.

Throughout the year, the area remained below the national rate.

Occupational Title Texoma Mean Wage Texas Mean Wage

General and Operations Managers $43.66 $53.62

Accountants and Auditors $29.05 $33.71

Teachers $22.77 $24.94

Registered Nurses $29.54 $32.49

Medical/Clinical Lab Technicians $19.14 $16.58

Pharmacy Technicians $14.59 $14.87

Licensed Vocational Nurses $20.58 $20.32

Dental Assistants $14.15 $15.17

Medical Assistants $14.15 $13.38

Executive Secretaries and Admin Assistants $21.48 $22.84

Op. Engineers. and other Const. Eq. Operators $16.38 $17.33

Electricians $17.59 $20.84

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $20.72 $21.19

Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrig. Mechanics $18.82 $19.15

Industrial Machinery Mechanics $18.69 $22.67

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers $22.23 $22.69

Machinists $18.72 $18.71

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $17.09 $18.05

Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer $16.66 $17.89

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $12.50 $13.45

In 2010, the Texas Workforce Commission began administering a program developed by Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst called Texas Back to Work. The program provided an incentive for companies to hire certain Texans who were receiving unemployment insurance benefits. Between October 1, 2010, and September 30, 2011, Workforce Solutions Texoma helped 242 Texans with this project.

Texas Back to Work

Youth Summer Employment

In the summer of 2011, Workforce Solutions Texoma utilized funds from the Texas Back to Work project, and from the Administration of Children and Family to provide a Summer Employment Program for youth. This project was coordinated at the request of the Texas Workforce Commission. The project provided employment opportunities for 213 young people in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson Counties.

Terrence Steele

Mr. Steele began his career with the Texoma Workforce Development Board in 1999, as Technology manager. He currently serves as Director of Technology Systems. In this position, he oversees all technology for the Board, and the three Workforce Centers. Mr. Steele has presented at statewide conferences on technology, and has served on several statewide technology-related workgroups. He is involved in the community having served on numerous non-profit boards, and served two terms on the Sherman City Council.

Celebrates 10 Years