Tag Archives: Workforce Solutions Borderplex

Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB) CEO Joyce Wilson has advised the Board of Directors of her intent to retire effective March 1, 2020.   

“While there is never an ideal time for a leadership change, I believe that Workforce Solutions is in a good place financially and performance-wise to allow a new leader to step in,” Joyce Wilson said in announcing her retirement. “My successor will have a tremendous opportunity to build on our successes and take this organization to the next level.”

Wilson formally submitted her retirement notice this week to allow the Board of Directors adequate time to conduct an executive search for her successor.

Wilson joined WSB in June 2014, shortly after her retirement as El Paso’s first City Manager.    During her nearly six-year tenure, she significantly enhanced the organization’s visibility and relevance in the region, developed innovative programs and services, and established WSB as one of the highest-performing regional workforce development boards in the state and nation.

WSB has received several major awards for advancements in improved child care programming, services for persons with disabilities and its widely recognized COMPTIA Information Technology credentialing program.

The organization has secured alternative funding to reach a wider audience of residents needing or desiring enhanced training, and to support businesses with talent gaps.

“This is bittersweet news for our board,” stated Grace Munoz, WSB Board Chair.  “We’ve been very blessed as an organization to have Joyce as our CEO for the past five years. She has led a very innovative and extremely stable workforce development board. Yet Joyce had been clear when she arrived that she only planned to stay with us for a few years.  She has decided to retire at a time our organization is in great shape, a recognized leader in the State of Texas, and providing high-quality services to jobseekers and businesses in our region.  We are sad to see her go, but at the same time we are looking forward to continuing our organization’s positive trajectory with our next CEO.”

The CEO position will be posted on Thursday, October 10 and applications will be accepted through Friday, November 8.  An executive search committee has been established by the Board to review applications and recommend a group of finalists.

Information about the position can be found online.

ABOUT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BORDERPLEX

Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB) is celebrating 20 years of serving as the leader and pacesetter in aligning and creating opportunities for skilled workers and employers. WSB advances education, employment, entrepreneurship and economic development prospects in support of global competitiveness and regional prosperity. The organization’s service region encompasses Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties. For more information about Workforce Solutions Borderplex, please contact Bianca Cervantes at (915) 887-2221 or visit www.borderplexjobs.com.

The Socorro Independent School District, in partnership with Workforce Solutions Borderplex, organized a first-ever Job Con event to help sophomore students learn about education pathways, fields of study and careers.

The event provided more than 2,000 students a day of hands-on career exploration at Eastlake High School. Students were exposed to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), business and industry, public service, arts and humanities, and multidisciplinary studies, all which are offered by Team SISD.

“Sophomore year is the last year students can change their endorsement. That is why Job Con was the perfect event for our students at this grade level,” said George Thomas, director of SISD Career and Technical Education.

“Students got to learn about target industries, high-demand careers in the area, and the skills they need to acquire the professions.”

Layla Melendez, chief operating officer for Workforce Solutions Borderplex, said Job Con is the largest interactive job fair in El Paso.

“This is our favorite and biggest event,” Melendez said. “We get to show students what employers do, how they do it, and why they do it so they can follow in their footsteps and build a strong El Paso.”

Sophomores visited more than 60 stations and networked with plenty of business representatives, who had an array of displays, samples, and creative props to make the expositions enlightening.

“This was a great way to get an idea about what we want to be when we grow up,” said Omar Erives, a student at Montwood High School. “I always thought I wanted to be an electrical engineer but at this event I really liked what El Paso Aero had to offer.”

Avery Benitez, a student at Socorro High School, also found the event to be helpful.

“I didn’t know there were these many open doors in El Paso,” she said. “Now I can see that there is a lot to choose from. My favorite presentation was on building a computer because I like working with technology.”

Presenters were happy that students recognized El Paso has a thriving career market.

“El Paso has had a stigma that there is nothing to do or that we don’t have high-paying jobs,” said Jaime Blanco, owner of Double Scope Films, a production company. “That is a misconception. There is a lot of creative work in El Paso and we feel its important to let the youth know they have these options.”

