Earn and Learn Apprenticeships in Central Texas: Building Strong Talent Pipelines

Welcome to Austin Hires Local! In this episode, Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFS) interviews Mark Sherry, WFS Board Chair and VP of Human Resources at Baylor Scott & White Health. Listen in as Mark recounts his impactful first job in a college career service office, which led to a memorable experience with Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, profoundly shaping his career path.

The conversation explores the critical parallels between healthcare and workforce development, focusing on how Workforce Solutions Capital Area offers personalized support and hope to job seekers, similar to healthcare providers' approach to patients. We tackle the ongoing war for talent across various sectors, including healthcare, and the strategic importance of investing in entry-level workers to build a robust talent pipeline. Lastly, discover the transformative power of apprenticeships, where structured roadmaps for skill acquisition help employees advance without leaving their current roles. Learn about the successful initiatives by the Central Texas Healthcare Partnership and how collaboration among passionate employers, workforce intermediaries, and educational partners can drive innovation and address labor market needs.

About Mark Sherry: As Board Chair of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Mark Sherry brings over 30 years of experience in workforce development, talent acquisition, and organizational change management. He currently serves as the greater Austin region Vice President of Human Resources for Business Strategic Services and Workforce Development at Baylor Scott & White Health. Mark is also a national Apprenticeship Ambassador representing Central Texas, chosen by the Department of Labor for his commitment to modernizing, diversifying, and expanding Registered Apprenticeship to support the success of American workers, employers, and communities.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Introduction of Mark Sherry and his various titles and functions
• (03:51) Jobs that propelled Mark to where he is now
• (07:30) Parallels between healthcare and workforce development - both fields aim to provide personalized support and hope during challenging times.
• (11:00) Investing in entry-level workers - strategies to cultivate a robust talent pipeline, addressing business community skepticism about training investments
• (21:00) Registered apprenticeships enable career advancement without leaving current positions.
• (24:30) Learning from other cities and sharing best practices
• (28:31) Looking to the future - potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize workforce development with significant insights and efficiencies for job seekers and employers
• (31:21) The most surprising part and biggest takeaways from being Chair for a workforce board.
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About the show:

Austin Hires Local, powered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area and hosted by WFS CEO Tamara Atkinson, dives deep with the trailblazers who are shaping the future of jobs in our city, our state, and even nationally. We pull back the curtain on the challenges we all face – the anxieties, the roadblocks, and what's holding us back from filling those critical open positions. But hey, it's not all doom and gloom. We also celebrate the victories: the ingenious solutions, the unexpected collaborations, and the best practices that are making us all sharper. You’ll hear guests from all sides of the table – elected officials with a finger on the pulse of the economy, industry leaders from booming sector