Austin, Texas—Skillpoint Alliance—a Central Texas 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides fast-paced, no-cost job training in the skilled trades to lower-income, underserved and under-accessed populations—celebrated its 30th anniversary on Thursday, April 25 with Mayor Watson and members of the community. During the event, Robert Rutishauser, the first executive director of Skillpoint Alliance, received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his dedication to the organization.
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized with an award and to celebrate Skillpoint’s history among so many influential people,” Robert Rutishauser, the first executive director of Skillpoint Alliance, said. “Skillpoint Alliance was created and designed to serve and support the members of our community and witnessing their impact over the span of 30 years is remarkable.”
Skillpoint Alliance was founded in April of 1994 when then-Mayor Bruce Todd called upon the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Task Force on Apprenticeships and Career Pathways for Austin to create a solution to the lack of apprenticeship and craft training in the City of Austin. A task force created The Capital Area Training Foundation, a non-profit, industry-led, self-governing organization charged with promoting and guiding the development of skilled trade training efforts in Austin.
“Over the past three decades, Skillpoint Alliance has played an immeasurable role in shaping the way we train and upskill the members of the Austin community,” Catherine Morse, board chair for Skillpoint Alliance, said. “Skillpoint’s commitment to empowering individuals and enriching our community through workforce development has helped thousands of Texans to find meaningful, lifelong careers.”
Skillpoint Alliance currently offers four programs–pre-apprentice electrical, pre-apprentice plumbing, HVAC technician and certified production technician–and boasts a graduation rate of over 90%, with over 78% of students finding employment within the first six weeks after graduation.
Throughout each program, students will meet with potential employers, attend employer site visits, prepare resumes and cover letters, and participate in mock interviews. Upon completing the program, Skillpoint Alliance will leverage its vast network of employer partners to help graduates secure employment.
Skillpoint Alliance is continuously adapting and expanding its program offerings based on workforce needs in the region.
“Skillpoint Alliance is committed to helping vulnerable community members attain financial independence by providing free, rapid-paced workforce training in the Greater Austin area,” Kevin Brackmeyer, CEO of Skillpoint Alliance, said. “This customizable program is designed to create a diverse talent pool that meets the specific needs of our local employers, solidifying Skillpoint as a vital part of the solution to the skilled worker shortage in Central Texas and in the Permian Basin.”
In Central Texas, the organization has expanded its pre-apprentice electrical class to Killeen, its pre-apprentice plumbing and HVAC classes in Del Valle, and replicated the certified production technician program in New Braunfels and San Marcos.
In 2022, Skillpoint Alliance expanded its pre-apprentice electrical and HVAC technician program to the Permian Basin through partnership with the Permian Strategic Partnership. Through collaborations with Midland College, Odessa College and Southeast New Mexico College, Skillpoint has replicated its programs in Midland, Odessa, Pecos and Carlsbad. As a result of recent expansions, the Skillpoint Alliance has seen record-breaking enrollment numbers across all four programs.
For more information about Skillpoint Alliance, please visit https://skillpointalliance.org/.
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About Skillpoint Alliance
Skillpoint Alliance is a 501(c)3 workforce development organization that provides in-demand workforce training to vulnerable members of the Central Texas and Permian Basin communities. The organization partners with local industry to offer unique professional training and educational opportunities at no cost to participants. Skillpoint Alliance was founded in 1994 and has since become the premier provider of rapid workforce training in the nine-county area in and around Austin. Skillpoint Alliance works continuously to build strong partnerships with local businesses, foundations, community-based organizations, and government agencies in order to grow and support its mission of connecting low-income individuals with career pathways in growing local industries. In 2018, Skillpoint Alliance launched a redesigned and customized Pre-Apprentice Electrical class, followed by a Pre-Apprentice Plumbing program in 2019—and concurrently offers HVAC Technician training, Certified Production Technician, and various other short-term and customizable training options. www.skillpointalliance.org