SISD and Workforce Solutions Borderplex also wanted parents of students with special needs to learn about work opportunities for their children. They were invited to an information night the day before JobCon to learn about students’ rights, social security, transition to college and workforce integration.

Team SISD and Workforce Solutions Borderplex will partner again in the spring for a second JobCon on Feb. 12 at Eastlake High School.

Job Con event photos

Officials with Workforce Solutions Borderplex announced Monday that they will be hosting a ‘Next Level Workshop and Hiring Event’ this Wednesday, August 28.

Next Level Workshop and Hiring Event is a one-day event geared towards assisting individuals participating in SNAP-E & T (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) into employment positions.

Event Details:

• Full-Day Participation Required
• Workshops offered:  Labor Market Information, Texas Reality Check and Motivational Speaker, Dawn Thurmond, President and Chief Inspiration Officer at The Morning Muse
• Lunch will be served
• 20 Employers will be onsite for on-the-spot short-term training sessions
• Qualified candidates may be hired for positions in retail, business, customer service, telemarketing, data and call centers
• Workforce Solutions Borderplex will provide clothing assistance up to $200 in gift card incentives for qualifying participation
• Transportation assistance is provided
• Some participants will receive a “Life Prep” Goody Bag

Employer Registration:  Email business@borderplexjobs.com or call 915-887-2332

Next Level Workshop and Hiring Event

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

8:00am to 5:00pm

Wyndham Airport Hotel

2027 Airway Blvd.

Ahead of next month’s SISD JobCon, Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB) officials are actively seeking “dynamic businesses” to take part in the event.

JobCon scheduled for Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at Socorro Independent School District (SISD.)  WSB officials say close to 2000 students will come together for a day of career exploration.

“Workforce Solutions Borderplex, in partnership with SISD, is hosting the JobCon to captivate and educate high school students about target industries and the high-demand careers in their area of the Borderplex region,”  officials shared via email. “At past JobCon events, students visited one-on-one with employers located in the Borderplex region, in a fun, collaborative setting.”

Companies who are interested in taking part in the SISD JobCon event must bring an engaging interactive exhibit where students can get hands-on experience in that industry.

The event offers employers the opportunity to not only display their services, but also the highlights of their industry to the future workforce.

Officials added that the JobCon Series was developed to captivate the interest and educate high school students in the Borderplex region about the high-demand careers that are available in their community.

“Students will leave this event knowledgeable about the diverse range of career opportunities available in their area, as well as the skills needed to acquire these jobs.”

The deadline for businesses to register to take part in the SISD JobCon is Friday, August 30th.

For more information on how to take part in the SISD JobCon, please contact the Business Services Unit at 915-887-2332 or at Business@borderplexjobs.com.

A three-way partnership between Workforce Solutions Borderplex, the Success Through Technology Education (STTE) Foundation and El Paso Community College mean free youth Summer Camp opportunities concentrating on robotics, entrepreneurship and app development are now open for registration.

The one-day camps, that begin July 25, are tailored for youth ages 13-18 years of age and are located throughout El Paso to ease the burden of transportation costs. Lunch will also be provided.

About Camps

STEEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Math) Camp – Campers will work on a theme “Eliminating Paper Through an App,” where they will learn how to develop an app starting with Sketch Design.

They will discover the importance of User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI). The camp will wrap up with a lesson on the “Lean Startup” and discovering the nine building blocks of the “Business Model Canvas.”

Robotics Camp – Campers will design, build, and code robots to compete in a tournament. Applying basic STEM concepts to a competitive atmosphere increases student engagement and makes lessons feel more real.

VEX robots bring code to life and allow students to see how what they’re learning has a direct impact in the real world, and how individual math and engineering elements come together to form a solution to a real problem.

Youth will learn how VEX Coding Studio, a custom-made programming software, works.

