South Texas College Prepares Talent for Manufacturing Growth

Joe Vela emphasizes employer partnerships and education that connects students with opportunities across the region.

PHARR, Texas — As South Texas attracts industrial activity, Joe Vela, interim dean of South Texas College Division of Business, Public Safety and Technology, sees a clear responsibility for education: keep employers involved and prepare students for the work those companies need done. At South Texas College, that connection reaches into manufacturing, robotics and mechatronics programs designed to support the local workforce.

Vela spoke with Pro Texas Industry during the Pharr EDC Roundtable Live on October 22. He said the college’s participation was an opportunity to explain how its students enter the workforce and how industry partners help inform what they learn.

That relationship must continue as manufacturers establish or expand their presence in the Rio Grande Valley, he said. Maintaining contact with employers allows the college to keep its programs connected to changing industry needs.

“We’re all here to want to make that manufacturing industry grow and collaborate,” Vela said.

He described the roundtable as reinforcing a shared commitment among participating organizations to develop talent and support one another. For STC, bringing employers into discussions about curriculum is a practical way to connect that commitment with classroom instruction.

Vela also emphasized the human advantages behind South Texas’ appeal. Asked why companies are drawn to the region, he pointed to its people, their willingness to work and the surrounding community’s support for business.

“We’ve got an excellent workforce and people that are ready to work and a community that’s there to support them,” he said.

That workforce connection extends into Mexico. Vela said STC serves binational students who cross the border to attend classes, while some students work in Mexico and study in Texas. Manufacturers with operations on both sides make cooperation especially relevant to the college’s educational mission.

“Connection to Mexico is extremely important,” Vela said.

For those students, the relationship between the two countries is part of daily life. Their education and employment experiences illustrate how closely workforce development in South Texas is connected to the broader manufacturing region across the border.

Vela’s outlook centers on sustaining those relationships as industry grows. By keeping employers involved, expanding collaboration and preparing students for real opportunities, STC can help South Texas turn its existing talent into a stronger foundation for manufacturing investment—and give more residents a direct path into the region’s industrial future.