Sharon J. Barnes, DBA, MBA/HRM, RBLP-T

President Theodore Roosevelt's October 24th, 1905 visit to Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) symbolically endorsed Booker T. Washington's model of industrial education, emphasizing practical skills and economic self-reliance for African American employment within a segregated society. This legacy influences modern HR through its early emphasis on skills-based hiring, workforce development partnerships, economic inclusion, and alternative education pathways. These concepts have evolved into core HR pillars: valuing competencies over pedigree, building education-to-employment pipelines, pursuing diversity and equity, and recognizing non-traditional credentials for talent expansion. #TuskegeeUniversity #HumanResources #HREducation #Leadership #HigherEducation #TheRenaissanceEra #HonoringOurPast #InvestingInOurFuture #TheTuskegeeWay

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Strong employer partnerships are critical to creating meaningful career-connected learning opportunities for learners. In our latest two-part Catalyze series, grantees Educate Texas, The New Trade Program, and Project Success share lessons on what makes partnerships work: 🤝 Shared vision sets the foundation 👏 Mutual value sustains engagement 💪 Trust and iteration keep partnerships strong over time Check out part one here: https://lnkd.in/gS5JTy2G #CareerConnectedLearning #EducationInnovation #EducationToEmployment

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the Louisiana Apprenticeship Program will introduce eight different apprenticeship types and there will be employers, who offer them here tonight.

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According to the Greater Houston Partnership Economy at Glance today, we head into 2026 with slow but steady growth, continued cost and inflation pressures, and a labor market that’s cooling but still competitive in healthcare, education and public administration. Upstream energy firms continue to face challenges with a slumping commodity price, but midstream, LNG, and data center-related power expect continued growth. In this environment, human capital choices in 2026–2027 are essential to your performance. For #CEOs and #CHROs, the question is no longer if you’ll respond – but how decisively. Here are a few key actions: Diagnose: What are your #HR pressure points across #TotalRewards, #wellbeing, and #talent that most effect growth and success? --Where are cost pressures and medical trends hitting hardest? --Where are employee expectations shifting fastest? --Which roles are most exposed to AI and automation, and where are your most critical skills gaps? You need objective, data‑driven views of where the strains are – by business unit, skill/role, and geography. Decide: Align on 3–5 Human Capital priorities that directly support organizational strategy – not just a wish list of initiatives. Candidates include: redesigning total rewards to align to critical talent expectations, building a skills‑based talent framework to prepare for the future, strengthening employee financial and emotional wellbeing, or getting ahead of pay transparency and equity scrutiny. Plan for Action: Build a practical roadmap you can start executing this year to optimize existing programs, invest differently, sunset outdated programs, and communicate changes to support buy-in and performance. Act: The organizations that will win the next business cycle will understand their pressure points, make targeted bold choices, and execute with clarity and courage. What are the critical few human capital decisions you’re treating with board‑level urgency in 2026-2027? Is your roadmap ready to support it? Aon Human Capital Solutions is your partner to help you diagnose, decide, plan, and implement the right people strategies for success.

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National Texas Day Texas’ workforce ecosystem continues to evolve with strategic innovations that serve job seekers, employers, and communities. According to the 2025 State of the Workforce – Texas report, the state is implementing forward-thinking solutions to align talent with opportunity: 👉 Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund supports training programs that prepare Texans for entry- to mid-level jobs, helping fill in-demand and emerging roles across the state through grants to colleges and nonprofits. 👉 ApprenticeshipTexas helps power one of the nation’s largest apprenticeship networks—supporting over 1,000 programs and 36,000 apprentices in industries ranging from skilled trades to healthcare and childcare. 👉 Virtual Assistant is available 24/7 to help Texans with disabilities and students access vocational rehabilitation services, using AI technology to support employment and post-secondary success. These innovations reflect Texas’ commitment to an inclusive, skilled workforce and a competitive economy. https://lnkd.in/gJJPip8M #NASWA

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📚Teaching Louisiana’s Next Generation the Power of Saving 💰 Lark & Mimi ™ Learn to Save introduces Pre-K and early learners to the joy of financial confidence through reading, coloring, and hands-on activities - building a foundation that grows with them all the way to high school. 📘 Together with the Financial Power for Life™ Education Series curriculum for high schoolers, we’re creating a full circle of financial education - from a child’s first coin to their first paycheck. We’re proud to share that this program is being submitted to the Louisiana Department of Education for approval - paving the way for a 64-parish statewide rollout that brings financial literacy to every corner of Louisiana. 📚 Lark & Mimi ™ Learn to Save and the Financial Power for Life™ Education Series are licensed educational products published by Evans Cutchmore.