Camp Dates & Locations

STEEM Camp – Thursday, July 25 from 9am to 4pm at STTE Foundation (inside CoWork Oasis) 114 Texas Avenue

STEEM Camp – Friday, July 26 from 9am to 4pm at STTE Foundation (inside CoWork Oasis) 114 Texas Avenue

Robotics Camp – Monday, July 29 from 9am to 2pm at Eastwood High School, 2430 McRae Boulevard.

Robotics Camp – Tuesday, July 30 from 9am to 2pm at EPCC Northwest Campus, 9570 Gateway North Boulevard.

Robotics Camp – Wednesday, July 31 from 9am to 2pm at EPCC Transmountain Campus, 6701 South Desert Boulevard.

Where to Register

To pre-register for STTE Foundation Summer Camps, go online and a Workforce Solutions Borderplex representative will be in contact to determine eligibility.

Officials with Workforce Solutions Borderplex announced Friday that registration is now open for the 3rd cohort of the final opportunity for Borderplex residents to take part in the Cybersecurity Technology Certification Training program that is free for selected participants.

The 3rd cohort will run from August 19, 2019 through November 11, 2019, Monday through Friday, from 9 am – 4 pm each day. Candidates who currently do not have a full-time work commitment are encouraged to apply for the program.

Candidates can now register to take an assessment test to qualify for entrance into the 3rd cohort from now through Friday, August 2, 2019.

The final campaign of the Workforce Solutions’ Cybersecurity training program will offer a suite of (5) IT security certificates that build an individual’s capacity to work in the cybersecurity field.

This is the 3rd of three (12)-week training cohorts that will provide candidates with the necessary skills required to pass the five, IT-recognized, highly-coveted cybersecurity certifications in IT fundamentals, A+, Network+, Security+, and CSA+.

This training program is targeted to adults; students; veterans, transitioning soldiers, and military spouses; and currently unemployed and underemployed professionals.

To successfully complete the program, candidates must be ready to pass the 5 certification tests.  WSB officials say it “is an intense IT training” that will require candidates to:

• Possess an aptitude for IT, with the ability to pass an IT Fundamentals assessment with a 65% passage rate
• Candidates will need to prove their right to work in the U.S. by providing eligible documents
• Candidates will need to commit to near perfect attendance while undergoing the program
• Candidates will not be able to be currently employed in a typical Monday-Friday, 9-5 job during the training program, due to the program’s strict attendance requirement and rigorous course of study

Candidates interested in taking part in the 3rd cohort of the cybersecurity training program must sign up to take an IT Fundamentals exam on the registration page, which can be found here and they can find more information about the program on the Workforce Solutions Borderplex website.

The test registration period for the 3rd cohort will be open until Friday, August 2, 2019. Potential candidates must pass the IT Fundamentals exam with a score of 65% or higher.

From there, candidates will undergo an interview process, must pass a WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) eligibility screening, and agree to seek a job in the IT field upon program completion.

For more information about the Cybersecurity Technology Certification Training program, please contact Natalie Littlefield at Natalie.littlefield@borderplexjobs.com.

On Friday morning, Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB) officials announced that they had been awarded $25,000 in grant funding from Bank of America in support for the HireElPaso Summer Youth Program.

“Workforce Solutions Borderplex is honored to receive this funding from Bank of America.  This grant will allow us to place even more out-of-school students into summer jobs and provide them with good work experience they can build upon,” said Leila Melendez, COO of Workforce Solutions Borderplex.

“Bank of America understands and shares our urgency in providing youth with foundational skills that will help them successfully transition into the workforce. The work experience these youth will obtain will provide them with a great competitive advantage for their future.”

The Hire El Paso Youth Work Program puts regional youth to work in real jobs setting them on a path to be successful and workforce-ready.   It subsidizes 100 percent of a paid work experience for 100 youth between the ages of 16-24, for 20-40 hours a week and for up to 12 weeks.  Youth must meet eligibility requirements, which can be found online.

“Bank of America is proud to support Workforce Solutions Borderplex’s vital work in El Paso through our Summer Youth Employment grant. Established to provide youth with opportunities for workforce development, this annual grant is an important component of our efforts to improve economic mobility in the communities we serve,” said Kristi Marcum, Market President for Bank of America.

