LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Southwest Power Pool Inc.’s decision to keep its headquarters in Arkansas indicates that the state can support major employers with highly educated workforces, but the state needs to better train its young students for careers in technology, the company’s top executive believes.

Nick Brown, SPP’s president and chief executive officer, said he filled the Little Rock operations center with mostly local talent. But ensuring that trend remains will require Arkansas to better emphasize science, engineering and math to students — starting in late elementary school — in a way that encourages them, he said.