The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Nominated by the Southeast Texas Workforce Development Board, Becon Construction in Port Arthur received the 2007 Texas Workforce Employer of the Year Award at the 11th Annual Texas Workforce Conference, held in Houston earlier this month.

"This award is a prestigious honor for Becon Construction," said Marilyn Smith, deputy director of the Southeast Texas Workforce Development Board.

"Each of the 28 workforce boards across the state nominates businesses in recognition of their involvement with the Texas workforce system and their impact on the local economy.

We’re very pleased that the Texas Workforce Commission recognizes the significant contributions that Becon is making to our community." The award recognizes an employer actively involved with the Texas workforce system that benefits other employers, workers and the community, Smith added.

Tim Horst, President and Bob Deatherage, Industrial Relations Manager from Becon Construction were at the conference to receive the award.

The criteria for the award is that the recipient has created or used innovative approaches to recruiting, training, retention, upgrading worker skills, job redesign, child care, the use of technology, community involvement and collaboration.

Awarded annually, the honored employer supports the Texas workforce system’s goal of ensuring that both employers and workers have the resources and the skills that Texas needs to remain competitive in the 21st century.

Becon Construction serves clients in the petroleum, chemical, industrial, power and mining industries.

In early 2006, the company collaborated with the Southeast Texas Workforce Development Board to assess, interview and hire 600 employees for its contract with Cheniere Liquid Natural Gas Project in Sabine Pass.

The company also will provide construction services for the planned expansion of Motiva Enterprises, a Port Arthur oil refining plant.

As many as 3,200 workers are expected to be employed during the peak of construction, with cumulative earnings expected to exceed $65 million.

The Texas Workforce Commission also honored LANXESS with the Employer Award of Excellence for the Southeast Texas Workforce Development Board area at the conference.

LANXESS, a manufacturer of high-tech chemicals and plastics, enlisted the board’s help to fulfill its vision to build a world-class workforce for Southeast Texas at its Orange location.

Site Manager John Schmidt, Human Resources and Security Manager Lanier Robertson and Human Resources Representative Chrysta Moore received the award on behalf of LANXESS. The Southeast Texas Workforce Development Board is one of 28 local workforce development boards located throughout the state.

The board evaluates and oversees the delivery of all workforce training and employment services in Hardin, Jefferson and Orange Counties.

Its overall mission is to identify opportunities and create partnerships that effectively link employers and job seekers in order to improve the economic future of the area.

All employers, job workers and seekers are eligible to take advantage of these services.

For more information on programs offered, visit http://www.setworks.org.