Rio Grande Guardian

Title: Elva M. Cerda
Runtime: 2:47
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Elva M. Cerda, director of the McAllen Heritage Center, has paid tribute to her good friend, Bobby Calvillo. The longtime CEO of Affordable Homes of South Texas passed away on Monday, May 19, 2025, aged 62. He had suffered a heart attack a couple of days earlier. Cerda was a board member and chairwoman of Affordable Homes of South Texas for many years. She described Calvillo as a “champion CEO, smart, and steady. A wonderful man.” She spoke to the Rio Grande Guardian about her memories of him.

Title: John Cowen, Jr.
Runtime: 3:22
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: A groundbreaking ceremony was held May 22, 2025, for the eagerly anticipated Greater Brownsville Tech District. The huge new industrial park is located on FM 511 between Old Alice Road and Paredes Line Road in Brownsville, Texas. When fully built out the park will cover 770 acres. But the build out will be done in phases. The first phase will see 13 lots built, which, combined, will provide 1.3 million square feet of industrial space. City leaders expect the park to be of interest to the Space sector, along with Energy, Advanced Manufacturing, and even AI. At the conclusion of the ribbon-cutting, the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service interviewed Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr.

Title: Mario Lozoya
Runtime: 11:57
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Mario Lozoya is a former top executive with Toyota San Antonio and a former leader of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation. Lozoya helped bring the Bexar County-based Texas-Mexico Automotive Super Cluster group to the Rio Grande Valley for a discussion with the region’s economic development leaders. The event was sponsored by RioPlex. At the conclusion of the two-hour discussion, the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service secured an exclusive interview with Lozoya.

Title: Ramiro Aleman
Runtime: 5:50
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Ramiro Aleman, director of economic development for Cameron County, says a recent trade mission to Monterrey was highly successful for all concerned. The Cross Border Industrial Investment Opportunities Seminar took place at the JW Marriott Monterrey Arboleda on May 8. In addition to Aleman, leaders from the Port of Brownsville, the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, and Harlingen Economic Development Corporation spoke at the event. The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service interviewed Aleman at a South Texas Manufacturers Association meeting at the Brownsville Events Center. He said over 80 companies were in attendance at the Monterrey seminar. He said many showed interest in locating in Cameron County.

Title: Alize Dixon
Runtime: 3:56
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Alize Dixon is a Rio Grande Valley native who has just graduated from Prairie View A&M University. She participated in a dual major program and earned degrees in Architecture and Construction Science. In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Dixon pointed out that there are very few women in construction and architecture and even fewer are minorities. Dixon said that as she advances her career she would like to forge a path for minority women in her industry. To that end she said she made good connections during her time at Prairie View by joining and reviving a number of trade associations. During her university days, Dixon interned with a construction company in Seattle, Washington. She will join the company full time as an assistant project manager.

Title: Dr. Daniel P. King
Runtime: 47:33
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Dr. Daniel P. King is executive director of Region One Education Service Center. Dr. King has been in the news recently after setting up a new charter school titled "The PossAble Dream." The school, which will have campuses in Pharr, Laredo, and Brownsville, has been set up to help students who dropped out of school without securing a diploma or certificate. However, focusing on dropout prevention and recovery is nothing new for Dr. King. He placed great store on this topic when he was superintendent of Hidalgo and PSJA school districts also. This in-depth conversation looks back at this aspect of his work with those two school districts.

Title: Ramiro Gonzalez
Runtime: 19:28
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Ramiro Gonzalez is director of development for Origo Works, a full-service real estate firm based in Brownsville, Texas. The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service requested a podcast interview with Gonzalez to follow-up on the great discussion he led as moderator of a panel during RGV StartUp Week. There were a number of key points brought up in the panel discussion, such as what has happened with nearshoring in Tamaulipas, why Pharr seems to be securing more infrastructure investment than Brownsville, and what the future holds for development in Cameron County. This podcast allowed the discussion to continue.

