Workforce Solutions Heads to the Build Freedom Summit in Galveston

Next week, Galveston hosts a national conference on who will fill the jobs behind American manufacturing and defense, and Workforce Solutions will be part of it in three ways.

At the Build Freedom Summit, Oct. 20–21, Workforce Solutions team members will present a panel and have exhibit space. Then on Oct. 22, the team will support the Build Freedom Career Expo, hosted by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP).

Event Details

• Build Freedom Summit: Tuesday–Wednesday, October 20–21, 2026
• Build Freedom Career Expo: Thursday, October 22, 2026, 1–4 p.m.
• Location: Galveston Island Convention Center, 5600 Seawall Blvd., Galveston, TX 77551

A panel on the Workforce Board’s Role

Juliet Stipeche, Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Workforce Board; Traci Nolen of the Gulf Coast Workforce Board; and Lacy Wolf, Principal Industry Liaison for Employer Engagement in Building and Construction, will represent Workforce Solutions at the Summit. The team will present “From Workforce Strategy to Industrial Readiness: How Workforce Boards Are Building the Talent Pipeline for America’s Manufacturing and Defense Future.”

The panel looks at where workforce boards fit in the industrial supply chain. Manufacturers and defense contractors need workers with specific skills, often on short timelines. Workforce boards work with both those employers and the people looking for jobs or training. That gives them a clear view of what employers need and what job seekers bring.

Find Workforce Solutions in the Exhibit Space

Workforce Solutions will also have exhibit space during the Summit. Attendees from employers, schools, training providers and government agencies can stop by to meet the team and learn how Workforce Solutions works with employers and job seekers across the Gulf Coast region.

Career Expo on Oct. 22

The week ends with the Build Freedom Career Expo, where Workforce Solutions will support BAHEP. The Expo connects job seekers with hiring managers from manufacturing, defense and skilled-trades employers. Attendees can explore career pathways and talk with employers directly.

Register Today!

You can register for the Expo at buildfreedomsummit.org.

Explore in-demand careers and connect with top employers at upcoming Workforce Solutions hiring events. Register today to secure your spot and access career-building resources.