Mike Feinberg has identified a critical gap in traditional workforce development: the disconnect between job training and real-world success. Through WorkTexas, which he co-founded in 2020, Feinberg is demonstrating how comprehensive support can transform vocational training outcomes.
His approach starts with a clear focus on employer needs. “We are employer-focused,” Feinberg explains, outlining his mission “to help people get jobs, keep jobs, advance careers.” This employer-driven perspective shapes an intensive 11-week program delivering 170 hours of targeted training, but Feinberg’s innovation extends far beyond the classroom.
Drawing from his experience in education, Feinberg recognizes that career success often hinges on factors outside of technical training. “A lot of people we train are one flat tire away from disaster,” he notes. “We can help everyone get a job based on their training; but you’re not going to do well in your job if you’re homeless or hungry, or your car stops working.” This understanding has led to the development of essential support services, including childcare solutions that now serve more than 60 children.
Mike Feinberg has created what he calls a “sandbox” for community collaboration, where organizations providing food, housing, and health services work together toward sustainable employment outcomes. “The people who are working on food, housing and physical health realize their work can only truly make a huge impact if people wind up having a sustainable career,” he explains. Through locations at Gallery Furniture and the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department’s Opportunity Center, his program is showing how integrated support services can create lasting pathways to career success.