On Tuesday, November 14th, our 18th annual State of Talent & Education event brought together speakers to discuss the current state of education and workforce development. Key topics included fostering collaboration among the business community, policymakers, and educational institutions to enhance talent pipelines and also addressed workforce challenges, particularly in Advanced Manufacturing. A panel of experts explored innovative solutions, and attendees discovered opportunities for active involvement. We want to give a special thank you to our partners for this event, E3 Alliance and Workforce Solutions Capital Area!

Susan Dawson from E3 Alliance shared valuable insights on enhancing a pivotal yet unaligned segment of our workforce pipeline, specifically Advanced Manufacturing. As the president of E3 Alliance, the collective impact backbone for our Cradle to Career pipeline, Susan shed light on strategies to bolster this critical aspect.

The panel explored hire local implications and Austin's talent outlook, and included the following panelists: Dr. Gaylen Paulson with UT Austin, Carl Rounds with Applied Materials, Rob Neville with Goodwill Central Texas, Mark Sherry with Baylor Scott and White, and panel moderator Melanie Flowers with Pathful Inc. The panel discussed the meaning of hiring local in talent development, questioning if Austin has sufficient local talent for the next 10-20 years. Carl highlighted standing out in the crowded advanced manufacturing sector, emphasizing industry consortium benefits. Mark discussed talent development practices at BS&W, emphasizing investment in healthcare apprenticeships. Rob outlined Goodwill CTX's role in supporting talent development, citing challenges and opportunities. Gaylen shared how McCombs contributes to talent development beyond traditional education, fostering impact and corporate engagement. The panel addressed sticky talent problems, the emphasis on internal talent growth, and identified gaps in skills development discourse.