Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush tours Lone Star College-Process Technology Center

HOUSTON, TX – George P. Bush, Texas Land commissioner, visited Lone Star College-Kingwood and toured the LSC-Process Technology Center as part of his “conversation with the future” in 2019.

The visit is part of the commissioner’s desire to see firsthand the impact that education has on Texas students by engaging with schools and teachers throughout the state during 2019.

Bush recognized the innovative work being done by Lone Star College to produce a trained workforce to help meet the demands of industry.

“The Lone Star College-Process Technology Center is doing a tremendous job of filling the need for process operators in Texas,” said Bush. “Technical training provided by programs like this help Texans prepare for high-paying jobs in a growing industry.”

Students attending the LSC-Process Technology Center can earn a Process Technology Associate of Applied Science degree, which prepares them to be workforce ready.

The demand for Process Technicians/Operators is high. Graduates of this LSC program gain the technical skills and knowledge to operate and maintain specialized equipment used in petrochemical plants, refineries, power generation facilities, pharmaceutical plants, and food and beverage processing facilities.

“Lone Star College continues to lead the way in training students to get them ready to enter the workforce in the area’s leading industries,” said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC chancellor. “I appreciate Commissioner Bush’s interest in what Lone Star College is doing to help address the worker shortage facing our region and our state.

“Local employers continue to report a difficult time finding skilled workers to fill positions, particularly technical positions,” said Dr. Head. “That’s why we have been very deliberate in creating new Workforce Centers of Excellence throughout our service area.”

The Associated General Contractors of America Houston reports, for example, 78 percent of construction firms in Texas say they are having difficulty finding skilled workers, despite record employment in the industry. The data are result of a survey of more than 2,500 construction firms.

Dr. Head noted that since 2017, LSC has opened the LSC-North Harris Construction and Skilled Trades Technology Center, LSC-Process Technology Center and LSC-Westway Park Technology Center. LSC also expanded workforce programs at LSC-Conroe Center and LSC-Cypress Center.

LSC also has plans for constructing the LSC-Transportation and Logistics Center and the LSC-Oil and Gas Services Training Center – designed to help address specific workforce shortages in those industries.

In addition to Dr. Head, Commissioner Bush met with Dr. Alton Smith, LSC Board of Trustees chair; Mike Sullivan, LSC Board of Trustees; and Dr. Katherine Persson, LSC-Kingwood president.

“Lone Star College works very closely with industry leaders to align course content and help ensure our students are ready to join the workforce after they complete their studies,” said Dr. Smith.

“Lone Star College students are not only taught the technical skills they need, but also life skills such as the importance of being on time, working well with others and maintaining a professional appearance,” said Dr. Smith.