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UpSkill Houston

A business-led initiative advancing a skilled and resilient workforce for Greater Houston.

Employer-Led Solutions

Building a Skilled Workforce for a Stronger Houston

UpSkill Houston brings together employers, educators, and community partners to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline. Focused on careers that require more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year degree, the initiative helps workers gain in-demand skills and connects them to good-paying jobs in fields like energy, health care, advanced manufacturing, and construction. UpSkill Houston also equips employers with tools to implement skills-first hiring and talent development strategies.

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Years of workforce leadership

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Houstonians hold middle-skill jobs – the initiative's core focus

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Employers and partners engaged in the initiative

Aligning Education with Industry

Talent Pipeline

Building pathways to opportunity through education, credentials, and careers.

UpSkill Houston collaborates with community colleges, school districts, and training providers to ensure that programs are aligned with workforce needs. By equipping learners with the right skills and credentials, the initiative helps more people access high-demand jobs and career advancement opportunities.

Connectivity Platform

The Connectivity Platform is a first-of-its-kind, AI-powered career navigation and workforce development system built for the greater Houston region.

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Connectivity Platform

A cornerstone initiative of UpSkill Houston, the Connectivity Platform is a first-of-its-kind, AI-powered career navigation and workforce development system built for the Greater Houston region.

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Employer Leadership

A Business-Led Approach to Workforce Development

Employers are central to UpSkill Houston’s success. The initiative empowers business leaders to define job competencies, champion skills-first hiring, and invest in talent pipelines that strengthen their industries. Cross-sector collaboration drives solutions that are scalable, equitable, and impactful.

Research, Data, and Practical Workforce Tools

UpSkill Houston equips employers and partners with actionable tools to support training, hiring, and advancement. The initiative also publishes data-driven insights to help align workforce efforts with economic needs.

Steering Committee

Lindsay Hyman

Accenture

Abel Garza

Aldine ISD

Jennifer Baker

Alief ISD

Craig von Collenberg

Amazon Web Services

Amanda Jolly

Aon

Lee Losciale

Aon

Allie Danziger

Ascent Funding

Kyle Holland

Associated General Contractors of Houston

Charles Stein

AT&T

Kevin Krausert

Avatar Innovations

Ernest Lewis

BakerRipley

Rene Solis

BakerRipley

Patti Abshire

Bank of America

Nancy Moreno

Baylor College of Medicine

Louise Wiggins

Boston Consulting Group

Melanie Diaz

Boston Consulting Group

Mike Lewis

Boston Consulting Group

Kevin Hattery

Boys & Girls Club of Houston

Anne Bartlett

Brazosport College

Victoria Chen

Bridge Year

Nathan Rieger

Brooksource

Charlene Tennison

Buckeye Partners

Michelle Paul

Capital Idea Houston

Paul Pelosi

Career Spring

April Fabre

Centerpoint

John Seydler

City of Houston, Office of the Comptroller

Victoria Johnson

Comcast

Chad Bowser

Comerica Bank

Megan Steckly

Compudopt

Chase Wilson

Construction Career Collaborative

Terence Narcisse

East Harris County Development Council

MaryJane Mudd

East Harris County Manufacturers Association

Susan Elmore

Elmore

Greg Hambrick

Fast Forward Works

Chris Schrek

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch

Anna Crocket

Federal Reserve, Houston Branch

Keri Schmidt

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce

Andrew Van Chau

Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce

Linda Nelson

GE Vernova

Daphne Carter

Genesys Works

Robert Bruce

Glascock School, Rice University

Cary Wright

Good Reason Houston

Alma Ybarra

Goodwill Industries of Houston

Mike Sullivan

Group 1 Automotive

Jonathan Homeyer

Gulf Capital Bank

Juliet Stipeche

Gulf Coast Workforce Board

Russell Tomlin

Gulf Coast Workforce Board

Helen Martinez-Mitchham

Gulf States Toyota

Talitha Alexander

Harmony Schools

David Rasch

Harvey Cleary

Christina Robinson

Houston City College

Lutricia Harrison

Houston City College

Michael Webster

Houston City College

Thom Ronk

Houston City College

Eric Goodie

Houston Area Urban League

Brian Greene

Houston Food Bank

Dana Carmouche

Houston ISD

Jill Quinn

Houston ISD

Kristen Hole

Houston ISD

Ray Weaver

Houston ISD

Pat Mann

Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

Arun Gir

iEducate

Grace Rodriguez

Impact Hub

Dawn Gentry

Ineos

Aaron McCloud

InterveneK12

Dorian Cockrell

JPMorgan Chase

Joseph Burke

Junior Achievement

Flavio Cunha

Kinder Institute for Urban Research

Ruth Lopez-Turley

Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University

Douglas Walcerz

Lee College

Laura Jaramillo

Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Chantell Link

Lone Star College

Megan Mariveles

Lone Star College

Michel Zuch

Lone Star College

Mike Holland

Marek Bros.

Sabra Phillips

Marek Bros.

Lori Colson

Memorial Hermann

Lori Knowles

Memorial Hermann

Raj Salhotra

Momentum Education

Dave Edwards

Mustang CAT

Hilary Ware

My Next Season

Raquel Couri

Next Decade

Mohan Yeggoni

Next Gen

Allen Whiteside

NextOp Vets

Shelby Mounts

NextOp Vets

Alex Dailey

OneGoal

Maria Aguirre

Port Houston

Adeeb Barqawi

Pro Unitas

Mary Sizemore

Quanta Services

Mandy Williams

Red&Black Books

Kelly Ingram

Region 4 ESC

Rodney Watson

Region 4 ESC

Fred Oswald

Rice University

Steve Morse

Russell Reynolds

Allatia Harris

San Jacinto College

Brenda Hellyer

San Jacinto College

Elisabeth Nash

SCI

Frazier Wilson

Shell USA

Jermaine Monroe

Texas Children's Hospital

Kenneth Martin

Texas Children's Hospital

Sarah Maytum

Texas Children's Hospital

Ashley Strickland

Texas Mutual

HD Chambers

Texas School Alliance

Brandon Simmons

Texas Southern University

Dora Rodriguez

The Friedkin Group

Amanda McMillian

United Way of Greater Houston

Lindsey Hill

United Way of Greater Houston

Schirell Sidney

United Way of Greater Houston

JR Rao

University of Houston - Engineering

Mitch Beckman

Webber

Mark Guthrie

Winstead

Mike Feinberg

Work Texas

Scott Marshall

Worley

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Need more information about UpSkill Houston? Contact us to help

  • Support talent development in key regional industries
  • Align with employers to define critical skills needs
  • Collaborate on workforce programs and partnership
  • Explore tools to improve career awareness and access

Rafael "Rafa" Alvarez

Regional Workforce Development

SVP Regional Workforce Development

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