Doug Carr may have retired from running staffing firms, but his impact on Houston’s workforce is far from over. With a rich professional background in banking, student loan management, and staffing, Doug now brings his expertise to the Gulf Coast Workforce Board, where he’s served for over a decade.
Introduced to the board by Cheryl Guido, Doug was already active in workforce inclusion through his work with DisabilityIN. “Educating employers on what it means to hire somebody with a disability,” Doug said. That mission aligned seamlessly with the board’s work, motivating him to continue advocating for more inclusive and responsive employment strategies.
As chair of the Communications Committee, Doug plays a key role in helping the board adapt to rapidly changing workforce demands, from AI to evolving labor trends, while aligning available resources with community needs.
“I’ve been on the board, I think it’s 10 plus years now. The changes we’ve had to go through — it’s adapting to what the workforce demands are. For instance, currently we’re looking at what AI looks like? What do the new jobs look like? So it’s an ever-evolving and changing environment. A different narrative. And then we have to adjust the funding to the services we provide to the workforce,” Doug stated about the future of the workforce in Houston.
Outside the boardroom, Doug’s heart for service continues at TMR Rescue, a nonprofit donkey sanctuary. Every week, he heads to the ranch to feed, walk, and care for nearly 300 donkeys. “So every week I go out and work on the ranch and help water and feed the donkeys and take care of them and walk ’em. So hopefully they’ll get adopted,” Doug said. “They all have names,” he laughs, “but they sure do look alike.”
Doug Carr represents the very heart of what Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast stands for: a deep and abiding commitment to community, a lifetime of hands-on experience, and an unwavering belief in the power of second chances. His journey, from banking and staffing leadership to quietly caring for rescued donkeys, speaks to a man who never stopped showing up for others. His legacy is not just in the systems he’s helped strengthen, but in the countless lives he’s helped restore with patience, dignity, and heart.
Visit the Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast website to learn more about the opportunities and resources available, whether you are searching for a job or looking for HR tools.
