WOMEN IN INDUSTRY - Community colleges host annual conference

October 23, 2018

Galveston’s Moody Gardens Convention Center will be the site for the fourth annual Women in Industry Conference, hosted by the Community College Petrochemical Industry (CCPI).

More than 1,250 women are expected for the event, scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. The CCPI, a consortium of nine area community colleges, is hosting the conference as a means of introducing women to the careers and opportunities available in the petrochemical and industrial skills industries — fields traditionally dominated by men.

CCPI-member colleges include Wharton County Junior College, Alvin Community College, Brazosport College, College of the Mainland, Galveston College, Houston Community College, Lee College, Lone Star College and San Jacinto College.

“This conference is geared for all women — the unemployed or underemployed, high school or college students, or veterans — who desire a stable, well-paying career,” said Dr. Sarah Janes, who helps plan the conference. “Because of an aging workforce, plant expansions, and new construction starts in a growing economy, there are plenty of challenging, well-paying career positions available in the Gulf Coast region — and refineries and contractors are looking for trained women to hire.”

Last year’s attendees also included women already in the field, looking to advance in their career paths.

Participants will hear from other women who work in the petrochemical and industrial trades industries and will have the opportunity to talk with college representatives about enrollment, financial aid and other training-related issues. Several major employers will also be present.

Corporate sponsors for the event include ExxonMobil, S&B Engineers, BASF, Chevron Phillips, Dow, Freeport LNG, INEOS, Jacobs, LyondellBasell, NolTex and Shell.

To learn more about attending the conference, or to become a corporate sponsor, contact Kelly Dando, CCPI grant coordinator, at 281.425.6221, or kdando@lee.edu. Visit the CCPI website at: EnergizeHouston.org.

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