Houston Gulf Coast ARP Cohort 18 graduates
The Spotlight Series highlights Apprenticeship Readiness Programs across the TradesFutures network.
The Houston Gulf Coast Apprenticeship Readiness Program (ARP) is helping connect individuals across Southeast Texas with family-sustaining careers in the union building trades through strong partnerships, intentional recruitment, and comprehensive participant support.
The program was launched in 2017 by the Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council following Hurricane Harvey, when many workers faced economic uncertainty and displacement. Led by Executive Secretary Paul Puente, a fourth-term labor leader and member of IBEW Local 716 with more than 35 years in the union construction industry, the program was created to expand access to Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for underserved communities throughout Harris County and 20 surrounding counties.
“Our goal is to change the dynamic of our community,” says Puente. “If we can help neighborhoods with high unemployment and low-income rise, then other neighborhoods rise as well.”
Since its inception, the Houston Gulf Coast ARP has completed 18 cohorts and helped connect hundreds of participants to careers in the skilled trades.
Building Strong Union Partnerships
Strong relationships with local unions are the foundation of the Houston Gulf Coast ARP. Program staff work closely with apprenticeship coordinators, training directors, and business managers throughout the region to ensure participants are prepared for success before they begin the apprenticeship application process.
Regular collaboration through union meetings and the Apprenticeship Training Association of Texas (ATAT) keeps the program aligned with workforce needs while giving apprenticeship sponsors confidence in the quality of ARP graduates.
“We’re consistently educating business managers and training directors about what the curriculum teaches and the expectations we set for participants,” Puente explains.
Recruitment with Purpose
The Houston Gulf Coast ARP takes an intentional approach to recruitment, partnering with community-based organizations, workforce development agencies, faith-based organizations, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to identify individuals who are ready for careers in the skilled trades.
Applicants are evaluated throughout the recruitment process for professionalism, communication, punctuality, and commitment. Once accepted, participants complete the Multi-Craft 3 Core Curriculum (MC3), where they gain technical knowledge while developing the workplace habits employers expect, including safety, accountability, teamwork, and professionalism.
The result is graduates who are prepared not only to enter Registered Apprenticeship programs, but to succeed once they arrive. Contractors and apprenticeship partners consistently report that participants enter the workforce with strong work habits and a clear understanding of industry expectations.
Success Story: Violeta Maldonado
Houston Gulf Coast ARP Graduate Violeta Maldonado
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Violeta is a U.S. Air Force veteran, first-generation Mexican American, single mother of four and mechanical estimator associate at Southland Industries. After years of working low-wage jobs with limited opportunities, she discovered the Houston Gulf Coast Apprenticeship Readiness Program during the COVID-19 pandemic, which introduced her to a career with Pipefitters Local 211. She completed the five-year apprenticeship with perfect attendance and has built a rewarding career in the union construction industry. Today, Violeta is financially stable, committed to continued professional growth and passionate about showing her children and other women that the skilled trades offer life-changing opportunities.
Removing Barriers to Opportunity
Recognizing that career readiness extends beyond classroom instruction, the Houston Gulf Coast ARP partners with local workforce development organizations to connect eligible participants with supportive services that help remove barriers to success. Assistance may include transportation, gas cards, work boots, tools, and other resources that allow participants to complete training and transition into apprenticeship.
By pairing workforce preparation with wraparound support, the program helps ensure that financial challenges do not prevent qualified individuals from pursuing careers in the trades.
Creating Lasting Community Impact
Partnerships with workforce organizations, local government, community organizations, and local media have helped expand awareness of Registered Apprenticeship opportunities throughout Southeast Texas. That growing community visibility includes a recent FOX 26 feature highlighting Cohort 14 graduate Jomairy Jimenez and her journey into the skilled trades. These collaborations strengthen recruitment efforts, increase public understanding of union careers, and connect more individuals to family-sustaining employment.
For the Houston Gulf Coast ARP, success extends beyond apprenticeship placements. It is measured by the long-term impact on workers, families, and communities. Through strong industry partnerships, intentional participant preparation, supportive services, and a commitment to workforce opportunity, the Houston Gulf Coast Apprenticeship Readiness Program continues to demonstrate how Apprenticeship Readiness Programs can build sustainable pathways into high-quality union careers.