Houston Mayor Salutes Student Apprentices at TRIO Pre-Apprenticeship Partnership Day

HOUSTON - July 30, 2018 - PRLog -- Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner saluted young student workers in the TRIO Electric Pre-Apprenticeship Program (TPAP) and proclaimed Friday, July 27, 2018 as TRIO Pre-Apprenticeship Partnership Day. He encouraged the 40 students in the program that working hard and learning skills for a good-paying career will position them to do the best for themselves and their families. The mayor reminded the students that he had once served as an electrician's apprentice where he learned skills that he still uses.

The mayor recognized TRIO Electric (TRIO) and its education partners, especially Spring Branch ISD and HCC, for creating an effective pre-apprenticeship program that prepares students for skilled workforce jobs in the electrical industry.

The theme of the day was vision and skills. Spring Branch ISD superintendent Scott Muri told the students that it was the vision of TRIO Electric president Beau Pollock that created the apprenticeship program to solve a need for skilled workers. Associate vice chancellor Michael Webster of Houston Community College (HCC) reminded the students that the skills learned in the apprenticeship program will last them a lifetime.

"Today is a great day in the City of Houston," Mayor Turner said. "Beau Pollock of TRIO Electric has the vision, dedication and commitment to provide students with job skills," Mayor Turner said. "You are trailblazers," he told the students, "willing to work hard and learn work skills. In Houston, we invest in human infrastructure because we believe in people like you."

TRIO initiated a TRIO Apprenticeship Program (TAP) in 2013 to help meet a critical demand for electricians with technical and leadership skills. Nearly 200 workers have taken advantage of TAP. In 2017, TRIO started working with Spring Branch ISD and Houston Community College (HCC) to establish the TRIO Pre-Apprenticeship Program (TPAP) for high school students. By the fall 2018 semester, more than 150 high school students will be taking advantage of TPAP through Spring Branch ISD, Austin ISD and Grand Prairie ISD. TRIO Electric plans to expand TPAP to other areas of Texas and the U.S.

TPAP students are recruited by their high school counselors and TRIO on-campus and then selected for the program. The TPAP program is taught by former electricians and educators with electrical experience who are collectively recruited and screened by the partnership. The program teaches students how to be safe, productive and skilled electricians as well as teaches other employable and soft skills required by the workplace.

Pollock thanked the students for performing on the job. "I had a good idea to train students, yet you had to perform," he told the students. "You performed and proved this was a good idea."

TRIO offers the students who perform internship opportunities and full-time employment after graduation where they will continue their apprenticeship training until they are eligible to take the state journeyman exam.

In addition to HCC and Spring Branch ISD, TRIO Pre-Apprenticeship Program partners include Spring Branch ISD SKY partners – KIPP and YES Prep, as well as the Greater Houston Partnership (http://www.houston.org/)'s UpSkill Houston, United Way, Texas Gulf Coast Workforce Solutions, and the Department of Labor (DOL). The TRIO TAP and TPAP programs are DOL-approved.

About TRIO Electric

TRIO Electric is one of the top electrical design, construction and service firms in Texas. TRIO works on a variety of commercial, light industrial and multi-family residential projects ranging from office buildings, hospitals, schools, manufacturing plants, apartments, condominiums and hotels. TRIO's service team provides 24-hour emergency response and preventative maintenance services. TRIO's purpose is to improve lives by serving its customers, employees and the community. For more information visit www.trioltd.com.