Georgia-Pacific recognized as one of Texas’ top three large employers by TWC

According to Georgia-Pacific’s Diboll Lumber Plant Manager Derek Roche, recruiting employees is more competitive than ever.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Georgia-Pacific has been named as one of the top three large employers in Texas by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). This recognition highlights employers committed to fostering employee growth, skill development, and contributing to the economic success of the Lone Star State. Texas boasts a civilian labor force of over 15.8 million people, supported by more than 660,000 employers driving the state’s prosperity.

“I commend all the exemplary employers recognized at the 2025 TWC Annual Conference for reinforcing Texas’ reputation across the world as the best for doing business,” TWC Chairman Joe Esparza said. “By investing in talent pipelines and innovative training partnerships, they are developing a stronger workforce system that will continue to attract businesses to Texas.”

Nominated by Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas, Georgia-Pacific hosted multiple hiring events at its East Texas facilities – including Corrigan Plywood, Camden Plywood, Camden Lumber, Diboll Lumber, Diboll Particleboard, and Pineland Lumber – filling over 1,200 jobs in the past year alone. Beyond recruitment, Georgia-Pacific created hundreds of local jobs, enhanced technical skills training, improved new-hire retention, and strengthened the regional economy and social infrastructure.

Ty Cauthen, PhD, Executive Director of Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas, said, “We were proud to nominate Georgia Pacific for its sustained and impactful commitment to workforce development in our region. Their ongoing partnership with Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas through hiring events and job seeker engagement clearly demonstrates their dedication to connecting residents with quality jobs while addressing local labor market needs.”

Georgia Pacific’s engagement not only fills immediate staffing needs but also contributes to longer-term workforce resilience through education and training partnerships. This integrated approach exemplifies the deep, community-focused model of development that Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas seeks to exemplify.

Georgia Pacific actively invests in skills training and professional growth by collaborating with high schools and colleges statewide to prepare students for manufacturing careers. “Through onsite hiring initiatives and trainee-level job postings, Georgia-Pacific provides clear pathways for entry-level workers to gain hands-on experience and to enhance their careers within the company,” Cauthen said.

For decades, the company has partnered with Angelina College to offer an apprenticeship program, giving employees opportunities to advance within the company by building critical skills. The program compensates employees during coursework and covers tuition and books. Apprentices graduate with electrical or mechanical certifications, enhancing their advancement opportunities within the company.

This year Georgia-Pacific partnered with Diboll High School to launch a technical skills curriculum. “The purpose of the course is to equip students with core technical knowledge and hands-on experience to understand and apply operator, electrical, and mechanical skills in real sawmill and manufacturing settings,” Matt Wynn, Georgia-Pacific Continuous Improvement Leader and author of the high school sawmill curriculum, said. “By working alongside local Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructors and providing exposure to modern technology and processes, we’re helping to jumpstart the careers of junior and senior students.”

According to Cauthen, these workforce initiatives align tightly with the goals of the Texas Workforce Commission and Workforce Solutions. “Georgia Pacific’s collaboration with local workforce centers participating in tailgate hiring events and promoting open positions enhances employment outcomes and supports our mission to reduce unemployment and fill over 3,600 job orders in the past year. Their industry-driven approach mirrors Texas Workforce Commission priorities of equipping both employers and workers with skills essential to Texas’s competitiveness, and their investments help maintain high-quality career-tracks that uplift individuals and local economies.”

Workforce Solutions Deep East Texas is among 28 Local Workforce Development Boards located throughout the state. The Board serves Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler counties. Through partnerships with TWC and their communities, Workforce Boards meet the needs of Texas employers and workers through locally designed, market-driven workforce development initiatives and services.

According to Georgia-Pacific’s Diboll Lumber Plant Manager Derek Roche, recruiting employees is more competitive than ever. “Workforce Solutions is incredibly valuable to our recruitment and retention efforts. Partnering with Workforce Solutions is critical to our long-term success and our communities.” Yana Ogletree, Georgia-Pacific’s Public & Government Affairs Manager for Texas, said, “Being named as one of the three finalists for Large Employer of the Year in Texas is a reflection of Georgia-Pacific’s commitment to its employees, customers, and communities. This achievement belongs to our 2,300 employees across the state.”

While DHR Health, located in the Rio Grande Valley was ultimately chosen as the Large Employer of the Year, Georgia-Pacific is proud to be included in this elite group of finalists who are helping to protect and grow the Texas economy. This recognition comes on the heels of Georgia-Pacific being named Large Business of the Year in both Angelina and Polk counties.

 Courtesy: www.easttexasnews.com