Industry Approved

Regional Employers Value Job-Ready Graduates

Research has shown that College of the Mainland’s economic impact on its surrounding region is an estimated $250 million a year. While that figure is impressive, perhaps COM’s most substantial contribution to the local economy is the steady supply of skilled, job-ready graduates we produce each year. With a career-focused mindset, our longstanding industry partnerships, rigorous curriculum, hands-on training and stimulating classroom experiences ensure that COM graduates have a competitive edge and are ready to fuel the economic strength of the Gulf Coast and beyond.

But don’t just take our word for it. Hear what regional employers have to say about the value that COM brings to our communities.

“It is evident that COM process technology (PTEC) instructors enforce high standards for student performance, both technically and behaviorally. Because of this, students transfer into the LyondellBasell culture smoothly. Various COM PTEC programs, including tutoring, mentorship and soft skills development, support student success in the workplace. At LyondellBasell, our employees work to safely and reliably deliver the plastics, chemicals and technologies that advance solutions to global challenges. Our highly motived team is driven by a set of values that guides them in their day-to-day work and leads them to success including excellence and teamwork. The COM PTEC program reinforces similar values. Graduates understand the importance of attendance, effort and social interaction. Their practical understanding of workforce expectations and technical knowledge enables them to integrate quickly and demonstrate success sooner. At LyondellBasell, we are committed to being a responsible, good neighbor in the communities where we operate. We recognize the importance of preparing tomorrow’s workforce. The COM PTEC program creates a qualified talent pool for local industry and collaborations like these make good business sense.”

Elizabeth Weiss
Senior Manager, Global Corporate Citizenship
LyondellBasell

“At Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC), we’re in the business of enhancing life’s possibilities. Our efforts entail providing energy solutions and working to help communities where we operate thrive. Our MPC Galveston Bay Refinery (GBR) values the College of the Mainland as a vital community partner, as they enrich our community by preparing students to succeed in a diverse, dynamic and global environment. This said, because of the College’s outstanding Process Technology (PTEC) program, MPC is fortunate to have COM graduates as employees – right here at GBR.

Currently, we have approximately 176 MPC employees at GBR who have graduated from the COM’s PTEC program. These employees work in our Operations, Products Controls, and Environmental, Safety and Security departments. The knowledge they’ve acquired from the COM PTEC program, along with the practical experience they acquire at MPC, helps GBR run as a world-class refining complex. Overall, we’re grateful for our partnership with the COM, and we’re proud to support the College through charitable contributions and the generosity of our employees who volunteer there, sharing their knowledge and expertise.”

Dave Leaver
Marathon Petroleum Corporation Vice President of Refining at the Galveston Bay Refinery

“HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake is actively involved in supporting our community and enhancing workforce development initiatives. College of the Mainland students are part of our community, and a great number of allied health and nursing graduates choose to work in the same area where they grew up to care for their family and friends. These close-knit relationships benefit our hospital recruitment efforts as nurses often recruit their colleagues. Additionally, our facilities and the community benefit as a whole because COM graduates are highly engaged in giving back to local organizations, building relationships and ensuring their loved ones get access to the best health care possible.

COM graduates are prepared to work when they arrive at our facilities, and they are committed to providing excellent care to our diverse patient populations. With the national nursing shortage, it’s imperative for hospitals and healthcare programs to work together to encourage students to pursue a career in nursing. When COM students learn about mentoring, internship, residency and employment opportunities available to them at HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake, HCA Houston Healthcare Mainland and our affiliated facilities, they can feel secure about their career path. Our partnership with COM allows students to have this information readily available as well as opportunities to work with faculty on training students to be well-prepared to enter the workforce. We want to help build curriculum that promotes nurse resiliency and prepares graduates for a variety of challenges that may come their way.”

Sherry Camacho
Chief Nursing Officer
HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake/Mainland

“Why do we hire COM graphic arts graduates? Take a look at our visual concepts from our advertisements, billboards, retail merchandising, photography and videos, all designed by COM graduates. Their work is exceptional! Graduates come to us with the latest skills, techniques and trends. They are proficient in design software, video production, social media, photography and more. The graphic arts faculty is doing a great job of preparing students. I don’t know their secret sauce, but Coleena and her team have something special at COM. Their graphic arts graduates are top-notch!”

Tina Foster
Executive Vice President of Administration
AMOCO Federal Credit Union

“Walgreens chooses to partner with COM for a variety of reasons. Walgreens and COM have already built a trusting partnership as Walgreens serves as a site for COM’s pharmacy students to perform their externship hours. This gives COM students a launch into the operations of Walgreens pharmacies across the Galveston County area, making the transition into employment a seamless process. Knowing the standards that COM has for students to enter into their program reassures myself and others that the best of the best have already been selected. Every student that has gone through externship hours in our locations has already gone through an immense amount of classroom hours and is very excited and eager to start the work experience. The values and expectations that COM has for its students align with Walgreens, this ultimately results in job offers to students at graduation.”

Travis Stiver
Certified Store Manager
Walgreens

“I serve on the COM Law Enforcement Academy Advisory Committee and must state that Dr. R.E. Davis and his team have been great with providing my staff and I information regarding COM programs and training opportunities. COM is a Galveston County resource, and we certainly wish to take advantage of the great educational benefits that COM offers. The COM curriculum and instructors have always been excellent.”

Randall Aragon
Chief of Police
La Marque Police Department

“The Texas City Fire Department was instrumental in the development of the COM’s fire program back in 1988. Prior to that, we ran our own graduate program from a classroom provided by COM, so our partnership is well established. Since then, we have hired graduates, sent employees to obtain state certification, and many of our personnel have worked as adjunct faculty throughout the years, myself included. COM not only provides a graduate with the knowledge necessary to begin a career, but also instills in each of them the confidence that they can be successful. We have numerous COM alumni working in Texas City beginning with our current Assistant Fire Chief as well as three captains and five engineers, which confirms that COM graduates often go on to successful careers that began at COM.”

David Zacherl
Fire Chief
Texas City Fire Department