Working with local entities, offering employment to qualified and trained personnel
By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez
As originally published in Texas Border Business newsprint edition August 2019
In conjunction with Workforce Solutions Cameron and the Cameron County Education Initiative (CCEI), Noble Texas Builders, one of the leaders in the construction industry teamed up for the first-ever new employee drafting. The event took place at Noble’s new headquarters in La Feria, Texas.
It was a beautiful ceremony that brought leaders from the Cameron County area together. Pat Hobbs, one of the speakers, and the executive director of Workforce Solutions Cameron, and one who has the insight as to what the construction industry means in Cameron County said, “The whole idea of the draft day is to bring attention to the world of work. You see athletes signing, and you see a graduate from high school signing and go to college, but the world of work is where the jobs are.”
He pointed out that they are trying to change the idea that all graduates have to have a four-year degree or they’re going to be a failure. He said, “The truth is 70 to 80% of tomorrow’s jobs are technical in nature, not requiring a bachelor’s degree.”
Also, he said, “Most of you have heard about LNG is coming, it’s not only the LNGs but a potential steel mill, shipbuilding, and potential power plants being built; lots and lots of construction.” He continued, “I say thank you to Rene Capistran and his group, Noble Texas Builders, they’re going to be an important part of what goes on here in the Valley and the improvement in our economy.”
Henry Castillo, the Regional Director with Workforce Solutions Cameron said that in this particular case it all started with partnering with CCEI to invest to get these people enrolled in training and to ensured support needed for them to stay in the program and be successful.
“Essentially what we do is work with the employer to agree upon a training plan when they hire these individuals for a certain period of time, and during that time Workforce Solutions provides financial assistance to help offset the cost of training that the employer incurs when they hire a new individual.”
According to Castillo, sometimes, when an employer hires a new individual and it doesn’t work out, being part of this program allows the employer some flexibility and some comfort that if this new hire doesn’t work out, the employer isn’t out all of their time and effort. “It’s a program that we have that assists and helps bridge the gap and make it easier to facilitate the process of these individuals becoming productive employees for any employer, in this case, it’s Noble Texas Builders,” Castillo said.
Dr. Rita Hernandez, representing Cameron County Education Initiative (CCEI), said, “On behalf of the CCEI family, we’re proud of our students. We’re proud to hand them over from the CCEI family to the Noble family.” She continued, “Gentlemen, how lucky you are to be going from a family of ours to a family like the Noble family.”
Dr. Hernandez also pointed out, “Mr. Capistranis a true public servant. When I was an assistant superintendent, he had visited the schools. The kids would just run in the halls because ‘Bob the Builder’ was in town. And I’m honored to call him my friend and my partner.”
Drafted students were also present, and the first pick in 2019 Noble Texas Builders selected Alfonso Campos, the field specialist. Their second pick was Valente Cortez, also a field specialist. The third pick was Hector Ortega, a project expediter, and their fourth pick selected was Sergio Picasso, a construction specialist.
These young men took advantage of the opportunity, but with their hard work and their determination, they completed the training after choosing to pursue careers like this in a growing and high demand industry.
Hector, one of the draftees, said that he was humbled. He spent ten weeks training at CCEI, and during that time multiple companies came to offer jobs. “When Mr. Capistran came in, I felt very honored. He’s a brilliant man.” Besides, he said that Noble’s giving back practices was an important factor for him to accept and join the company.
President and CEO of Noble Texas Builders, Rene Capistran had something to share too, “We’re fortunate and blessed to be here in the Rio Grande Valley. This being the very first-ever draft day. What does it mean to Noble, and where do you see this going in the future?”
He said that it’s a humbling experience to be able to see what’s happening before us. “I think that this draft allows future employees to engage in a career and not necessarily a job. There’s a big difference between both of those. A career provides you meaningful employment so that you will be able to provide for your family, it provides benefits, it provides retirement and a good-paying job.”
He continued, “I believe that this draft will encourage other partners in the industry to team up and do this because. I’m telling you right now, the skill level that I have witnessed from these four young men, I’ll put up against anybody else. They’re amazing, and I just think that there are so many great opportunities right around the corner for many other employers,” he finalized.
Noble Texas Builders is a locally-owned company that provides general contracting, design-build, and construction management services designed to exceed the expectations of their clients.
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