“Together, with Workforce Solutions Borderplex, we look forward to closing the skills-based education gap and building the community’s younger workforce.”

For more information on Bank of America’s commitment to youth success, please visit their website.

On Monday, officials with he Borderplex Alliance and The City of El Paso announced that Teleperformance is opening an operations center in the Sun City.

Dee Margo, Mayor of El Paso, said, “We’re grateful to Teleperformance for selecting El Paso. Since day one of my administration I’ve been focused on bringing jobs to El Paso. With near-record low unemployment in El Paso and a string of great companies headed to the region, we are proud to welcome Teleperformance.”

Teleperformance, essentially a customer call center, describes themselves as “the global leader in outsourced omnichannel customer experience management.”  According to their website, they operate in 80 countries worldwide.

Jon Barela, CEO, The Borderplex Alliance, said, “Economic development is competitive. It’s a victory when a company moves to our region, but when a company commits to hiring over 1,100 people in our community, there is much to celebrate.”

There was no word on the exact date that Teleperformance would be opening their doors, but officials with Borderplex Alliance shared that the company would be “seeking customer-oriented, and highly motivated employees.”

Travis Coates, Chief Operations Office, Teleperformace USA and Canada, said “We’re excited to come to El Paso. To be a leader in customer experience, you must hire the best people. That is what attracted us to El Paso. This community has a great workforce with the skills and the positive work attitude we are looking for. We thank The City of El Paso and The Borderplex Alliance for their help. We can’t wait to open our doors.”

For more information on Teleperformance, visit their website.

Workforce Solutions Borderplex officials announced Friday the return of their El Paso Summer Youth Employment initiatives, helping to put the youth of the region to work.

WSB, along with their partners Medical Center of the Americas, Goodman Financial, and Career and Technical Education program of Ysleta Independent School District launched the 2019 season of Hire El Paso Youth Summer Work Program, Summer Earn & Learn, and the Texas Internship Challenge.

“The Board of Directors of Workforce Solutions Borderplex and I salute our local business partners who have already committed to take part in this season’s Summer Youth Employment campaign by opening their worksites to youth to provide important business mentorship and life experiences,” shared Joyce Wilson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Borderplex.

“With unemployment rates at record lows and a growing demand for talent in the Borderplex region, it is critical that we focus on the future workforce pipeline by reaching out to students as they graduate from high school, or while they are still in college, to provide practical work experience in their field of study or area of interest in an effort to foster this young talent and encourage them to build fruitful careers in our region.”

These impactful programs put regional youth to work; providing first-time, real job experience that sets youth on a path to be successful and workforce-ready.

The Hire El Paso Youth Work Program* will subsidize 100 percent of a paid work experience for 100 youth between the ages of 16-24, for 20-40 hours a week and for up to 12 weeks.

Summer Earn & Learn Program* will subsidize 100 percent of the paid work experience for 85 youth with disabilities between the ages of 16-22, for 30 hours a week and for up to 7 weeks.

*For Hire El Paso Work Program and Summer Earn & Learn, youth must meet eligibility requirements, which can be found online.

The Texas Internship Challenge, a partnership between the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Education Agency and the Higher Education Coordinating Board, aims to increase and promote paid internships for students with Texas employers.

For employer participation in the Texas Internship Challenge, employers must commit to covering the costs for the internships.

The Summer Youth Employment campaign is a win-win for all involved, as employers will benefit from having a motivated, young adult in their workplace, while giving them a crucial, career-building opportunity.

Employers who take part in the Summer Earn & Learn Program will also receive insights and recommendations as to how to best serve customers with disabilities and learn how to easily adapt workplaces to employ persons with disabilities.

“The Summer Youth Employment programs have a far-reaching impact on our region, that builds a pipeline for the local workforce, with many youth returning to the same employer for multiple years,” WSB officials added via a news release.

“The summer job opportunities also provide valuable life lessons for the youth such as learning the importance of attendance and punctuality; articulating themselves professionally in a workplace setting; and learning how to accept direction and constructive criticism.”

