10 minute read
Sarah Sagredo-Hammond, La Jefa behind Atlas Services Inc
HARLINGEN
Where Opportunities in Workforce Development and Education Abound
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by Bryan Kirk | photos by Jacob Mendoza
Harlingen is changing. In fact, the change has been happening for quite some time. The once sleepy community that, for decades, was predominantly driven by agriculture and farming industries, has shifted to new and different industries.
While agriculture is still an important industry in Harlingen, the job market has diversified. This means young people just now entering the workforce have choices beyond what was available to their parents and grandparents.
Educational opportunities have increased and industries that were uncommon decades earlier have come to Harlingen, Brownsville, McAllen, Edinburg, and other South Texas cities, which over time, have sowed the seeds to create a robust workforce.
“We have to be cognizant of what our strengths and assets are, so that we can recruit the right types of companies and the right types of employers,” Raudel Garza, manager and CEO of the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, said during a recent filming of a Choose Harlingen episode.
This is done through a process called “asset mapping,” where the companies coming to a region are matched up with a quality labor force. Asset mapping has been a process used for years through the Texas Workforce Commission and Workforce Solutions.
For this to be successful, the Harlingen EDC had to determine which industries to focus on, which have included automotive parts manufacturing and metal fabrication, tourism and hospitality, health care, and aerospace.
Some of those organizations include United Launch Alliance, Penn Aluminum International, Valley Baptist Medical Center, and United HealthCare Services.
Of course, the workforce has to be developed through education. That's where institutions like the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Texas State Technical College come into play.
“We see the healthcare industry as one that is growing tremendously across the Rio Grande Valley,” said Veronica Gonzales, who serves as the senior vice president for Community and Government Relations at UTRGV. “We just started a residency program here at Valley Baptist Medical Center in surgery, and, of course, we have others in internal medicine and several others.”
Gonzales said the university is working with other partners, such as the Early College High School, the High School for Health Professions in Harlingen, and TSTC, to ensure they can help the healthcare industry keep growing in the Valley.
“If you’re a talented student and want to pursue a career in medicine, and you meet certain criteria, you will have early admission into the medical school,” Gonzales said. “From the time you get out of high school and start college, we will start to prepare you so you can become a doctor.”
Gonzales added that the goal for all students who come to UTRGV is to ensure they are on the path to a great career no matter which industry they choose.
Like UTRGV, TSTC trains future medical professionals at all 10 of its campuses in Texas. However, the TSTC medical training program is more of a hybrid program that trains students in labs rather than college-style lecture halls.
“Here in Harlingen, we have a very large Allied Health Division,” said Cledia Hernandez, associate vice chancellor for External Relations and Workforce Development at TSTC. “We have programs such as surgical technology, we have an LVN program, and an LVN to RN transition program.”
TSTC also has an EMS/paramedic program and a fully functional dental hygienist clinic that takes appointments for patients in the community, Hernandez said.
TSTC, however, has for decades been known for providing hands-on training and certification for automotive technology, diesel technician, aviation technology, metal fabrication, welding and machinist, and technical fields in high demand within the oil and gas industry.
Many of the students who graduate from these and other programs often turn to Workforce Solutions to help them find the right job.
“The economy here in South Texas as a region is 80 percent in health care, retail, education, and in government,” said Pat Hobbs, executive director for Workforce Solutions in Cameron County. “We have what is called a targeted occupation’s list. We don’t want to spend money on training somebody who isn’t going to make a decent wage, so we sort through the demand occupations -- and there are a lot -- down to about 40 targeted occupations that will fund. Healthcare jobs are a large part of those.”
Hobbs said Workforce Solutions uses federal funds to train the workforce, which amounts to about $2 million annually.
Those funds have been used to train manufacturers in aerospace and other high-demand industries in the Valley.
“Workforce development and partners in education are a tool in the toolbox of the economic development corporations,” Hernandez said. “Our focus is placement and employment, because (our students) are walking out with the right skill set.”
Gloria Hernandez, Associate Vice Chancellor for External Relations and Workforce Development at TSTC
LA JEFA
Getting Down to Business
by Katie Goodman | photo by Barbara Delgado
When you think about who might own a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or refrigeration business, you may not imagine Sarah Sagredo-Hammond. But this owner of Atlas Electrical, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Plumbing Services Inc. is breaking stereotypes one generation at a time.
The story of this business is one that is close to the hearts of many Mexican-Americans. SagredoHammond’s father, Rogelio Sagredo, started out as a migrant worker. After learning electrical and HVAC in the U.S. Air Force, he had the tools to start his own business, changing the course of his family's lives.
From a very young age, Sagredo-Hammond had been involved on the financial side of the business. As a 12-year-old, she would work after school and on the weekends to help with the family business within the financing and collections department. Her older brother, Roy Jr., learned the trade alongside their father. "He is like ‘rain man,’” Sagredo-Hammond said of her brother. “He likes to stay in the engineering and design area of the company because he has such a plethora of knowledge and is just brilliant.”
