Meet the Team

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 Together, Stephanie Hajducek and Katie Cole bring experience in workforce engagement, education partnerships, community collaboration, project coordination, and strategic relationship building. Their shared passion for connecting industry, education, and communities helps organizations create meaningful partnerships that strengthen workforce pathways and deliver lasting impact. 

Catherine “Katie” Cole is a workforce development and community engagement professional with extensive experience building partnerships that connect education, industry, and regional workforce priorities. Throughout her career, she has led initiatives focused on strengthening career pathways, supporting grant-funded programs, and creating meaningful opportunities that align students, educators, employers, and community stakeholders.

 As Chief Partnerships & Engagement Officer, Katie brings a strong background in strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, workforce systems, and large-scale event coordination. Her work includes developing youth workforce initiatives, managing regional partnerships, supporting grant efforts, and connecting employers, educators, and students through workforce-focused programs and events. She is passionate about helping organizations create intentional partnerships that strengthen communities and expand opportunities for future generations. 

 A published scholar with a master’s degree in Communications, Katie brings a research-informed and relationship-driven approach to her work, believing meaningful engagement and collaboration create stronger pathways and lasting impact. She is known for building trusted relationships across sectors and bringing diverse stakeholders together around shared goals, community priorities, and opportunities for meaningful progress. 

 Katie believes the strongest partnerships are built through communication, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to creating opportunities that benefit both people and place. Her work is grounded in the belief that meaningful relationships and long-term investment in people create stronger communities and lasting impact. She is dedicated to helping organizations and communities move beyond transactional engagement toward partnerships rooted in trust, shared purpose, and sustainable growth. 

 Katie lives in Corpus Christi, Texas with her husband, Mitch, and daughter, Lucy. Together, they value service, family, and meaningful involvement in the community they call home. 

Stephanie Hajducek is a workforce and community engagement strategist with experience building connections across industry, education, and regional partnerships. Throughout her career, she has worked across energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and workforce-focused environments, supporting initiatives that strengthen stakeholder relationships, create meaningful engagement opportunities, and align organizations with long-term community and workforce priorities.

As Founder and Managing Member of Industry Engagement Partners and Founder of This One’s for the Gals, Stephanie has built a reputation for bringing people together and creating pathways that help individuals and organizations see what’s possible. Her work focuses on strategic engagement, workforce development, education partnerships, stakeholder collaboration, and creating experiences that connect communities with industries shaping the future.

Stephanie’s background includes leadership roles spanning engineering support, project coordination, business development, and stakeholder engagement, giving her a unique ability to bridge technical industries with community-centered strategies. She is passionate about helping organizations move beyond one-time interactions toward meaningful partnerships that create measurable and lasting impact.

 Stephanie is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Human Capital Development and holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Technology, bringing a unique blend of technical understanding, workforce strategy, and relationship-centered leadership to her work. She continues to lead initiatives that strengthen workforce awareness, foster regional collaboration, and create meaningful connections between industry, education, and community. 

 Stephanie lives in Taft, Texas with her husband, Chris, and daughter, Alyvia. Nearby are her son, Adam, daughter-in-law, Yesenia, granddaughter Adaleena, grandson Kaycen, as well as her son, Aidan, and future daughter-in-law, Reyanna - keeping family at the center of everything she does.