ABOUT TIWF
Building stronger pathways to skilled careers across Texas.
The Texas Industrial Workforce Foundation connects people, employers, educators, and workforce partners to expand opportunity, remove barriers, and strengthen Texas communities.
WHY TIWF EXISTS
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
Across Texas, employers are struggling to find skilled workers while many capable people are still unable to access the careers those employers need filled. The problem is not always a lack of motivation or ability. Often, the barrier is much more practical: the cost of training, certification fees, tools, PPE, transportation, childcare, or simply not knowing where to begin.
TIWF was created to help close that gap.
We work to connect Texans with the resources, training, credentials, guidance, and industry relationships they need to move into meaningful skilled-trade and industrial careers. At the same time, we help strengthen the workforce pipeline for employers, communities, and industries across Texas.
Our goal is simple: remove barriers, create opportunity, and help more Texans build careers that can support themselves, their families, and the communities they call home.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE
Career opportunity should not depend on whether someone can afford training, tools, credentials, transportation, or other essentials needed to get started.
SKILLED CAREERS CHANGE LIVES
Skilled-trade and industrial careers can create stability, advancement, and lasting opportunity for individuals, families, and communities across Texas.
STRONGER TEXAS WORKFORCE
When Texans gain valuable skills and employers gain capable workers, families, businesses, and communities all benefit from a stronger Texas workforce.
HOW WE WORK
TIWF brings the right people and resources together to help Texans move from opportunity to employment.
CONNECT
Bring together individuals, employers, educators, and workforce partners to strengthen local workforce connections.
REMOVE BARRIERS
Help address practical challenges that can keep people from training, earning credentials, or entering the workforce.
PREPARE
Support the training, tools, credentials, coaching, and readiness people need to move confidently toward employment.
CREATE PATHWAYS
Build stronger connections between Texans seeking opportunity and employers looking for skilled, prepared workers.
BUILT THROUGH PARTNERSHIP
TIWF works alongside employers, educators, workforce organizations, donors, and community partners to create stronger pathways into skilled careers.
EMPLOYERS
Help identify workforce needs, career pathways, and opportunities for skilled talent.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Connect participants with quality training, credentials, and career preparation.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Help identify barriers, coordinate resources, and connect Texans with support.
DONORS & SPONSORS
Provide the funding and resources that make training, tools, and opportunity possible.
OUR BOARD & LEADERSHIP
TIWF is guided by leaders with experience across workforce development, industry, education, business, finance, and community service.
Chance Barr | Board Chair
Chance Barr is an entrepreneur and workforce leader with more than two decades of experience across manufacturing, skilled trades, business development, operations, and workforce strategy. He has owned and led multiple industrial businesses and served in regional workforce leadership roles. As founder and Board Chair of TIWF, he focuses on creating practical pathways into skilled careers.
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Chance Barr is an entrepreneur, business development executive, and workforce leader with more than two decades of experience across manufacturing, skilled trades, construction, operations, business growth, and workforce strategy.
Throughout his career, Chance has owned, launched, managed, and helped grow companies across manufacturing, steel fabrication, electrical and HVAC services, transportation and logistics, power generation, field services, industrial staffing, electrical controls, and other industrial markets. His experience includes strategic planning, operations management, sales and business development, project management, supply chain, human resources, process improvement, organizational growth, and business turnarounds. His earlier career also included leadership roles spanning manufacturing operations, workforce development, and multimillion-dollar industrial projects.
Chance has maintained a long-standing commitment to workforce development and public service. He previously served two consecutive terms as Chairman of the Board for Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas and has remained involved in regional workforce leadership. His community service has also included leadership in public education and other civic organizations.
Today, Chance continues to work directly with manufacturers, contractors, employers, and workforce organizations while developing initiatives that better connect industry needs with training and career opportunities.
As a founding member and Board Chair of the Texas Industrial Workforce Foundation, Chance focuses on removing practical barriers to employment, expanding access to training and credentials, strengthening employer and education partnerships, and creating more direct pathways into skilled-trade and industrial careers across Texas.
