The RANGE — short for the Regional Accelerator for Growth and Entrepreneurship — has named Jay L. Barrett to lead Horizons, its workforce development initiative focused on preparing the Texas Panhandle’s workforce for future economic growth.
Barrett, a longtime Amarillo educator and community leader, most recently served as principal of AmTech Career Academy, a nationally recognized, award-winning career and technical education campus within Amarillo Independent School District. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with students, educators and employers to better align education with real-world workforce needs.
“Jay is the right person to lead this priority area for The RANGE,” said Matt Garner, interim executive director and a board member of the organization. “He understands how to build large-scale programs, has strong relationships with educators and employers across the Panhandle, and brings a clear understanding of how workforce development impacts long-term economic growth.”
Workforce development and readiness play a critical role in regional economies. National workforce studies consistently show that communities with strong talent pipelines experience higher job retention and greater economic resilience. A recent strategic plan completed for the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation found that site location professionals rank the availability of skilled labor as the top factor in business and industrial growth and identified AmTech as one of Amarillo’s key workforce strengths.
“Leading AmTech gave me a front-row seat to just how important efforts like this are and why they are critical to our future,” Barrett said. “We have to build programs that meet today’s workforce needs while also preparing for what lies ahead. At the same time, we must do a better job of helping students and adults understand the career opportunities available right here in the Panhandle. Many people believe you have to leave the region to find a good career, and that simply is not true.”
Garner said collaboration will be central to the initiative’s success. “This has to be an all-in approach,” he said. “Bringing together industry leaders along with public and private partners is essential if we want to ensure our workforce has the tools needed for long-term success and resilience.”
Barrett emphasized the importance of directly connecting workforce training to regional growth. “I want to help align workforce needs with a talent pipeline that includes both technical and professional skills,” he said. “There is a critical balance between attracting new business and ensuring we have the workforce needed to sustain that growth.”
Barrett currently serves as chairman of the Amarillo College Board of Regents and as a board member of Harrington Regional Medical Center. He has also held leadership roles with the Community College Association of Texas and the Panhandle Workforce Development Board. His commitment to education and public service has earned him numerous honors, including being named an Amarillo 2023 Citizen on the Move and receiving Tech & Learning Magazine’s Leadership Award.
“At the heart of this work are people,” Barrett said. “I am excited to continue working with young professionals and helping create opportunities that allow them to build strong careers and strong lives right here in our community.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: The RANGE names Jay L. Barrett to lead Horizons workforce initiative
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
