Articles
HCC-TMAC symposium aims to help Gulf Coast manufacturers succeed
Apr 14, 2023
Rising costs, reduced revenue and a shortage of skilled workers are challenging small- and medium-size manufacturers in the Houston-Gulf Coast region and beyond.
To tackle the issues, Houston Community College (HCC) has teamed up with the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) to present the Houston Manufacturing Business Symposium to share funding and resources available to help remove the barriers impacting manufacturers. The gathering will take place from 8 a.m. -- 3:30 p.m. May 2, 2023, at HCC Stafford Campus Learning Hub, 10041 Cash Road in Stafford.
“The college is hosting the symposium for us to connect with manufacturers to help them grow and thrive,” said Alberto Urbina, dean of the HCC Material Science and Smart Manufacturing Center of Excellence. “We will also explore funding opportunities from government entities to invest in tools, equipment and infrastructure to expand manufacturing businesses.”
Rodney Reddic, TMAC executive director, expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with HCC to aid Houston-Gulf Coast manufacturers in enhancing their profitability and competitiveness by improving their products, processes, technologies and people.
“TMAC is committed to providing the essential resources, technical consultation and workforce development necessary to achieve these goals,” he said.
The symposium will gather local, state and business officials, who will be joined by HCC Chancellor Cesar Maldonado, Ph.D., P.E., and Dr. Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, HCC vice chancellor for Workforce Instruction.
“HCC is well positioned to create a talent pipeline with our training programs,” said Burillo-Hopkins, who also is president of HCC Southwest. “We look forward to the discussion and hope to find solutions to providing manufacturers with resources they need to succeed.”
Symposium speakers also include Reddic of TMAC; Jarvis Brewer and Joe Magruder of the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office in the Office of Governor Greg Abbott; Michael Morford of Sustainment Technologies; Dan Poane of Texas Small Business Credit Initiative; Robyn Hill of Southwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center; Gerald McAdoo of Snapshot Business Services; Fernando De La Peña of Aexa Aerospace; and Walter Ugalde of NASA’s Technology Transfer and Commercialization program.
Visit eventsquid.com/event/19691 to register for the symposium. For more event information, visit tmac.org/upcoming-events/ or email info@tmac.org.