2025 Gulf Coast Region Apprenticeship Summit cover image

Houston City College invites you to the 2025 Gulf Coast Region Apprenticeship Summit, a dynamic event that celebrates the growing impact of Registered Apprenticeship programs in strengthening our regional workforce and economy.

This summit brings together industry leaders, employers, educators, and workforce partners to recognize the accomplishments of our apprenticeship community and explore innovative strategies for talent development. It also offers a valuable platform to showcase your organization’s commitment to building a skilled workforce through apprenticeship pathways.

Join us as we highlight collaboration, creativity, and the expanding role of apprenticeships across the Gulf Coast.

Event Details

Cross-Industry Connection Hour

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Partnership Tower

701 Avenida de las Americas, Suite 900

Houston, TX 77010

Employer Day

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM

West Houston Institute

2811 Hayes Road, Auditorium

 Houston, TX 77082

 

2025 GCRAS Agenda

November 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM — November 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Cross- Industry Connection Hour

Partnership Tower

701 Avenida de las Americas, Suite 900

Houston, TX 77010

Christina Robinson-Tobin, Ed.D. picture
Christina Robinson-Tobin, Ed.D.
Rafael Alvarez picture
Rafael Alvarez
November 12, 2025 at 7:30 AM — November 12, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Registration, Breakfast, Networking & Exhibitor Hall
November 12, 2025 at 8:30 AM — November 12, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher picture
Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher
Christina Robinson-Tobin, Ed.D. picture
Christina Robinson-Tobin, Ed.D.
November 12, 2025 at 8:45 AM — November 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM
The Future: Texas’ Industry–Recognized Apprenticeship Program (TIRA) Empowering Employers
Desi Holmes picture
Desi Holmes
November 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM — November 12, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Credentials of Value: Redefining Skills and Employability in Today’s Labor Market
Anna Crockett picture
Anna Crockett
November 12, 2025 at 9:45 AM — November 12, 2025 at 10:15 AM
The Connectivity Project: The Future of Education-to-Workforce Connection
Rafael Alvarez picture
Rafael Alvarez
November 12, 2025 at 10:15 AM — November 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Apprentice Panel "Voices of Experience"
Cedric Crutchfield Jr. picture
Cedric Crutchfield Jr.
Ethan Phan picture
Ethan Phan
Alexander Lara picture
Alexander Lara
Adrian Parker picture
Adrian Parker
Taraneh (Tara) Zekavat picture
Taraneh (Tara) Zekavat
November 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM — November 12, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Employer Panel: Building the Future Workforce
Jobi Martinez, Ph.D. picture
Jobi Martinez, Ph.D.
Eric Mullens picture
Eric Mullens
Patti Abshire picture
Patti Abshire
Christina Robinson-Tobin, Ed.D. picture
Christina Robinson-Tobin, Ed.D.
November 12, 2025 at 11:45 AM — November 12, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Networking Lunch & Exhibitor Hall
November 12, 2025 at 12:30 PM — November 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
From Local to National: How Apprenticeships Strengthen America’s Talent Pipeline
Maria Darby picture
Maria Darby
November 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM — November 12, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Breakout Session Round 1

Strategic Transitions: Leveraging Veteran Expertise Through Apprenticeship

What is the ROI of L&D?: Apply ISO Standards to Measure Learning and Development

How might artificial intelligence affect Texas’ good jobs?

Building Pathways that Work: A Case Study on Launching a Youth Apprenticeship Program

Education Pathways - Registered Teacher Apprenticeships 

Turning Policy into Pathways: Building the Bridge from Classrooms to Careers

Christine Aboud-Zakhem picture
Christine Aboud-Zakhem
Stacy Bayton picture
Stacy Bayton
Christopher Myrben picture
Christopher Myrben
Anna Crockett picture
Anna Crockett
Victoria Chen picture
Victoria Chen
Trista Bishop-Watt picture
Trista Bishop-Watt
Johnie Flores picture
Johnie Flores
Dr. Ash Tiwari picture
Dr. Ash Tiwari
Dr. Nkrumah Dixon picture
Dr. Nkrumah Dixon
November 12, 2025 at 1:45 PM — November 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Transition Break
November 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM — November 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Breakout Session Round 2

ApprenticeshipTEXAS: Solutions for Employers Through Apprenticeship

Bridging the Gap: Leading and Working Across Generations

Leveraging Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Grant Opportunities to Empower Employees

TECH CHAMPIONS…. Powered by TANCHES!

