Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley and Workforce Solutions Cameron co-hosted the "State of the Regional Workforce Conference" at Margaritaville on South Padre Island on October 23, 2026. The conference was subtitled "Leading the Workforce Ecosystem, Building a Stronger Rio Grande Valley."
One session, titled "AI and the Future of Work: Preparing the RGV Workforce for What's Next," featured Drew Lentz and Daniel Rivera. Lentz is a technologist who has worked in wireless networking for nearly 30 years, including at Meta, Amazon (EERO), Cisco and Comcast Business. He co-founded Code RGV in McAllen. Rivera is executive director of the Elsa Economic Development Corporation.
The session aimed to discuss how artificial intelligence is changing workplaces, reshaping jobs and altering the skills employers need. It also covered the opportunities and challenges AI presents for businesses and workers, and what the Rio Grande Valley can do to prepare its workforce for a more technology-driven economy. Lentz said he believes AI's greatest promise is opening doors for people and places often left behind.