On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, leaders and professionals from across Texas gathered in Corpus Christi for the 28th Annual Texas Workforce Conference, an event dedicated to strengthening the state’s workforce, advancing best practices, and encouraging collaboration among business, education, and workforce partners. This year’s theme, “The Journey Ahead,” captured a statewide system preparing for rapid economic, technological, and demographic change.
Juliet Stipeche, Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Workforce Board, joined colleagues from across the state to exchange ideas and explore innovative approaches to workforce development.
The Gulf Coast region was strongly represented, including Chair Mark Guthrie and Board Members Dr. Bobbie Henderson, Joyce Johnson, Mou Sarkar, Bin Yu, Cheryl Guido, and Susan Lindsey.
During the Commissioner Super Session—Commissioner Representing Labor: Reemployment Services in a Changing Workforce Landscape—Stipeche joined Commissioner Alberto Treviño III and fellow panelists to discuss the evolving Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment Program (RESEA). The conversation examined how automation, AI, and shifting labor-market trends are changing the needs of Texans seeking to reenter the workforce, underscoring the importance of human-centered, data-informed strategies.
Among all the conferences and workshops, attendees had the opportunity to attend Attract Staff with Employer Child Care Solutions, led by Catherine Arwood and Stacy Day. Another session, Making Your Case: Best Practices for TWC Grant Applications, presented by Chris Caballero, Jeremy Geske, and James Golsan, offered guidance on strengthening grant applications and improving access to TWC support for local workforce initiatives.
Later, Crosby Brito represented the Gulf Coast region in the panel “Stronger Together: Rethinking How We Support Employers,” emphasizing coordinated, intelligence-driven employer engagement across Texas.
Throughout the conference, attendees participated in sessions and networking opportunities designed to strengthen support for employers and job seekers. For the Gulf Coast delegation, the experience deepened statewide partnerships and reinforced the importance of continued engagement in shaping Texas’ workforce future.
Reflecting on the event, Stipeche noted, “Our Board, staff, and partners showed exactly what it looks like when a region leans in with purpose.”
“We weren’t just attendees: we were presenters, learners, and conveners. And having our Board members, including our Chair Mark Guthrie, present with us reflected their deep commitment to this mission. Together, we’re shaping a workforce ecosystem that is modern, data-driven, collaborative, and anchored in economic mobility for all. This is the kind of alignment that positions the Gulf Coast to lead.”
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