Youth Professionals Conference
Workforce Solutions East Texas Board will host and sponsor its Youth Professionals Conference, themed "How do we bridge the employment gap for youth (14-24) with differences?" Join us for an informative conference featuring keynote speakers, a panel discussion and concurrent sessions including topics such as self-advocacy, soft skills, overcoming barriers which occur in the interviewing and hiring process for individuals with disabilities, and accessing resources.
The FREE CONFERENCE will be held Thursday, June 21, 2018 at the Holiday Inn Tyler - South Broadway from 9 AM - 3 PM.
Attendees will spend the day learning how to better engage and connect with the youth today while earning CEU credits, if applicable.
If any attendee has special requirements due to disabilities, reasonable arrangements will be made upon request. Please contact the ETCOG office at 903-218-6400. Telephone inquiries can be made at (800) 735-2989 (TDD) or (800) 735-2988 (Voice).
Conference Speakers & Keynotes
Melinda Paninski, Opening Remarks
State Specialist for Workforce Alliances, Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
Patrice Starks, Luncheon Keynote Address – “Answering the Call”
Motivational Speaker and Author
Anne Cozart, Overcoming Barriers which occur in the Interviewing and Hiring Process for Individuals with Disabilities
Business Relations Coordinator, Texas Workforce Commission VR
Crystal George - Soft Skills for Youth with Disabilities
Program Manager for University of North Texas' Workplace Inclusion & Sustainable Employment
Dr. Brandi Levingston - Soft Skills for Youth with Disabilities
Senior Lecturer at the University of North Texas in the Department of Disability and Addiction Rehabilitation
Gregory Kennedy – Morning Motivational Speech
Dream Manager and Human Resources Assistant, Goodwill Industries of East Texas
Debra Sanders – Accessing Resources
Educational Opportunity Center (TRIO), Tyler Junior College
Jennifer Sturm – Self Advocacy
Coordinator, Special Education - Region 7 Education Service Center
PANEL - BRIDGING THE EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION GAP
Nancy Crawford, Executive Director, Literacy Council of Tyler
Dennis Kutach, Area Manager, Texas Workforce Commission VR
Melinda Paninski, State Specialist for Workforce Alliances, TWC
Cheryl Newton, Project Leader, Workforce Solutions East Texas
Amy Wilson, Independent Living Skills Coordinator, East Texas Center for Independent Living
Doug Shryock, Moderator - Executive Director, Workforce Solutions East Texas Board
About Workforce Solutions East Texas
It is the mission of the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board to improve the quality of life in this area through economic development by providing a first-class workforce for present and future businesses. The Board works in partnership with chief elected officials of the region and is the primary source of local workforce policy. The Workforce Solutions East Texas Board is one of 28 local Workforce Solutions Boards located throughout the state. The board serves Henderson, Van Zandt, Rains, Wood, Upshur, Camp, Marion, Harrison, Panola, Gregg, Rusk, Cherokee, Anderson and Smith counties. The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) serves as the administrating agency of the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board.