Turner Industries partners with San Jac to advance safety and quality training
PASADENA, Texas – A partnership between Turner Industries Group and San Jacinto College is strengthening workforce preparation for students in the College’s welding program by embedding industry-level safety and quality expectations directly into hands-on instruction.
Through collaboration with faculty at the College’s Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology, Turner Industries Group actively supports instructional practices that reflect real jobsite conditions. Turner’s involvement includes engagement from safety, operations, workforce development, and fabrication teams, helping ensure students are trained using current industry standards and expectations.
“Turner Industries Group's deployment of our Safety Subject Matter Expert to the college, along with our operations team, workforce development, and fabrication representatives, engages with instructors and students, effectively reinforces the necessary safety standards for a secure work environment,” said Carla Thompson, field training director, western region, Turner Industries Group.
Introducing industry-level safety and quality expectations early in a student’s education is a critical component of workforce readiness, particularly in hands-on trades like welding. Working with industry partners like Turner, ensures San Jac maintains up-to-date knowledge of the standards and requirements. And it is essential for students transitioning from the classroom to the workforce to understand those expectations.
“Hands-on trades necessitate comprehensive training and development,” she said. “Classroom instruction is essential for instilling foundational knowledge in safety, productivity, and quality.”
Turner Industries Group also plays an active role in shaping curriculum to reflect evolving workforce needs. This collaboration helps ensure instruction remains aligned with current safety measures.
“Turner Industries Group's involvement in advisory meetings and curriculum reviews ensures the college maintains up-to-date knowledge of current industry safety standards, new tools, available personal protective equipment, and OSHA workplace requirements,” Thompson said.
From the College’s perspective, partnerships like this are essential to preparing students for the realities of the workplace.
“When industry partners are directly involved in training and curriculum, it raises the standard for what students experience in the shop,” said Joseph Zwiercan, department chair of industrial technology at San Jacinto College. “Students graduate with a stronger understanding of safety, quality expectations, and what it takes to be successful on the job.”
Collaboration between industry and education is essential to the future workforce.
“We strongly encourage other industry partners to collaborate with our community partners, as the future workforce is reliant on these educational programs,” Thompson said.
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than
1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving
the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020 and 2026. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately
45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and
certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer
to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding
bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
