In a warehouse at Houston’s Gallery Furniture, young welders perfect their craft. But beyond teaching technical skills, WorkTexas is addressing what founder Mike Feinberg calls “the missing 70%”—soft skills that determine whether someone keeps a job.

“Technical skills are about 30% of what employers want,” says Feinberg, who co-founded the program in 2020. “What they really need is people who get to work on time, people who can work on a team.”

For many participants, workplace basics aren’t intuitive. Many are what Feinberg describes as “one flat tire away from disaster”—where a single setback can derail employment.

That’s why WorkTexas provides comprehensive support, addressing not just vocational training but food security, transportation, childcare and behavioral health.

Vanessa Ramirez, who runs Project Remix Ventures—WorkTexas’s extension serving justice-involved youth—has seen the impact firsthand. Her program incorporates a “sensory room” where students develop self-awareness and emotional regulation.

“Kids don’t know how to de-escalate,” Ramirez explains. They learn to recognize triggers and develop coping mechanisms—skills that translate directly to workplace success.

Unlike traditional vocational programs that end at certification, WorkTexas maintains contact with graduates for five years.

“We proactively reach out every six months,” Feinberg says. “Are you still in the same job? What’s your wage? Do you need help?”

The approach works: approximately 70% of graduates secure new jobs or better positions, with average starting wages of $19.10 hourly.

For Feinberg, who previously co-founded the KIPP charter schools, this represents an evolution in educational thinking—from college-for-all to recognizing multiple pathways to success.

“We spent the first half of my career helping the first half go to and through college,” he reflects. “Now we’re going to work on the other half.”