She began working on the financial side in 1997 and was a full-time employee by 2008. After her mother suffered a stroke in 2011, her father handed over his share of the business to tend to his wife.
Running Atlas Services Inc. was nothing new. However, that transition did not come without its challenges as a female executive in a male-dominated industry. Sagredo-Hammond has heard everything from "let me speak to the man in charge," to "I won't work for a company that is run by a woman," to “I don't want a woman to be telling me how to fix my AC."
The challenge only motivated her even more.
“You can't take yourself too seriously,” she said. “You can't blame them if all they know is that stereotype. It's not about me, it's about a culture change."
A change was indeed needed, which was exactly what she intended to do.
After taking over her father's business in 2011, Sagredo-Hammond knew she would have to make some changes in order for the company to continue growing. Since then, she and her brother have
Sarah Sagredo-Hammond, owner of Atlas Services Inc.
added both refrigeration and plumbing to their list of services. They have become a one-stop shop for all home repair needs. PRESSURE MAKES DIAMONDS
Sagredo-Hammond’s most used services are for HVAC and generators. When the Texas freeze happened in February 2021, she had a major influx of requests for generators that reached around 100 requests per day.
However, the freeze was only one of many challenges.
COVID-19 impacted every industry. Due to closures, it was difficult to get equipment at times, and SagredoHammond had to work with other vendors. Price changes occurred due to product shortages and jobs became backed up.
“Being an entrepreneur is a 24/7 job,” SagredoHammond said. “You have to be available for the team when they need you."
Atlas Services Inc. isn't the only business SagredoHammond helms. She also runs a mobile home facility and a leasing center. "Multiple streams of income are important for longterm success," she said.
This business advice is partly the reason SagredoHammond’s family were able to do so well -- even in times of great uncertainty. BALANCING FAMILY AND CAREER
So how does a powerhouse of a woman handle work and family life? Luckily, Sagredo-Hammond’s husband is very supportive of her commitment to the business and being a female executive has created valuable lessons for her three daughters at home.
Sagredo-Hammond "leads her life with intention." She assigns intention to her work, which creates value for her children by explaining how, "mom has to work in order for us to go on vacation or have nice things." Her daughters fully understand the value of work ethic and look forward to growing up to be just like their mother.
Sarah mentioned how her work ethic stems from her own mother. "She worked really hard and was always alone, a total superwoman,” she said. “If I can be half the woman she is, I will be proud."
By assigning intention and value to what she is doing, she is creating a lasting impression, affecting generations to come. EMPOWERING OTHER WOMEN
Sagredo-Hammond isn't only affecting generations within her own family, but for other women, as well, as one of the three directors of the national organization, Fem City.
The workplace has been difficult for women not just because of glass ceilings, but also because of working relationships. Fem City gives women the tools for better communication and harmony with one another. The organization cultivates a safe and empowering space for every one of its members. Once a month, members have access to events and training. DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE WORKING WITH?
Sagredo-Hammond sits on several boards that are in alignment with her career path, including the National Board of Women in HVAC, The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, RGV Partnership Board, and the Better Business Bureau of Houston and South Texas.
Raising the bar even higher, she is a world-renowned speaker, having led and spoken at various leadership conferences for both men and women. She is also the author of Upward, a book on leadership for women.
Sagredo-Hammond’s plans for the future include expanding services at Atlas Services Inc., growing Fem City, and appearing for more speaking engagements.
For more information about Atlas Services Inc., call (956) 585-7775 or visit atlasrgv.com. To learn more about Fem City, go to femcity.com/join-femcity/.
SKY IT
The Sky's the Limit for SKY IT
by Katie Goodman | photo by James Hord
Esteban Mejia isn't only serving the community of the Rio Grande Valley, he's also serving his country. In fact, at the time of publication, Mejia is currently serving with his Air Force Reserve unit in the Middle East. So how does someone run a thriving information technology business when they're not even in the country? HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Mejia first went into active duty in 1996 and continued to serve until 2002. While still in the military, he attended Louisiana Tech to pursue a degree in IT Information Systems. During that time, he decided he wanted to implement his talents locally, but he needed to take a few more steps to make that happen. With $100 in hand, he registered his business name and began selling his services door to door. Eighteen years later, he has multiple employees and numerous customers in the RGV.
SKY IT is a firmly established information technology company that offers a wide range of technology products and services.
“We bring proven, cost-efficient solutions in the areas of networking, security, video surveillance, telephone communications, and wireless technologies," Mejia said.
He has worked with local, state, and federal government agencies as well as health, dental, education, small business, and corporate entities. The times are ever-changing, as is the technology that comes along with it. "In this business, it's our job to stay current with technology," Mejia said.
