Things were brewing at the Brownsville Events Center as hundreds of job seekers turned out for the 2023 Careers and Coffee Job Expo sponsored by the City of Brownsville and the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation.

 The event took place  on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. Job seekers were eager to attend, with some forming a line outside the Events Center as early as 6 AM. 

Several notable employers were present at the Job Expo, including SpaceX, Southwest Keys, Bechtel, Rio Grande LNG, and Valley Regional Medical Center. These companies offered various employment opportunities, highlighting the diversity of industries represented.

 Brownsville Mayor John Cowen John Jr. emphasized the importance of partnerships in driving progress. The event was seen as a successful collaboration between the City of Brownsville and the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation to create a thriving environment for both employers and job seekers.

“Partnerships are the cornerstones of progress and today’s event is a shining example of what we can achieve when we come together as a community. The City of Brownsville and GBIC are united in our commitment to create an environment where both employers and job seekers can thrive.”

 City Manager Helen Ramirez, AICP, said, that the Careers and Coffee event was established in 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic, as an expansion of the city's existing career fair. The goal was to make it bigger and better.

Ana Mireles, a job seeker attending the event, expressed her satisfaction with the presence of numerous call center employers. She said the significance of such career fairs in the city and the need for more events like this.

“It’s a pretty big career fair and I’m glad that the city did it. We need more of this and I am glad that there is a venue for it.”

Sergio Flores, representing Onin Staffing, discussed their participation in the expo. Onin Staffing works with various companies to find suitable candidates for industrial work, warehousing, clerical work, machine operators, and accounting positions.

“We partner with companies, we find people so we can help them out to find the best candidates,” Flores said.