Workforce Development

GBRIA's member-led workforce development programs work across the full arc of the pipeline, from classroom to career, building the qualified and competitive craft workforce that keeps the Greater Baton Rouge region's industrial sector strong.

Our Mission

The Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance is committed to ensuring Louisiana's industrial sector has access to a qualified, competitive, and sustainable skilled workforce. Through partnerships with contractors, educators, training providers, and member companies, GBRIA drives programs that connect students to careers, bring educators into the field, and recognize the people and organizations investing in the next generation of craft professionals.

Workforce Development Committee

The Workforce Development Committee is the member-led body that sets strategy, aligns partners, and oversees the programs that connect Louisiana's students, educators, and employers. Led by professionals from GBRIA member companies, the committee works directly with high schools and career academies, community and technical colleges, trade schools, and local and state partners to identify workforce needs, align training programs, and promote awareness of careers in the skilled crafts.

The committee is led by:

Rafael Gonzalez, Solstice Baton Rouge
Theo Webre, Dow
Steve Welch, OxyChem Convent

Workforce Development Awards

Since 2007, the GBRIA Workforce Development Awards has recognized the contractors, high schools, post-secondary institutions, and individual champions doing the substantive work of building Southeast Louisiana's craft workforce. The program benchmarks excellence across recruitment, training, assessment, and retention, and celebrates that work each year alongside the region's leading industrial employers. Eligible participants include industrial contractors working at GBRIA member sites, high schools and post-secondary institutions, workforce innovators and educators, and GBRIA and NORIA member companies.

Learn More About the Workforce Development Awards

Craft Skills Assessment and Training

GBRIA supports NCCER training and assessment programs delivered through ABC, Community Colleges, and secondary schools, meeting regularly to review current offerings, align programs with member company needs, and provide direct feedback from owner companies to training providers. This ensures that what is taught in the classroom reflects what is required in the field.

GBRIA Definition of Certified Craft Person

GBRIA and ABC's Pelican Chapter jointly developed the Certified Craft Person Definition for the Greater Baton Rouge area, a shared standard that gives owner companies and contractors a common language for evaluating and developing their people. All owners and contractors across the region are encouraged to adopt this standard to promote consistency, safety, and professionalism across the industrial workforce.

Contact Us

To learn more about GBRIA's workforce development programs or to get involved, contact Brandon Smith at brandon@gbria.org or (225) 769-0596 ext. 17.