Providing
REGIONAL SOLUTIONS
for East Texas

ETCOG will honor regional citizens and organizations who exemplify excellence in performance and innovation and contribute to the quality of life within the communities that comprise our 14-county region. The awards listed below will be conferred at ETCOG’s 109th Semi-Annual Board of Directors Meeting on Thursday, March 19th, at The Whitehouse City Center in Whitehouse, Texas, from 11:45 am to 2:00 pm. Award criteria and recipient information are as follows:  REGIONAL FIRST RESPONDER OF THE YEAR AWARDS Officer Brady Gould, Whitehouse Police Department Officer Rachel Durasco, Longview Police Department Two recipients have been selected to receive the Regional First Responder of the Year award. This award recognizes first responders who have rendered extraordinary service, putting their lives on the line for our safety while performing their duties as peace officers, firemen, EMS and dispatchers, DPS officers, and troopers. REGIONAL CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS Debbie Bryan, Smith County Volunteer Sandra Kooker, Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center Volunteer Two recipients have been selected to receive the Regional Citizen of the Year award. This award is designed to honor an East Texas citizen who has contributed to the well-being of the East Texas Region. REGIONAL CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD Brookshire Grocery Company – Tyler, Texas The Regional Corporate Citizen of the Year award honors a corporate partner in East Texas who has contributed to the well-being of the Region. REGIONAL COMMITTEE SERVICE AWARD Laura Hill, City of Longview, ETCOG Solid Waste Advisory Committee The Regional Committee Service Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a sustained, dedicated commitment to ETCOG efforts and activities. REGIONAL SHINING STAR AWARD* Dr. Robert Haberle, Workforce Solutions East Texas Board The Regional Shining Star Award is to recognize people who have provided exceptional support or invaluable partnership to the East Texas Council of Governments. *This is not a standard ETCOG award given annually, but at the discretion of the Board of Directors. REGIONAL STATESMANSHIP AWARD Judge AJ Mason, Camp County The Regional Statesmanship Award recognizes a local, state, or federal official who has demonstrated valuable, dedicated service to regional cooperation. “We are excited to host our regional awards ceremony, where we will recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions of individuals, elected officials, and organizations that have made a positive impact on our region,” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “This year’s ceremony will feature eight awards—more than we’ve ever presented—highlighting the extraordinary dedication and leadership of those who are making a real difference in the lives of the people they serve. We look forward to gathering the ETCOG Board to honor these outstanding members of our community and to showcase their achievements.” Details of the award recipient's contributions and photos will be sent following the meeting.

Workforce Solutions East Texas is sharing updates about our Longview and Tyler centers to make it easier for job seekers and employers to access the services they need. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services has closed its Alpine Road location and relocated within the Longview Workforce Center. VR staff are co-located with our Workforce Solutions team, providing seamless access to information about how VR can help individuals with disabilities prepare for, find, or maintain employment. Customers can enter through the same main entrance as everyone else while still meeting with counselors privately. Co-locating VR staff at Workforce Solutions offices strengthens our commitment to providing comprehensive support for all job seekers, including those with disabilities. These services complement our core offerings, helping individuals reach their employment goals while connecting employers with qualified candidates. Workforce Solutions - Longview / Vocational Rehabilitation Office: 1905 W Loop 281, STE 40 Longview, TX 75604 VR Phone: (903) 230-9958 In Tyler, our team is preparing to relocate in mid-April. The current Tyler Workforce Center at 4100 Troup Highway will close to the public beginning at 5 p.m. on March 20. The center will reopen in mid-April at its new location in the Midtown Centre at 1421 S. Beckham Avenue, with hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. During the move, staff will serve customers virtually at 1-844-ETWORKS. Workforce Solutions East Texas provides no-cost employment and recruitment services to job seekers and employers throughout the region. Services for job seekers include: Job listings and referrals Resume assistance Veterans services Career planning and workshops GED guidance Occupational training information Internet, copier, fax, and phone access Community and child care resources Access to VR and other partner services  Employers can access: On-site recruiting, interviewing, and hiring Job fairs and internet-based job postings Assistance with customized skill training Wage and labor market information Support during employee layoffs See all Workforce Solutions East Texas locations at www.easttexasworkforce.org/locations .