On Wednesday, Aug. 12, The Texas Tribune and The Waco Bridge convened higher education leaders, employers, industry partners and civic stakeholders from around the state for a daylong symposium focused on how Texas is building the systems, partnerships and programs to develop its workforce for the economy ahead, and what it will take to close the gaps.
Held at Texas State Technical College’s new Construction Technologies Center in Waco, the event featured a keynote presentation from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas on how current trends are shaping the state’s labor market, along with panels examining the rapidly evolving needs of Texas employers, how HB 8 and other policies are reshaping the K-12-to-workforce pipeline, a spotlight on the workforce partnerships driving outcomes in Central Texas, and a look ahead at the policy and investments needed from the 2027 Texas Legislature and beyond.
Keynote presentation on the State of the Texas workforce
Roberto Coronado, senior vice president and senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, opened the symposium with a 20-minute keynote presentation on the state of the Texas workforce. Coronado focused on the conditions of Texas’ labor market and the implications of current trends for workers.
Download the Dallas Fed presentation.
What Texas employers actually need
The morning’s first panel brought together business, education and career pathways on AI’s impact on job requirements, skills gaps and what industry needs from its academic partners. Featured speakers included Hope Cotner, president and CEO, Center for Occupational Research and Development; Laolu Davies-Yemitan, founder and principal of Five Woods Realty and board member of Houston City College; and Justin Yancy, president, Texas Business Leadership Council. The Tribune’s economy and industry reporter, Paul Cobler, served as moderator.
Building the pipeline: K-12 through credential
The Texas Tribune’s education pathways reporter Sneha Dey moderated a panel focusing on the policy and practice behind dual enrollment, career academies and short-term credentials. Panelists Laura Marmolejo, dean, advanced manufacturing and engineering technology at Austin Community College and Mary Lynn Pruneda, director of education and workforce policy at Texas 2036 also discussed how HB 8 is reshaping the K-12-to-workforce pipeline across the state.
The workforce in Waco — Hosted by the Waco Bridge
Symposium co-host The Waco Bridge convened a panel spotlighting the partnerships, programs and models driving workforce outcomes in Central Texas, with consideration of how other Texas communities can learn from successes and challenges. The panel, moderated by Waco Bridge Editor-in-Chief J.B. Smith, included Jessica Attas, CEO of Prosper Waco; Michael Reeser, chancellor and CEO of the Texas State Technical College System; and Rick Tullis, business and workforce leader, unopposed candidate for McLennan County Judge.
Policy, investment and what comes next
Following an interactive session engaging attendees on what’s working in Texas and priorities for the years ahead, the day’s closing conversation focused on the policy changes, funding tools and leadership required to make Texas’ workforce vision a reality. Moderated by Texas Tribune Editor-in-Chief Matthew Watkins, the panel featured Priscilla Camacho, chief legislative, industry and external relations officer, Alamo Colleges District; State Rep. Pat Curry, R-Waco; John Hryhorchuk, senior vice president of policy and advocacy at Texas 2036; and Lauren Willis, head of state and local communications for BlackRock and lead on BlackRock Future Builders $30 million philanthropic investment in Texas.
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