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😊 Grateful to join today’s University of Houston SHRM Student Chapter panel with my HR Houston colleagues. 🎤 We talked career paths, competencies, and the realities of working in HR — and the students came ready with thoughtful, future-focused questions. A few takeaways I’d share with anyone starting out: ➡️ Build your network early, it opens doors you can’t predict. ➡️ Keep your HR knowledge sharp by following credible sources. ➡️ Strengthen core skills like communication, strategic thinking, and change leadership; they’ll carry you further than any single job title. Practice your 60-second elevator pitch! 📣 My blunt take: If you’re job-hunting, don’t just read; remember to curate. Share one or two insights from the sources we referred to on LinkedIn with your own take. That demonstrates to recruiters that you’re not just passively consuming, but actively thinking about the future of HR. The energy from this next generation of professionals is inspiring, and I’m excited to see where they take our field. Shoutout to my fellow panelists, Mahua Ghosh and Natiesha Walker, for sharing their insights! And thank you to Lisa S. McIntire, PHR for moderating! #HR #HumanResources #TalentDevelopment #SHRM #HRHouston #FutureOfWork #CareerGrowth #HRCompetencies #HRStudents #LeadershipDevelopment #Networking #PeopleFirst

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Houston’s workforce is more fluid than it looks. Hiring has slowed, uncertainty is high, and headlines are filled with layoffs. Many employees are choosing stability for now, but the Kinder Institute for Urban Research ’s latest report on what matters most to Greater Houston’s workers shows that many would still consider moving to an employer that offers flexibility, shared values, and long-term stability. Here's what leaders should pay attention to: ➡️ 30% of workers say flexibility is the most important factor when choosing a job. Pay ranks second at 27%. ➡️ About 3 in 10 workers see their job as “just a job,” not a career or stepping stone. ➡️ Nearly 9 in 10 workers report being at least “moderately satisfied,” yet almost half either want to change careers or are unsure about staying in their current field. When the market turns and opportunities expand, organizations that deprioritized culture, flexibility, and professional development will see their best people walk out the door. Those that kept investing in their teams and culture will retain talent and pivot into growth mode more easily. In this moment, are you investing in culture and development to build a more resilient organization? Or assuming people will stay simply because their options are few? One positions you to thrive. The other creates quiet resentment that will eventually turn into loud departures. Source: https://lnkd.in/gPTjDqfD

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#RiseTotheTop is an annual theme for the Greater Houston Partnership. So, when Sophia Cunningham extended an invitation for this year's luncheon, it was only fitting for me to attend, given the theme of this year's Women's International Day is #GiveToGain. Thanks, Sophia. I know what you are thinking... Loretta, this is you everyday. You are absolutely correct‼️ Yesterday, SUPERGirls SHINE Foundation (SGSF) hosted The FUTURE of Women in STEM at Ion District creating a space for Kalila Hines Winters, MA, Natacha Chough, MD, MPH and Andrea Course to speak on barriers, gaps, opportunities and solutions we together will take to move the needle forward for more women & girls in STEM careers, C-suite and Venture Capitol funding as well as recipients of funding, along with allies in Brad Burke and Rob Schapiro. It also was attended by a one of SGSF'S 1st school education partners, 9 yrs ago in Olle Middle School, who is now with HCC. Hence, the statement from Sonya Johnson (Bishop), one of yesterday's luncheon panelists shared, says it all... "Make sure you are not only creating a seat at the table yet a bench!" Are you❓️ We because that's how we expedite access and equitable opportunities across all industries for rising leadHERs in STEM. 📌 So, remember, showing up to hear the word is only the beginning. Doing the work and living the word is where transformation takes place. What are you doing where others are transformed because of the "bench" you created? Ahhh, we have some benches at SGSF that need your strength, mentorship, support and leadership. 💜Get connected and SHINE like Marie Myers, who leads global teams from a place of intentionality, Brandi Harleaux, who lives legacy leadHERship to pass is on and Meredith Hopson Beaupre, who leads from the power of linguistics, ensuring effective and human centered communications is the thread to building solid teams. Click the link ⬇️ to #GivetoGain at SGSF. An experience where you will SHINE Bright. https://lnkd.in/gnfU9mgv #WomensHistoryMonth

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Some things we can expect to see this November on the ballot in Houston, TX: Voters will weigh a constitutional amendment to allocate nearly $1 billion annually over 20 years toward water infrastructure improvements—supporting projects like the $4.2 billion rebuild of Houston’s aging East Water Purification Plant. With this, ratepayers would likely see an increase in water bills of about 6%. Proposition 14 would establish a $3 billion Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, funded over the next decade to boost brain health initiatives. Spearheaded by Houston lawmakers, this effort is modeled on Texas’s successful cancer research institute and aims to attract top researchers while addressing Alzheimer’s and related diseases—already affecting over half a million Texans. Ahead of this, Houston residents may see significant changes in their congressional representation as Governor Abbott has called a special session beginning in July to redraw majority-minority congressional districts in the Houston region—potentially impacting over one million people. This redistricting is a result of constitutional concerns from the U.S. Justice Department and a 2023 Supreme Court ruling. #houstonstrong #powerofpurpose #p3hrs https://lnkd.in/gY-ATuv6

