A letter from Peter Beard, Sr. Vice President, Regional Workforce Development. Houston’s talent and human capital, whether it's cultivated and developed here at home or attracted from other regions, is the backbone, brainpower, innovation, and energy that powers our diverse economy. So, as UpSkill Houston looks to its next five to ten years, Greater Houston is poised to significantly move a talent and skills first approach that increases mobility and opportunity for the region’s residents and strengthens the region’s economy. At the end of the day, our work is a marathon which can improve the resilience of Houston and its residents. UpSkill Houston, with more than a decade of collaborative work, demonstrates strong and effective employer, education and community partnerships focused on creating results and improving student and adult learner outcomes and opportunities. By celebrating individual achievements, we inspire others to emulate success. This collective approach drives systemic change, enabling transformative impact on scale. The leaders and organizations that are part of UpSkill Houston’s collective table have built a strong -foundation —a “good start”—and have propelled us in the “right direction” However, there is much “more to do” in order to fulfill the mission: ensuring the Houston and Gulf Coast region has one of the finest skilled workforces in the world while providing opportunity and mobility for the residents of the region. As regional economies continue their transition from industrial economies to knowledge-based and digital and technology enabled ones, the skills individuals will need to succeed in their occupations will continue to evolve at an increasing pace. At the same time, every individual will need to be equipped with a core set of foundational and essential skills to succeed in life, work and education. We are hearing from employers in Houston that individuals being work-ready requires they have skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, communications, continuous learning, grit and persistence, digital literacy, teamwork and collaboration, ability to learn, etc. While this is a substantial list many of these skills are developed and refined over time and with practice by applying them at home, on the playground, in school, on the playing field, and in so many other places. Whether it is the artificial heart or cancer cures, new energy technologies like CCS, or putting a man on the moon, Houston innovates on some of the world’s most challenging problems. On this most fundamental and existential challenge of Talent and Skills First, we will need to develop new partnerships and efforts to ensure that young people attending our schools can enter the workforce with a good job and adult learners, in collaboration with community and education partners, develop new skills to get amazing career opportunities. We have several outstanding examples of effective practices including but not limited to, Genesys Works, Junior Achievement’s 3DE, the Industrial Craft Competition at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. UpSkill Houston’s opportunity is to leverage its employer-led approach to build new partnerships with education and community partners, and together we can reach back into the early grades and support young people as they progress through the K-12 system and enter the post-secondary system or the workforce. Our goal is to scale these efforts across the region, creating meaningful impact for generations to come. Are you ready to be part of this transformative journey? Join us in shaping the future!

Turning a challenge into an opportunity is something Houston—and many other cities—know well when competing to attract new businesses. In its early days, the Houston Spaceport faced a major hurdle: a shortage of skilled aerospace technicians in the region. However, rather than seeing this as a setback, the spaceport transformed it into an opportunity to strengthen its position as a leader in the aerospace industry.  The Need for Collaboration   Workforce supports the growth of any industry. Despite Houston’s deep-rooted history in the industry and the spaceport’s strategic location near NASA's Johnson Space Center, it lost a major tenant to a competing state. According to Houston Airport System Director Jim Szczesniak, the setback underscored the critical need for a robust workforce development program that could retain and attract aerospace companies.  Determined to never lose another company for the same reason, the spaceport turned to San Jacinto College (SJC), a recognized leader in workforce training. Together, they saw an opportunity to solve Houston’s workforce gap and lay the foundation for something much bigger — a pipeline of skilled aerospace talent that would not just serve one company, but an entire industry.   In 2020, their shared vision became a reality with the launch of the EDGE Center, a cutting-edge educational facility specifically designed to train the next generation of aerospace technicians.   “By fostering a collaborative environment, we create a unique value proposition for companies seeking to establish or expand their operations in the region,” Szczesniak said. “Our ability to connect industry leaders with skilled talent and supportive infrastructure provides a competitive advantage that is unmatched. This collaborative approach accelerates innovation, reduces time-to-market, and ultimately strengthens Houston's position as a premier aerospace hub.”  Developing Curriculum for the Industry  Sarah Janes, associate vice chancellor of continuing & professional development at the San Jacinto College District, said SJC conducted visits to spaceports and aerospace companies worldwide to ensure the EDGE Center’s curriculum aligned with industry needs. This allowed them to gather valuable insights into the challenges and skill gaps in the field.  An advisory committee made up of local industry leaders was also established to ensure that the programs remained relevant and responsive to regional demands. SJC hosts bi-monthly advisory meetings to keep the curriculum flexible and forward-thinking, allowing the EDGE Center to meet the current needs of aerospace companies and anticipate future industry shifts.  “Whenever a new company comes to this region, they are always interested in the workforce that is already here to support them, as well as how more people can be trained for the skills that they will need for their company," Janes said. “Working with economic development partners as well as entities such as the Houston Spaceport, provides those new possibilities with the reasons that make this area their first choice for a place to take root.”  Collaboration with Industry Leaders  With phase one completed in 2019 and the arrival of anchor tenants like Axiom Space and Intuitive Machines set the stage for deeper industry collaboration. The companies partnered with SJC to develop industry-specific curricula, mentor aspiring technicians, lead lab courses, offer internships and hire students for high-profile projects.  Intuitive Machines has played an instrumental role in providing hands-on training and creating a direct pathway for students to enter the aerospace industry. According to Janes, many EDGE Center students worked on the company’s Lunar Lander, with 18 now hired full-time and set to work on future lunar missions.  “Between the lander's engine, carbon composites, software, and electronics required to build a Nova-C lunar lander, it takes an incredible amount of touch labor to get to the launch pad,” Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus said in an SJC article. “We work closely with San Jacinto College to foster certification courses for technicians to complete training, intern, and full-time hire into our lunar program.”  Through strong industry collaboration and the focused efforts of the spaceport and SJC, the EDGE Center has made remarkable strides in fulfilling its mission. One example is Cyrus Shy, one of the first students enrolled in the EDGE Center’s composites program. After getting a job with Intuitive Machines, Shy was later hired by Windhover Labs, which was recently tasked with building scale test versions of Venus Aerospace’s hypersonic aircraft.  Another graduate, Charlotte Newell, transitioned from being a hairdresser to an electrical technician through the EDGE Center’s Basic Electrical and Electronic program. After completing the program, she was hired by Collins Aerospace and later Intuitive Machines. Newell is now pursuing an engineering degree at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  Future Growth and Expansion  The Aerospace Institute, an initiative aimed at expanding connections between higher education institutions and the aerospace industry, is a key component of the spaceport’s second phase of development. Although still in its early stages, the project is progressing alongside plans to expand the EDGE Center. According to Janes, over $1 million in new equipment will enhance existing programs and add courses that reflect industry demands. The expansion will allow the EDGE Center to continue serving as a critical pipeline of talent for the region’s growing aerospace industry.  Learn more about Houston’s growing aerospace industry and the Partnership’s UpSkill Houston initiative.