At ISTC, we are proud to serve our industrial community as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to high-quality training and education. Our mission centers around promoting excellence in safety, workforce development, and community collaboration.

In this update, you’ll find:

• ISTC’s Latest Innovations
•  Valuable Resources For Your Team
• Not-to-Miss Safety Events
•   ISTC Team Profiles

We’re excited to share these important developments as part of our continued commitment to empowering industry professionals and creating a safer, stronger community.

Elevate Safety Standards with the Southeast Texas Safety Academy.

We have partnered with leading owner stakeholders to launch the Southeast Texas Safety Academy—a groundbreaking program designed to raise the bar on workplace safety across our region.

This dynamic, two-hour, instructor-led training immerses participants in the 12 Life-Saving Rules—global industry standards proven to prevent serious incidents. Through hands-on instruction and real-world application, the Academy delivers consistent, high-impact training that aligns expectations across sites and drives measurable improvements in safety culture.

The Academy is now open for scheduling.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be among the first to bring this training to your workforce.

Secure your team’s spot today and take the lead in setting a new standard for safety.

Fast, accurate, and on-demand-ISTC’s Owner Requirement Chatbot delivers site-specific requirements with a simple facility name entry.

Get instant answers, stay compliant, and save time, whether prepping a project or checking on the go.

We bring your brand, values, and mission to life through customized, high-impact training content. From onboarding and training to safety, benefits, and company culture, our state-of-the-art e-learning courses are designed to engage, educate, and inspire from day one.

We tailor your training content to reflect your unique environment and workforce – ensuring consistent messaging and maximum impact.

In safety-sensitive industries, trust and compliance are non-negotiable. ISTC’s Background Check Grade 2.0 (BCG2) service delivers a comprehensive, reliable screening solution to help employers protect people, assets, and reputations.

From identity verification and criminal history (county, federal, and national) to driving records and global watch-list searches, BCG2 is built to meet stringent owner facility requirements while reducing workforce risk.

Powered by trusted partners like First Advantage and S2Verify, and fully integrated with ISTC’s LINK platform, BCG2 streamlines the entire process, making it simple to order, track, and manage screenings with speed and accuracy.

Protect your operations. Build a safer workforce.

At ISTC, our Specialized Training offerings are designed to equip your team with critical, job-specific skills in areas like Excavation & Trenching, Fall Protection, and Scaffold Competency.

We’re excited to now include a brand new course in our portfolio—Joint Bolt Assembly, which teaches proper bolted joint assembly, inspection, and maintenance techniques. Whether you’re focused on safety, productivity, or reliability, ISTC’s specialized programs contribute to better performance on the job site.

Need help with LINK? We have curated a wide variety of training resources on our website to help contractors and owners navigate the platform, schedule trainees, and pull reports.

Check them out anytime!

Have your heard? ISTC is expanding!

Our building renovation is designed to improve efficiency, safety, and comfort across campus, streamlining trainee flow, and creating a better experience for both trainees and staff. Learn more about the expansion and what it means for our industrial community!

We’re proud to partner with Your Medical Home as our occupational medicine partner, serving both our Beaumont and Baytown locations. Together, we deliver comprehensive on-site and in-clinic medical services, including 24/7 telemedicine, Department of Transportation (DOT) and non-DOT physicals, drug/alcohol screens, audiometric and pulmonary function testing, respirator fit testing, injury care and follow-up, workers’ compensation support, and more.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required for several ISTC hands-on training courses. Before your visit, check with the person who scheduled your training or call ISTC to confirm PPE requirements.

When in doubt—bring your PPE!

Mitchelle Zubiri, Steve Lawler, Wayne Whitehead, Sam Hays, Joel Lopez, Wayne Roccaforte, Larry Richard, Catina Torres, Mike White, Gary Doss, Brandi Morazan, Bianca Briones

ISTC Instructor Team

Behind every ISTC course is a dedicated team of instructors who bring deep industry knowledge and real-world experiences to the classroom.

We are so proud of our instructors who commitment goes beyond teaching. This team creates engaging, practical learning environments that prepare trainees to apply their skills with confidence and to practice safety. Whether guiding new hires or experienced professionals, ISTC’s instructors are at the heart of what makes ISTC training effective and impactful.

ISTC Baytown Lab Proctors

Leading with Service and Kindness

At ISTC, we believe exceptional customer service is about more than efficiency, it’s about empathy, awareness, and creating an environment where every trainee feels supported. The lab proctors at our Baytown location, Pamela Bell, Maria Guerrero, Yessica Hernandez, Lisa Rushing and Regina Williams, embody this philosophy every day. Lisa, ISTC’s most senior proctor, has served for 10 years and was recently trained in customer service in addition to her lab proctoring. Maria, our newest proctor, began working with ISTC in 2024; Yessica started in 2022, Regina in 2018 and Pamela in 2017.

This team goes above and beyond to ensure every trainee has what they need to succeed, especially those who may require a little extra support. For example, when one of the team members notices that a trainee enters the lab wearing hearing aids, without asking a single question or drawing attention, that trainee is asked if a specially designed headset that fits comfortably without pressing against their hearing aids would be better. The result? A better experience and a clearer focus on training.

The team also shows remarkable sensitivity to trainees with visible tics, jitters, or nervous movements that might suggest conditions like Tourette’s Syndrome or simply test-day nerves. Rather than making assumptions, our proctors discreetly seat these individuals in areas where they feel more comfortable – along a wall or in the back – helping them relax without fear of disrupting others. Our team even takes note of those who come in early after working night shifts, often exhausted but determined to complete their training. “We can tell they’re so tired,” Lisa shared, “but they need to get their safety training done, sometimes for the very next day’s work. If they nod off, we simply pass by and gently nudge them, so they don’t miss their opportunity.” Through small but meaningful actions, ISTC’s proctors ensure that every trainee feels seen, respected, and supported.

At ISTC, we are proud of employees, like Lisa, Pamela, Regina, Yessica and Maria, who demonstrate that customer service is not just about managing processes, it’s about extending kindness, creating access, and helping people succeed. When we put people first, safety and success follow.

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