Turning Policy into Pathways: Building the Bridge from Classrooms to Careers

Traci Nolen picture
Traci Nolen
 Jennifer Hayman picture
 Jennifer Hayman
Taraneh (Tara) Zekavat picture
Taraneh (Tara) Zekavat
Tanaz Choudhury picture
Tanaz Choudhury
Samir Saber picture
Samir Saber
Michael Webster, Ed.D. picture
Michael Webster, Ed.D.
Victoria Herrera picture
Victoria Herrera
Trista Bishop-Watt picture
Trista Bishop-Watt
November 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM — November 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Transition Break
November 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM — November 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
A New Regional Imperative: Elevating Economic Mobility as Our North Star
Sara Sands Francis, Ph.D. picture
Sara Sands Francis, Ph.D.
Patrick Gill picture
Patrick Gill
November 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM — November 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Closing Remarks

Speakers

Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher
Chancellor
Houston City College
Michael Webster, Ed.D.
President of Southwest Campuses at Houston City College
Houston City College
Christina Robinson-Tobin, Ed.D.
Executive Director of Work-Based Learning and Industry Partnerships
Houston City College
Stacy Bayton
Chief Strategy Officer
St. Michael’s Learning Academy
Sara Sands Francis, Ph.D.
Managing Director, Data Impact & Strategy
Good Reason Houston
Anna Crockett
Senior Advisor
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Patrick Gill
Director, Research and Data Strategy
Good Reason Houston
Patti Abshire
Senior Vice President & Community Relations Manager
Bank of America
Christine Aboud-Zakhem
Chief Executive Officer
St. Michael’s Learning Academy (SMLA)
Jobi Martinez, Ph.D.
Vice President for Workforce & Community Connections
Harris Health
Eric Mullens
Vice President of Programs
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston
Johnie Flores
Senior Planner
Gulf Coast Workforce Board
Dr. Nkrumah Dixon
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Huntsville Independent School District
Adrian Parker
Freight Forwarding Apprentice
Fracht Group
 Jennifer Hayman
Talent Management Business Partner
Plains All American
Trista Bishop-Watt
Director, Government Relations
Good Reason Houston
Dr. Ash Tiwari
Chair of the Urban Education Department
University of Houston - Downtown
Victoria Herrera
Operations Manager
TanChes Global Management, Inc.
Christopher Myrben
Talent Development Manager
Trinity River Authority of Texas
Jacqueline Smith-Tezano
Assistant Manager, Food & Nutrition Services
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Taraneh (Tara) Zekavat
Director, Talent Solutions
Houston City College
Samir Saber
Dean & Executive Director
Houston City College
Traci Nolen
Program Specialist
Texas Workforce Commission Office of Apprenticeship
Victoria Chen
Co-Founder and Executive Director of BridgeYear
BridgeYear
Rafael Alvarez
Rafael Alvarez
Senior Vice President of Regional Workforce Development
Greater Houston Partnership
Cedric Crutchfield Jr.
Plumber Apprentice
Way Engineering- Houston Area Plumbing Joint Apprenticeship Committee (HAPJAC) Program
Maria Darby
Chief Operating Officer
Dwyer Workforce Development
Desi Holmes
Apprenticeship Director
Texas Workforce Commission
Tanaz Choudhury
President
TanChes Global Management, INC.
Ethan Phan
Helpdesk Tech Apprentice
TanChes Global Management, INC.

Related files

Nov. 11- Networking Hour: Partnership Tower Parking Map
Download
Nov. 12- Employer Day: WHI Parking Map
Download