Workforce Solutions Borderplex is subsidizing 185 positions for regional youth in these special summer employment programs.

For more information:

Hire El Paso Youth Summer Work Program – StreetTeam@borderplexjobs.com or (915) 887-2600

Summer Earn & Learn – StreetTeam@borderplexjobs.com or (915) 887-2600

Texas Internship Challenge – Visit www.txinternshipchallenge.com for program details.

The following businesses have committed to hosting youth for the 2019 campaign:

• Alderperson Place 2, City of San Elizario
• Bell 2 Bell
• Bella Luna Engineering
• Counter Tops Plus Inc.
• CVIA Insurance Agency
• Designer’s Mart
• Diaz Services Heating & Cooling
• El Paso’s Sweet Shop & Bakery
• JP’s Industrial
• Justice of the Peace John Chatman
• La Posada Home
• Lee Wrangler Clearance Center
• Metro PCS
• Mexus Inc
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• Personnel Partners
• Project Vida
• Representative Alejandra Anello-District 2 Central
• Representative Cassandra Hernandez-District 3
• Representative Henry Rivera-District 7
• Sandra Serna-State Farm Insurance Company
• Technimark
• The Hospitals of Providence-Eastside Campus
• The Hospitals of Providence-Memorial Campus
• The Hospitals of Providence-Sierra Campus
• The Hospitals of Providence-Transmountain Campus
• Time Clock Sales & Service
• UTOPIA
• Walgreens
• West-Tex customer payroll & marketing

For employers who would like to host a youth for the summer in their workplace, please contact Business@borderplexjobs.com or (915) 887-2332.

The STTE (Success Through Technology Education) Foundation, in collaboration with Workforce Solutions Borderplex, and a host of other business and community sponsors, revealed the winners of the 2019 STEAMx (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) Competitions.

Earlier this month, eight student teams were recognized at an inspirational awards ceremony to celebrate the winners of the STEAMx Competitions. The STEAMx Competitions challenged the area’s high school students to take STEAM applications and apply them to innovative, real-word project-based competitions.

Hundreds of students faced off in duels of coding, math challenges, designing smart tiny houses, chess matches, and 3-D competitions. The region’s brightest students diligently worked for months on their projects where prize money and bragging rights were up for grabs in their STEM specialties, as they once again came together to share innovative ideas with their peers.

For the last 10 years, the STEAMx events have captivated and engaged more than 16,000 of the Borderplex region’s youth. The event is specially developed to increase students’ awareness of the opportunities that exist in STEAM-oriented education and careers.

Officials say the 10th anniversary theme of “Are you Creating STEAM?” commemorates 10 years of “capturing Generation Z’s zest for tech and the arts, with organizers and event supporters celebrating all the students who have benefitted from this event and have made great strides in the STEM world.”

In conjunction with the 2019 STEAMx corporate sponsors, the STTE Foundation and Workforce Solutions Borderplex are pleased to announce the following STEAMx Competition and scholarship winners:

Hunt Smart Tiny VR House – 1st place – Burges High School and El Paso High School – $4,000

• William Pyle
• Thaily Rodriquez
• Monica Delgadillo
• David Mullings
• Erick Garcia
• Joseph Horak

Sigma Java Coding – 1st place – Canutillo High School – $2,000

• Christopher Lawson
• Aya Abdelgawad

Microsoft Business App – 1st place – Burges High School – $2,000

• Andrew Vergara
• Nathean Flores

Western Tech Southwest 4×4 Challenge – $2,000 – 1st place – El Paso High School

• Frida Garcia
• Erick Garcia
• Joseph Horak
• Elian Huerta
• Sebastian Moreno

FabLab El Paso Makerspace Challenge

1st place – Coronado High School T-Birds – $1,000

• Mikayla Pitts
• Peter Moshaver

VEX Robotics

1st place – Young Women’s Leadership Academy and Bel Air Middle School

The Prudential Foundation Math Challenge:

Prudential Math Counts – 1st place – Marfa High School Mathletes – $3,000

• Samuel Salgado Martinez
• Aubrie Aguilar
• Dimetrey Stewart
• Alexandire Luna

2nd place -Parkland High School Aces – $1,000

• Tyrone McDuffie
• Angelika Obonan
• Alyssa Ortiz-Rodriguez
• Mykel Merritt

Prudential Math Challenge  – 1st place – Riverside High School – $3,000

• Francisco Ontiveros
• Ashley De La Rosa
• Edna Rodriguez
• Karemy Cruz
• Raul Ramos

2nd place – El Paso High – $1,000

• Isabella Morales
• Cassandra Wagoner
• Francesco Sanchez
• Santiago Costemalle

Scholarships $1,000

• Joseph Horak, EPISD, $1,000
• Lauren Byrd, EPISD, $1,000
• Alexis Rodriquez, YISD, $1,000
• Selaine Rodriguez, YISD, $1,000
• Angel Garcia, YISD, $1,000
• Nathaniel Irrobali, SISD, $1,000
• Kevin Joan Moreno, HARMONY, $1,000
• Jose Bernal, HARMONY, $1,000
• Aya Abdelgawed, CANUTILLO, $1,000
• Evelyn Alvarez $1,000
• Michael O’Bannon $1,000

Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB) will be connecting residents with some of the areas most coveted seasonal jobs and valuable employers at the 2019 Spring Hiring Fair.

Job seekers exploring employment in the Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Logistics, Defense & Aerospace, and Construction industries are encouraged to join WSB for this event.

WSB officials share that the fair is a free event and is open to all job seekers. Over 45 employers have confirmed attendance at this event.

The Spring Hiring Fair will enable job seekers to connect one-on-one with some of the region’s most in-demand employers and learn more about what these companies are seeking in candidates.

Job seekers are advised to come dressed to impress and with plenty of copies of their resume for employers to review.

2019 Spring Hiring Fair  –  The Radisson Hotel  |  1770 Airway Boulevard

Wednesday, April 10, 2019  |  9 am – 1 pm

These are the confirmed employers who will be present at the event:

• Allied Universal Security Services
• Belt Con Construction
• Blackstone Security Services Inc.
• Brokers Logistics
• Caseem Staffing Services
• Coastal Transportation
• Custom Crates & Pallets, LTD
• CWR Trucking
• DEA
• Designer’s Mart
• Dynamic Tool Co.
• El Paso Community College (Police Academy)
• El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
• El Paso Fire Department
• El Paso Police Department
• Empire Truck Lines Inc
• Erives Enterprises
• Gamer Logistics
• Green Bay Packaging
• Handgards
• HG Arias & Associates
• IBEW Local 583
• Instaff
• Integrity Asset Management
• ITSQUEST INC
• Jobe Materials
• Jordan Foster Construction
• Labormax Staffing
• Lone Wolf Trucking
• Manpower
• Mesilla Valley Transportation
• Munoz Trucking
• MV Transit
• Project Amistad
• Readyone Industries
• Resource MFG/Prologistix
• RM Personnel
• Schneider Electric
• Securitas
• Sky Transportation
• Solrac Corp.
• Southwest Freightlines
• Sun City Security
• Sun Metro
• Technical Sewing
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice
• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Triple A Glass Inc
• TVC
• TxDOT
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• UniFirst Uniform Services
• Veliz Construction
• Volt Workforce Solutions
• Wild West Express
• Wyler Industrial Works

Hundreds of local middle and high schoolers will be competing in the STEAMx (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) Fiesta, organized by STTE (Success Through Technology Education) Foundation, in collaboration with Workforce Solutions Borderplex.

“For the last 10 years, the STEAMx events have captivated and engaged the region’s youth,” organizers shared via a news release. “This 2-day mega event is specially developed to increase students’ awareness of the opportunities that exist in STEAM-oriented education and careers.”

This year’s anniversary theme of “Are you Creating STEAM?” commemorates 10 years of capturing Generation Z’s zest for tech and the arts, and the organizers are also celebrating all the students who have benefitted from this event and have made great strides in the STEM world.

