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WorkForce Solutions fo South Plains, O'Reilly Auto Receive Statewide Recognition
Lisa Spears, Public Information Officer | 14-Dec-2009

The award honors employers that are actively involved with the Texas Workforce Solutions network and have made a positive impact on the local economy, workforce and the community.

“Strong business partnerships between private employers and local workforce boards are crucial to addressing today’s challenging economic environment,” said TWC Chairman Tom Pauken. “I’d like to commend O’Reilly Automotive and Workforce Solutions South Plains for their exceptional collaboration and contributions to the region and the state of Texas.”

O’Reilly has enhanced the South Plains economy by providing hundreds of new job opportunities and increased tax revenues for the City of Lubbock. One of the largest specialty retailers of automotive aftermarket parts and supplies, the company has hired more than 160 employees for its 200,000-square-foot distribution center. The company’s partnership with Workforce Solutions South Plains helped recruit, screen and match qualified applicants, including dislocated workers, students, retired and active military, and existing workers seeking career advancement. O’Reilly offers employees training opportunities, competitive salaries and benefits. The company generates about $15.4 million in annual salaries with a $20 million investment in the new distribution center and projects $4 billion in sales revenue in 2010.

Workforce Solutions South Plains was also recognized during the TWC annual conference for outstanding performance in several categories, including a $100,000 award for Claimant and Youth Performance measures, a $50,000 award for Lowest Percent of Child Care Expenditures on Administrative and Operations Costs and a $50,000 award for Most Improvement in Percent of Child Care Expenditures on Administrative and Operations Costs. Workforce Solutions South Plains is one of 28 workforce boards in Texas and serves Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Hale, Hockley, King, Lamb, Lynn, Motley, Terry and Yoakum counties. The monetary funds received as a result of these awards will be used to enhance workforce service programs in 2010.

“The exemplary employer and job seeker services provided daily by our regional staff, combined with the conservative spending philosophies established by our Board of Directors, have resulted in these three outstanding achievement awards. We are honored that the Texas Workforce Commission has recognized our ongoing efforts to ensure the highest quality of services are available to the area’s employers and job seekers,” said Workforce Solutions CEO Martin Aguirre.

The TWC outstanding performance awards recognize boards that display increased accountability and improved efficiencies. Boards are selected for best performance based on criteria such as job placement for unemployment claimants and other job seekers.

(l-r) Martin Aguirre - Workforce Solutions South Plains CEO, Tom Pauken – Texas Workforce
Commission Chairman and Commissioner Representing Employers, Adrienne Cozart – Workforce
Solutions South Plains Board Chairperson, Chris Payen – Regional Center Director O’Reilly’s
Automotive Distribution Center of Lubbock, Ronald Congleton – Texas Workforce Commissioner
Representing Labor.

Adrienne Cozar Workforce Board chairperson and Martin aguirre, WFSS CEO Adrienne Cozart – Workforce Solutions Board Chairperson and Martin Aguirre, WFSS CEO.