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Great Sechel Ventures Partners LLC interview with Kathy Kennedy, DNP, APRN, CNM-BC, Assistant Professor, University of Louisiana Monroe “𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴-𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥.” Nurse practitioners in Louisiana play a critical role in addressing the healthcare provider shortage, particularly in rural and underserved areas. This need has fueled significant growth in the NP profession within the state. According to data from 2022, there were 4,470 nurse practitioners working in Louisiana, and CareerOneStop.org (2025) projects that number to rise to 6,420 by 2032—a 44 percent increase in just ten years. This trend highlights the importance of advanced nursing education programs, including those offered online, as they help equip the next generation of NPs to serve communities across the state effectively and compassionately. https://lnkd.in/gSSQU5BH

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! New Incentive Alert: Louisiana Launches High Impact Jobs Program ! On June 20, Governor Jeff Landry signed Act 372, creating the High Impact Jobs Program (HIP)—a new grant-based incentive for companies creating high-paying jobs in Louisiana. Replacing the long-standing Quality Jobs Program, HIP offers flexible, performance-based cash grants tied to wages and job location, especially targeting distressed areas and high-skill roles. Key Highlights: • Grants up to $200K/job/year for 5 years • Priority sectors: energy, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, biotech, logistics & more • Higher incentives for jobs in distressed areas or exceeding local wage thresholds • Bonus grants for retaining advanced-degree talent • First grants issued July 1, 2026 Funding is limited and awarded first-come, first-served. Early evaluation is key. https://lnkd.in/gNd764aj #Incentives #EconomicDevelopment #SiteSelection #Louisiana #AtlasInsight

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Culture, Inclusion, and Bold Leadership in 2025: Reflections from the Greater Houston Partnership Panel Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the One Houston Together event hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership. The topics centered around how businesses are reimagining and repositioning culture and inclusion in 2025. Here are a few insights that truly resonated: ➡️ Culture is behavior. It’s not what’s written on the wall, but what’s whispered in Slack, echoed in Teams, and lived out consistently across the organization. ➡️ Representation is the new reputation. Recruiting is no longer just about job descriptions; it’s about leadership team photos, backstories on social media, and whether people can see themselves in your vision. ➡️ Our inclusion filter must be global. In our region, many companies work with international teams and clients. Therefore, their view of inclusion extends beyond the US perspective, demanding a broader understanding. To deepen your inclusion culture, consider asking: Who have we not considered? This question should go beyond identity and encompass roles, viewpoints, and access. ➡️ Inclusion fuels innovation. Embedding inclusion champions throughout your business isn’t just nice, it’s necessary. When we lead with curiosity and build cultures of learning (not perfection), we create space for bold moves, forward failure, and real progress. ➡️ Accountability can’t stop at the top or get lost in the middle. Many great initiatives die in middle management, often due to change saturation. It's our job as leaders to resource, reinforce, and reimagine what's possible. ➡️ Developing a skill-first mindset Do your hiring practices reflect a “skills-first” mindset, or are you still filtering for 4-year degrees by default? What are you leaving on the table with that approach? The challenge was clear: - Be courageous. - Be clear. - Be curious. - Be legendary, not ordinary. I left reminded that inclusion isn’t a department, it’s a daily decision. And culture isn’t a poster, it’s a practice. A huge shoutout to the panel – LaTanya Flix, MPAff, ACC, Brady Pyle, JeNae Johnson and Thomas J Lopez and to my tablemates – Kinsey Crabtree, Thornton LaKeishia and Mary Sizemore. Let’s keep the conversation going. What bold moves are you making in 2025 to build a culture that truly includes and innovates? #Leadership #Culture #Inclusion #HoustonBusiness #OneHoustonTogether #GreaterHoustonPartnership #BusinessDevelopment #BoldMoves #PeopleFirst

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The Partnership connected Avail Media's Liz Ferrari, M.S. of Women on the Rise with Aundrea Young, MBA, President and CEO of Competitive Choice, Inc. and member of the Executive Women’s Partnership. Together, they share how mentorship is shaping their leadership journeys. ⭐Learn more at Houston.org/WomenRise

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At Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC), we’re proud to do more than educate — we empower. In partnership with ExxonMobil Baton Rouge, we’re launching the 12th cohort of the North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative (NBRITI) — a no-cost training program that prepares individuals for high-wage, high-demand careers in the industrial sector. This initiative is more than a training opportunity — it’s a pathway to economic mobility, workforce development, and long-term community impact in North Baton Rouge. Join us Tuesday, April 29 for the NBRITI Open House and see how we’re helping transform potential into progress. #mybrcc

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