Episode 140-How a Texas Vocational School is Changing the Lives of its Students-Building My Legacy w

Welcome to Episode 140 of Building My Legacy.

This podcast is a bit different as we learn about a vocational school in southern Texas that’s training its students to become welders — a career much in demand today. Our guests are Eliud Medina, the director of the Southern Industrial Careers Center (SICC), and Lily Maldonado, the school’s public relations officer and an admissions representative. The story of SICC is truly inspiring, particularly for those of you thinking about the next chapter of your life. Eliud and his all-female staff have discovered a unique way to make a contribution to their community and to build their legacy.



Lily shares with us what it’s like to be part of a traditionally male-dominated industry. We also learn about SICC students — recent high school graduates from an economically challenged background, older students looking to make a career change and even former prison inmates. The goal is to help these students move into a career where they can make a good living for themselves and their families. As Eliud and Lily tell us, the challenges can be great, but they experience tremendous joy when their students get good-paying jobs that promise a secure future.



So if you want to know:

– The benefits of giving people a chance — or a second chance
– The value a female team can bring to a male-dominated industry
– The importance of motivation and providing a look at the big picture
– Why leaders need to give people an environment where they can discover their talents and step up


About Eliud Medina and Lily Maldonado

Trained as a welder, Eliud Medina held various positions in management until he lost his job in the 2014 recession. He used that experience to found Southern Industrial Careers Center (SICC), a vocational school dedicated to teaching industrial trades in welding and fabrication. Lily Maldonado joined SICC’s all-female staff with no knowledge of welding, but wit