Event Recap: Industrial Strength Summit at PepsiCo
Eleven of Mesquite's manufacturing / distribution companies joined the Mesquite Regional Business Retention and Expansion Task Force's (BRE) Industrial Strength Summit August 23, 2023, at PepsiCo. The event's goal was to increase special population hires to help with workforce pipeline and featured a spotlight on PepsiCo's veteran recruitment pilot program and female worker recruitment strategy.
A multi-market TV and digital advertising campaign featuring women in frontline careers drove a double-digit increase in PepsiCo frontline women hires in 2022. In March of 2023, PepsiCo launched the 'She is PepsiCo' Campaign to spotlight women in manufacturing and operations. Images of 28 'She is PepsiCo' frontline employees are replacing beverage brands on sides of trucks servicing North America. The campaign aims to showcase women who are thriving in frontline roles to inspire more women to join a diverse workforce.
This event follows an Industrial Innovation Summit in March and an Industrial Strength Summit in June. The next Industrial Strength event will be the fourth annual Mesquite Manufacturing Day on October 4. After that, Mesquite's new second largest private employer, Canadian Solar, will host an Industrial Strength Summit in Spring of 2024.
PepsiCo's program included a welcome by City of Mesquite Manager of Economic Development Lexie Woodward and PepsiCo Unit General Manager William Dickson followed by a tour of the largest manufacturing plant in the United States, lunch catered by local favorite Mesquite BBQ, the opportunity to talk with organizations that connect special populations with businesses, and networking.
The organizations who help connect special populations to industrial businesses and who tabled were:
- Dallas College - their Employer Resource Center can connect businesses with accessibility and veterans' information
- Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas - vocational rehab services and the fidelity bonding program, an insurance program for special populations
- Texas Veterans Commission
- My Possibilities - job placement program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Quest Employment Services - focused on helping individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals
- Café Momentum (was there in spirit) - focused on helping justice involved youth ages 15 - 19
Other BRE partners in attendance included the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce and Mesquite Independent School District Career and Technical Education.
The companies who attended were Canadian Solar, Rainstamp, Fritz Industries, Revolution, Iris USA, H.B. Fuller, Elements International, The Pickle Juice Company, and Luz y Tierra.
Thank you to PepsiCo for opening its doors to the Mesquite community and for choosing Mesquite, Texas!