Business Leaders United is thrilled to announce Kelly Hall’s inclusion in the Business Leaders United Executive Committee, which serves an advisory role to our activities and strategy. Ms. Hall, CEO of the Longview Chamber of Commerce (TX), is a nationally respected chamber executive whose career spans nearly four decades of strengthening communities through strategic partnerships, bold leadership, and a deep commitment to education. Since joining the Chamber her ability to drive Business and Community Development initiatives that move regions forward. Jeff Connor-Naylor spoke with Kelly about the importance of skills training investments in her community and why they are critical to boosting the local economy.
Questions for Q&A
Why is skills training important to you and your region’s workforce and how does that show up in the work you do at the Longview Chamber of Commerce?
Skills training is about keeping people connected to opportunity and helping businesses stay competitive. In East Texas, we have strong industries like manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and logistics. Those jobs are evolving quickly. If we don’t keep pace with skills, we risk leaving both people and employers behind.
At the Chamber, this shows up in how we convene education and business around real workforce needs. Through efforts like Career Kickstart, our work with Independent School Districts on aligned CTE pathways, and programs like LongviewREADS and LongviewMATH, we are focused on building a pipeline that starts early and stays relevant. We are not just talking about workforce. We are helping shape it, alongside our employers.
Your footprint includes the rural communities surrounding Longview, TX. What opportunities and workforce needs are emerging for businesses in these areas, and what support would help them continue to grow?
Rural East Texas brings both strength and challenge. There is a strong work ethic, loyalty, and pride in place. At the same time, access is the biggest barrier. Access to training, broadband, childcare, and transportation all impact whether someone can participate in the workforce.
We are seeing growing demand for skilled trades, healthcare roles, and technical positions tied to automation and digital systems. Employers need people who can adapt, not just perform a single task.
What would help most is flexibility. Flexible funding that allows communities to build solutions that fit their reality. Stronger alignment between education and employers. Expanded access to short term credentials and dual credit opportunities. And continued investment in infrastructure, especially broadband, so rural communities are not left out of the future economy.
Why should other employers get involved in advocating for employer led workforce development initiatives and skills training?
Because no one understands the demand for skills better than employers. If businesses are not at the table, decisions will still be made, they just may not reflect what is actually needed.
Employer engagement does not have to be complicated. It can be as simple as advising on curriculum, offering internships, or opening your doors for students and educators to see real work environments. When employers step in, the system becomes more relevant and more effective.
There is also a bigger picture. Workforce is not just an education issue. It is an economic issue. It impacts growth, retention, and the long-term health of a community. When employers lead, outcomes improve for everyone.
What additional thoughts would you like to share with your business leader peers?
We are seeing real shifts in how people work, how skills are built, and how communities grow. The regions that will win are the ones where business leaders step forward and help shape the future workforce.
Start local. Build relationships with your schools. Partner with your chamber. Invest time in developing people, not just filling positions. And think long term. The work we do today will define whether our communities are strong five, ten, twenty years from now.
If not us, who.
Business Leaders United for Workforce Partnerships is a free, private business network promoting inclusive, high-quality skills training policies that build the skilled workforce employers need to grow and thrive. If you are interested in joining our listserv, which sends 12-15 emails annually, you can find more information here.
