Mike Feinberg Reimagines Trade Education for Modern Workforce Needs

As skilled labor demand surges across America, educational leader Mike Feinberg is addressing critical workforce gaps through innovative trade-oriented education programs in Houston.

After co-founding a successful network of college preparatory schools in the 1990s, Feinberg’s perspective evolved as he recognized limitations in the “college for all” approach. Tracking graduate outcomes revealed troubling patterns: many students accumulated significant debt without completing degrees, while others never explored trades aligned with their interests and local economic opportunities.

“Higher ed jumped the shark,” reflects Feinberg. “It went from a car loan where students could figure things out to a home mortgage where they need to be deadly serious about their major from the start.”

This realization led him to establish Texas School Venture Fund in 2018, supporting diverse educational models including WorkTexas, a free trade skills program launched in 2020. Initially offering instruction in welding, electrical work, and construction, the curriculum has expanded to include medical assistance, truck driving, and culinary arts.

What distinguishes WorkTexas from similar initiatives is its employer-focused approach. Curriculum development involves direct input from over 100 partner companies, ensuring graduates possess relevant skills. The program also emphasizes soft skills like reliability and teamwork, which employers consistently identify as critical for workplace success.

“We are employer-focused,” says the workforce development specialist. “Our mission is to help people get jobs, keep jobs, and advance in careers.”

The initiative maintains contact with graduates for five years, providing ongoing support with workplace challenges while connecting them with resources addressing housing, transportation, and childcare needs.

Through this comprehensive approach to trade education, Feinberg demonstrates how educational institutions can simultaneously address critical workforce shortages while creating sustainable career pathways for students seeking alternatives to traditional college education.