(HUTTO) – The Texas State Technical College family at Williamson County is growing. The campus welcomed two recruiters who are looking forward to working with students and parents.

Sherri Arrington joined TSTC in December while Caleb Steed began work on Feb. 1. Both are based at the East Williamson County Higher Education Center in Hutto.

“Willimason County is a location in which we see growth potential to train and place more students in the immediate area,” said Kimberly Porter, TSTC’s interim vice president for student recruitment. “Our program offerings are aligned with the needs of the community and TSTC is a great resource for employers looking for talent. Our recruitment team is focused on visiting the local high schools and participating in community events to educate the community about all TSTC has to offer.”

Arrington sees similarities between her two decades of work in manufacturing management and her new role as a recruiter. She worked in Austin before joining TSTC in December.

“The skills I developed in industry, like organizational and people skills, will serve me well in my new position at TSTC,” she said.

Arrington goes to the high schools to present to juniors and seniors in their classrooms.

“I am making contacts at the schools so they know we are here,” Arrington said.

She wants everyone she visits with to take away how TSTC can offer the opportunity to earn a quality education, provide career development and is affordable.

Arrington, an Austin native and graduate of Reagan High School, has a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences from what is now Concordia University Texas in Austin.

Steed too, is eager to visit students to tell them about TSTC.

“We want more students to get in and get out in the workforce to make money,” he said. “There aren’t many colleges stressing that to the students.”

Steed was raised in San Angelo and is a graduate of San Angelo Central High School. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in family ministry from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.

“When I first graduated (from HSU) it was right in the 2008-2009 housing bubble crash and there weren’t too many banks hiring, so I went into personal finance and worked on retirement plans for people,” he said.

Steed joined TSTC in January 2015 as the director of instructional support services and interim director of the culinary arts program at the Abilene campus.

“We (Steed and his wife) will definitely miss west Texas and the relationships that we built,” he said. “We are very excited to be living in the Williamson County area.”

TSTC’s Williamson County campus offers Computer Support Technology, Culinary Arts, Cyber Security, Database Administration Programming, Global Communications Systems, HVAC Technology, Industrial Electrical Systems, Industrial Maintenance, Plumbing & Pipefitting Technology, Precision Machining Technology and Welding Technology.

The College Preview at TSTC in Williamson County will be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 14. For more information go to tstc.edu/openhouse.

(HUTTO) – TSTC Vice Chancellor Jeff Kilgore announces the appointment of Edgar Padilla to serve as provost for the Texas State Technical College campus in Williamson County, effective immediately.

Padilla began his career in higher education nearly 10 years ago in student affairs and development. His tenure with TSTC began in 2012 with responsibilities for career services at the Waco campus. Today, he serves as TSTC’s statewide Senior Executive Director of Industry Relations and Talent Management which helps to place TSTC graduates in jobs across the state. Additionally, Padilla has led the analysis, design, and implementation of TSTC’s statewide career and professional development efforts, first outcomes and placement reporting models, and dedicated workforce analysis components. Previously, he served as TSTC’s director of career services at the Waco campus specializing in developing relationships with area industries and placing graduates.

Through statewide instructional and industry relations efforts in fiscal year 2015, TSTC has seen a 5.6% increase in job placement, 18% increase in registered employers and 16% increase in jobs posted for TSTC graduates in Jobstar, TSTC’s online job site.

“The provost serves as the senior campus executive in developing, implementing and maintaining strategies that grow TSTC’s student and donor markets, builds the TSTC brand regionally, improves the quality of the local campus and experience of its students, and works to unify the faculty and staff in making TSTC a great place to work,” said Kilgore. “Edgar’s devotion to the organizational mission, personal drive and focus on his work and teammates around him will be an asset in growing our TSTC campus in Williamson County,” added Kilgore.

“TSTC is the undisputed leader in higher education innovation in the state, and the value we provide to our graduates and Texas industry has never been stronger. I am humbled to lead the Williamson County campus in pursuit of TSTC’s strategic initiatives,” said Padilla. “Working with the community, industry, and the exceptional faculty and staff in Williamson County, I have no doubt we will accomplish our ambitious goal of growing TSTC across this great state and Placing More Texans.”

Padilla earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management with a minor in Information Systems from Schreiner University. He is a nationally certified Title IX Investigator and has served in leadership positions within community and professional associations including: Lacy-Lakeview Chamber of Commerce, Work in Waco Committee, Waco Collegiate Forum, Upjohn Waco Economic Development Team, National Association of Colleges & Employers and Christian Women’s Job Corps of Waco.