Chief Elected Officials

Mr. Asa Jessee
KTEN Television
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.
Ms Janie Bates
Workforce Solutions Texoma
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 highskill, 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.
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
Debbie Eldredge
Linda Horton
KTEN Television
Sherman Housing Authority
Early Childhood Consortium
Larry Adams
Lois Essenburg
Dee Lough
Sign Warehouse
American Bank of Texas
Associated Travel
Alvin Bailey
Mark Ewig
Joyce McGehee
Denison Public Library
CWA Union
Fannin Literacy Council
Elbert Bell
Sharon Felderhoff
Brenda Parks
HHSC
Muenster Milling
DARS
Lea Ann Blain
Gil Glover
Nila Patel
Voluntary Purch. Group
Trailblazer Health Ent,
Hampton Inn / Comfort Suites
Rodney Brent
Janet Gott
Kent Sharp
McCraw Oil / Kwik Chek
Grayson College
Gainesville Econ. Dev. Corp.
Carol Brownlee
Obie Greenleaf
Dean Spence
Caterpillar
NAACP
Enhanced Powder Coating
Sam Ciani
Jeanie Hardin
Mark Taylor
Texas Instruments, Inc.
Grayson College
Grayson College
Sonny Cruse
Kathryn Hicks
Candy VanSant
Bonham ISD
Koch Sales
Texoma Medical Center
Mike DeLong
Keith Hoedebeck
Earl Woolbright
Sherman Boys & Girls Club
Spindletop Production
Texas Workforce Comm.
From October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011,
Texoma
Workforce Centers
the three
received
62,809 visits.
Workforce Solutions Texoma
provided employment related assistance to
1,811
employers.
Workforce Solutions Texoma
provided employment related assistance to
18,370
job seekers.
Of those,
8,557 entered employment.
The cost to provide
basic services
was
$17.16
per
Job Seeker.
Bringing
employers
and
Job Seekers
together
2,880
Job Openings were filled.
222
Cooke, Fannin and
Grayson County
Job
Seekers
received training assistance.
5,065
laid off workers receiving
Unemployment Insurance
were
employed
1,693
within
10 weeks of filing for benefits.
Workforce Solutions Texoma
invested
in the area’s future providing services including
work experience and training to
160
targeted youth.
Workforce Solutions Texoma helped parents
work and
stay in school by providing
child care
assistance
for an average of
676 children per day.
Workforce Solutions Texoma was proud to provide
employment services
to
1,823
Veterans.
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
General and Operations Managers
Accountants and Auditors
Texoma Mean Wage
Texas Mean Wage
$43.66
$53.62
$29.05
$33.71
Teachers
Registered Nurses
Medical/Clinical Lab Technicians
Pharmacy Technicians
Licensed Vocational Nurses
Dental Assistants
$22.77
$24.94
$29.54
$32.49
$19.14
$16.58
$14.59
$14.87
$20.58
$20.32
$14.15
$15.17
Medical Assistants
Executive Secretaries and Admin Assistants
Op. Engineers. and other Const. Eq. Operators
Electricians
$14.15
$13.38
$21.48
$22.84
$16.38
$17.33
$17.59
$20.84
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrig. Mechanics
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
$20.72
$21.19
$18.82
$19.15
$18.69
$22.67
$22.23
$22.69
Machinists
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
$18.72
$18.71
$17.09
$18.05
$16.66
$17.89
$12.50
$13.45
Texas Back to Work
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.
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
Celebrates 10 Years
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.