Leslie Barr | Board Secretary
Leslie Barr brings extensive experience across banking and finance, legal and administrative functions, and organizational operations. Her background provides TIWF with strong financial, compliance, governance, and administrative perspective. As a founding member and Secretary, Leslie supports the Foundation’s organizational development, internal operations, partnerships, and long-term sustainability.
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Leslie Barr brings extensive professional experience across banking and finance, legal and administrative functions, organizational operations, and business support.
Throughout her career, Leslie has developed a strong understanding of financial processes, documentation, compliance, administration, recordkeeping, and the systems required to support effective organizations. Her broad background allows her to contribute both strategic perspective and practical attention to detail across financial, legal, governance, and operational matters.
Leslie’s experience is particularly valuable to TIWF as the Foundation develops its internal processes, partnerships, financial controls, programs, and long-term organizational structure. She brings a disciplined approach to administration and a strong understanding of the behind-the-scenes work required to build and sustain a growing organization.
As a founding member and Secretary of the Texas Industrial Workforce Foundation, Leslie supports the Foundation’s governance, organizational development, internal operations, partnerships, and program execution. Her focus is helping ensure TIWF maintains a strong operational foundation while expanding access to workforce opportunities across Texas.
Richard Williams | Board Vice Chair & Treasurer
Richard Williams is CEO of RAM, Inc., an aerospace and defense manufacturing company in Cisco, Texas. He brings more than 40 years of executive leadership experience across manufacturing, business growth, and mergers and acquisitions. As a member of TIWF, Richard contributes extensive business, financial, and organizational leadership experience to the Foundation.
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Richard Williams is CEO of RAM, Inc., an aerospace and defense manufacturing company located in Cisco, Texas. He brings more than 40 years of executive leadership experience across manufacturing, business growth, organizational development, and middle-market operations.
Throughout his career, Richard has led companies ranging in size from approximately 1,000 to 7,000 employees. His experience includes executive management, strategic growth, operational leadership, and mergers and acquisitions, including participation in 35 completed transactions.
Richard brings TIWF the perspective of a longtime manufacturing executive who understands both the demands placed on employers and the importance of developing a capable, dependable workforce. He is particularly passionate about helping young people develop the life skills needed for long-term success and encourages curiosity, creativity, hard work, and perseverance.
As Vice Chair & Treasurer of TIWF, Richard contributes extensive business, financial, and organizational leadership experience to the Foundation’s governance, strategy, and long-term development.
Richard and his wife, Kimberly, live on a 90-acre hay farm outside Brownwood, Texas. He is an instrument-rated commercial pilot and enjoys flying, fishing on Lake Brownwood, golf, skeet shooting, skiing, and riding motorcycles.
Mary Ross | Board Member
Mary Ross is a retired workforce executive with more than 45 years of leadership experience in the public workforce and nonprofit sectors. She brings deep expertise in organizational growth, workforce programs, and collaborative partnerships. Mary continues her commitment to education and community service while helping TIWF strengthen connections between people, resources, and opportunity.
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Mary Ross is a retired CEO with more than 45 years of leadership experience in the public workforce and nonprofit sectors. Throughout her career, she has been known for driving strategic growth, building strong teams, developing innovative programs, and creating purposeful partnerships.
Mary served as CEO of Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas and the West Central Texas Workforce Development Board, Inc. During her leadership, the organization grew from a staff of three with an annual budget of less than $1 million to a staff of 40 with an annual budget exceeding $20 million.
Her extensive career in workforce development gives her deep experience in organizational leadership, program development, strategic growth, nonprofit management, and building partnerships that connect employers, communities, and individuals with workforce resources and opportunities.
In retirement, Mary continues her commitment to education and community service as Chair of the Cisco College Foundation Board. She also volunteers with local nonprofit organizations and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
As a member of the Texas Industrial Workforce Foundation Board, Mary brings decades of workforce leadership experience and a strong understanding of how effective programs, strong organizations, and purposeful partnerships can expand opportunity and strengthen communities.
Interested in serving TIWF?
TIWF welcomes conversations with individuals who bring relevant experience, community connections, and a commitment to strengthening Texas workforce opportunities.