Joyce Wilson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Borderplex and Board Member of the STTE Foundation, “This year’s STEAMx Fiesta is really substantive with quality workshops and a great keynote speaker. By making the Fiesta an all-day, 2-day event, we’ve enabled more students to enjoy this barrier-breaking event, allowing them to have more time to explore the many activities we bring to this event each year.”

To kick off the STEAMx Fiesta on April 4th and 5th, middle-schoolers from all corners of the region will hear an inspirational keynote presentation from STEM expert, Noramay Cadena.

Cadena is an engineer and the founding partner of MiLA Capital; an early stage venture fund in Los Angeles that invests in hard tech.  Students will then venture into a day-long STEM exploration, where they will attend a variety of exciting workshops ranging from architecture, recycling and product development, 3-D ventures, comic book creation, amongst many others.

Western Tech will be offering a featured series of women-focused tech workshops highlighting women of impact in the information technology, engineering, and automotive technology industries. In between sessions, students will delight in visiting a broad variety of STEM-oriented exhibitors featuring hands-on activities.

The STEAMx Competitions on Friday, April 5th challenge high school students to take STEAM applications and apply them to innovative, real-word project-based competitions.

Hundreds of students will face off in duels of coding, math challenges, designing smart tiny houses, chess matches, and 3-D competitions. The region’s brightest students have been diligently working for months on their projects where prize money and bragging rights are up for grabs in their STEM specialties, as they come together once a year, to share their innovative ideas with their peers.

This year’s 10th anniversary of STEAMx also marks an important development in the leadership and vision of growth for future STEAMx events, as Workforce Solutions Borderplex will now be passing the torch onto the STTE Foundation to fully manage and take this mega event onto next level heights.

“This special transition emphasizes STTE’s mission in the region on supporting efforts that develop, deploy, and advance educational programs and initiatives focused on harvesting youth entrepreneurship ecosystems and technology comprehension, that will make Borderplex youth competitive on a global scale,” event organizers said,  “The STTE Foundation is committed to enhancing the regional economy through educational programs, maximizing meaningful partnerships, and embracing family support mechanisms.”

STEAMx Fiesta – DAY 1

Thursday, April 4, 2019

9 am – 2 pm

Region 19 Headstart, 11670 Chito Samaniego, 79936

TARGET – 500 Middle school students

**Keynote speaker – 9 am; Noramay Cadena

STEAMx Fiesta – DAY 2

Friday, April 5, 2019

9 am – 2 pm

Region 19 Headstart, 11670 Chito Samaniego, 79936

TARGET – 500 Middle school students

STEAMx Competitions

Friday, April 5, 2019

9 am – 5 pm

EPCC Administration Building B, 9050 Viscount, 79925

TARGET – High school students

Officials with Workforce Solutions Borderplex announced the opening of registration for the 2nd cohort of the final opportunity for area residents to take part in the award-winning Cybersecurity Technology Certification Training program that is free for selected participants.

Students can now register to take an assessment test to qualify for entrance into the second cohort from March 14, 2019 through May 10, 2019.

The final campaign of the Workforce Solutions’ Cybersecurity training program will offer a suite of (5) IT security certificates that build an individual’s capacity to work in the cybersecurity field.

This is the second of three (12)-week training cohorts that will provide candidates with the necessary skills required to pass the five, IT-recognized, highly-coveted cybersecurity certifications in IT fundamentals, A+, Network+, Security+, and CSA+. This training program is targeted to adults; students; veterans, transitioning soldiers, and military spouses; and currently unemployed and underemployed professionals.

The second cohort will run from May 20, 2019 through August 12, 2019, where classes will meet Monday through Friday, from 9 am – 4 pm each day, so candidates who currently do not have a full-time work commitment are encouraged to apply for the program.

The Cybersecurity Technology Certification Training program requires a full-time commitment from candidates in order for them to successfully complete the training and be ready to pass the 5 certification tests.

