Affordable Training Partner and Competitive Advantage

Lone Star College’s Andrew Johnson III Calls on Texas Employers: “Come Meet Your Community College—Your Most Affordable Training Partner and Competitive Advantage”

Houston, Texas – In a new episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sat down with Andrew Johnson III, a respected leader in Texas workforce development and the head of workforce education at Lone Star College, one of the largest and most influential community college systems in the United States. Together, they delivered a clear message to Texas employers: the future of your workforce is already on campus.

Watch the full episode:
The Building Texas Show - Featuring Lone Star College, Andrew Johnson III

Lone Star College, serving 95,000 students across North Houston, continues to be a powerhouse in workforce training, technical education, and employer partnerships. As Texas faces rising demand for skilled technicians, advanced manufacturing talent, and AI-driven industry roles, local companies are increasingly looking for efficient, affordable, and scalable ways to build talent pipelines. Johnson believes the solution is already in their backyard.

“With 95,000 students, that is a captured audience. Why wouldn’t corporate America have an office right here on campus?” Johnson emphasized. “Staffing agencies charge 35 percent above wage for talent searches. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of students—eager, trained, and ready—are right here.”

Large employers, including Foxconn, Apple, SpaceX, SLB (formerly Schlumberger), and Daikin, have already recognized this opportunity. They’ve visited Lone Star College, toured its advanced facilities, and begun hiring directly from its programs.

A Powerful Talent Engine for Texas Industry

Lone Star College’s workforce model is built around three pillars:

• Customized Training for employers needing targeted skill development

• Continuing Education (CE) offering flexible, rapid upskilling

• Credit-Based Workforce Pathways supporting long-term career mobility

The college is also preparing to launch a fully autonomous “lights-out” manufacturing line by 2027, designed to give students hands-on experience with future-ready production systems.

Programs cover advanced manufacturing, machining, welding, fiber/telecom, AI applications, energy sector trades, and more—aligned directly with regional employer demand.

Community colleges also continue to stand out for affordability. While for-profit technical schools often leave graduates with high five-figure debt, Johnson notes Lone Star graduates typically spend around $7,000 total and still enter high-paying careers with strong employer demand.

A Strategic Advantage for Local Employers

McKenzie highlighted the unique time Texas is in—a manufacturing boom across the state requiring more skilled technicians, operators, and tradespeople than ever.

Johnson echoed that urgency:

“Texas is growing fast. Corporate America needs trained employees. The community college system exists to deliver them.”

Through dual-credit programs with local ISDs, students can now graduate high school with up to 60 college hours at no cost, accelerating their workforce readiness and reducing training time for employers.

Employers are also creating co-op models with Lone Star College, hiring students while they study—earning real wages and gaining industry experience the same day.

A Personal Mission to Strengthen the Texas Workforce

Johnson’s story mirrors the impact he now champions. A third-generation shipbuilder and welder by trade, he returned to school later in life—attending four community colleges on his way to earning his PhD at age 62.

“I didn’t know how to get here. We want to shorten that pathway for students. The shortest distance between two points is to bring those two points together.”

This philosophy is now shaping Lone Star College’s approach—bringing students, parents, and employers onto campus to see the facilities, funding options, training programs, and job opportunities firsthand.

CALL TO ACTION: Texas Employers—Come Meet Your Community College

Lone Star College is inviting local employers across Houston, North Houston, and the Cypress/Klein region to engage directly with the college:

• Build a custom training program

• Recruit from a 95,000-student talent pool

• Create on-campus recruitment pipelines

• Develop co-op and apprenticeship partnerships

• Gain a competitive advantage by hiring skilled, workforce-ready talent

Your future workforce is already here. Now is the time to meet them.

To connect with Lone Star College’s workforce team, schedule a visit, or explore partnership opportunities, local employers are encouraged to contact Lone Star College directly and begin building their next-generation talent pipeline.

Watch & Subscribe

Watch the full episode featuring Andrew Johnson III:
https://youtu.be/Iu16a1J4JuY?si=dNOxfbrjXcObRlrt

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