The IT training will require candidates to:

             Possess an aptitude for IT, with the ability to pass an IT Fundamentals assessment with a 65% passage rate

             Candidates will need to prove their right to work in the U.S. by providing eligible documents

             Candidates will need to commit to near perfect attendance while undergoing the program

             Candidates will not be able to be currently employed in a typical Monday-Friday, 9-5 job during the training program, due to the program’s strict attendance requirement and rigorous course of study

Candidates interested in taking part in the 2nd cohort of the cybersecurity training program must sign up to take an IT Fundamentals exam on the registration page, which can be found here online and they can find more information about the program on the Workforce Solutions Borderplex website.

The test registration period for the second cohort will be open until May 10th. Potential candidates must pass the IT Fundamentals exam with a score of 65% or higher. From there, candidates will undergo an interview process, must pass a WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) eligibility screening, and agree to seek a job in the IT field upon program completion.

For more information about the Cybersecurity Technology Certification Training program, please contact Natalie Littlefield at Natalie.littlefield@borderplexjobs.com.

Eaton El Paso, working in partnership with Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB), is promoting a series of open positions in their El Paso location.

Eaton El Paso’s Electrical Division has opened a new manufacturing facility in El Paso with first shift production and salaried positions open.

Positions ranging from Production Associate to Sr. Electrical Test Technician to Quality Inspector are open for candidates to apply.  For a full list of opportunities go to Eaton’s website and search for El Paso.

Via a news release, WSB officials share, “Eaton offers competitive benefits and professional growth opportunities for their employees.  They create an environment where creativity, invention and discovery become a reality, each and every day; where bold, bright professionals can reach their full potential.”

Just last November, Eaton announced the opening of their El Paso manufacturing location, along with the new positions.  At the time of the announcement, Mayor Dee Margo touted the benefit of the new plant in the Borderland.

“Eaton Corporation will be an exceptional addition to our local business community. In addition to creating 200 jobs, Eaton will invest over $15 million dollars into our regional economy. Our economic development strategy is in full effect and we are seeing result after result. Companies are recognizing El Paso as a premier place to work, play and visit. We must continue our progress and attract more jobs, more investment, and better opportunities for the people of El Paso,”  Mayor Margo said.

For more information about the positions or to apply, visit the Work In Texas website.

Officials with the City of El Paso announced Tuesday that they have formalized seven (7) partnership agreements with local agencies that support small and minority-owned business development in the El Paso area.

Via a news release, officials shared, “The city intends to support and centralize current and ongoing business and entrepreneurial programs throughout the community.”

In the future, local small and minority-owned businesses will be able to access services and resources to start and grow their businesses from a centralized online resource guide. They will also have access to workshops, webinars and informational sessions through the El Paso Public Library and other City departments.

The resource partners include the Small Business Development Center, Workforce Solutions Borderplex, El Paso Chamber of Commerce, El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, El Paso County, the Hub of Human Innovation and the UTEP Center for Hispanic Entrepreneurship.

The objective of these partnership agreements is to formalize the efforts of these agencies to work together in support of, and to help spur, small and minority-owned business development in the area.

Accelerate EP, led by the City of El Paso’s Economic Development Department, is being funded through a $100,000 grant from the Citi Foundation and Living Cities as part of their City Accelerator Cohort program.

Other City departments involved in the project are Community and Human Development, Public Library, the Performance Office and Purchasing and Strategic Sourcing.

The Citi Foundation and Living Cities has named El Paso as one of five cities selected to participate in the fifth cohort of the City Accelerator program. The fifth cohort for the City Accelerator will focus on strategies cities can employ to build a seamless support system for local businesses to more easily grow and hire more people, with a particular focus on entrepreneurs of color.

Other cities who are part of the cohort include Atlanta, Long Beach, Newark, and Rochester. Throughout the next year, the five-city cohort will work to support individual projects focusing on supporting the growth of local minority-owned businesses through a variety of strategies.

Small business owners and entrepreneurs interested in participating in this program can visit the program’s website or, for more information, those interested in the program can contact Aimee Olivas at (915) 212-1617 or by e-mail OlivasAP@elpasotexas.gov.