Title: Pharr EDC Foundation 2025 Scholarships
Runtime: 34:11
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Pharr EDC Foundation hosted its 2025 Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, May 13, at the Regency Hall in Pharr. Fifty students from six local schools were recognized. They will each receive a $2,000 scholarship to assist with their higher education aspirations. This video shows the 50 students receiving their certificate from the foundation. Established in 2021, the Pharr EDC Foundation is dedicated to expanding educational and workforce opportunities for students in Pharr. Its mission is to strengthen partnerships with educational institutions, businesses, and the broader community, fostering a skilled and adaptable workforce. “In today’s rapidly evolving economy, the Foundation is committed to equipping students with in-demand skills. Our focus includes enhancing work-based learning experiences, creating new pathways for growth, and providing educational and financial support through our scholarship,” said Victor Perez, president of Pharr EDC Foundation.

Title: Karla Magellan and Emilio Martinez
Runtime: 8:42
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: For the third year running, UT-San Antonio has had a special tie-up with Valley View ISD. The partnership sees students work towards a high school diploma from Valley View while at the same time pursue a minor in Spanish from UTSA. Valley View, one of the smallest school districts in Hidalgo County, used to have a similar tie-up with UT-Pan American and then UT-Rio Grande Valley. But these days, the emphasis on helping students that excel in Spanish is being championed by UTSA. In this video we speak to Karla Magellan and her son, Valley View student Emilio Martinez about the program. The interview took place immediately following a graduation ceremony for Valley View students.

Title: Gerardo Medina
Runtime: 4:33
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: For the third year running, UT-San Antonio has had a special tie-up with Valley View ISD. The partnership sees students work towards a high school diploma from Valley View while at the same time pursue a minor in Spanish from UTSA. Valley View, one of the smallest school districts in Hidalgo County, used to have a similar tie-up with UT-Pan American and then UT-Rio Grande Valley. But these days, the emphasis on helping students that excel in Spanish is being championed by UTSA. In this video we speak to Valley View student Gerardo Medina about the program. The interview took place immediately following a graduation ceremony for Valley View students.

An in-depth discussion on tariffs - Part Two

Title: An in-depth discussion on tariffs - Part Two
Runtime: 27:50
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service recently met up with two economics professors at South Texas College - Dr. Kevin Peek and Teo E. Sepulveda. The discussion, inevitably, centered on President Trump's tariffs policy. One of the key takeaways - if the tariffs are fully implemented, the border region will be hit hardest.

Title: Lynn Barnes
Runtime: 3:06
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: For the third year running, UT-San Antonio has had a special tie-up with Valley View ISD. The partnership sees students work towards a high school diploma from Valley View while at the same time pursue a minor in Spanish from UTSA. Valley View, one of the smallest school districts in Hidalgo County, used to have a similar tie-up with UT-Pan American and then UT-Rio Grande Valley. But these days, the emphasis on helping students that excel in Spanish is being championed by UTSA. “We’re taking an asset based approach to students. They already speak Spanish, so why not study it, get a minor and come to UTSA and finish your degree,” said Lynn Barnes, senior vice provost at UTSA. “It really helps students accelerate their academic progress, saves money and puts them in a great position for a great career.” The interview with Barnes took place immediately following a graduation ceremony for Valley View students.

Title: Dr. Daniel P. King
Runtime: 30:30
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Dr. Daniel P. King is executive director of Region One Education Service Center. He was previously a nationally award-winning superintendent at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD. King returned to Pharr on May 13, 2025, to give the keynote address at the Pharr EDC Foundation 2025 Scholarship Awards Ceremony. The event was held at Regency Hall in Pharr. Established in 2021, the Pharr EDC Foundation is dedicated to expanding educational and workforce opportunities for students in Pharr. Fifty students from six local schools were recognized. They will each receive a $2,000 scholarship to assist with their higher education aspirations. In his remarks, Dr. King told the story of his schooldays. He said he was shy and did not know what he wanted to do for a career. But, he loved school life. He sought to inspire the students and parents in the audience. Here is a video recording of his keynote speech.

An In-Depth Discussion on Tariffs - Part One

Title: An In-Depth Discussion on Tariffs - Part One
Runtime: 24:51
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service recently met up with two economics professors at South Texas College - Dr. Kevin Peek and Teo E. Sepulveda. The discussion, inevitably, centered on President Trump's tariffs policy. One of the key takeaways - if the tariffs are fully implemented, the border region will be hit hardest. Here is the first part of the podcast.

Title: Victor Perez
Runtime: 12:39
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Victor Perez, president of Pharr Economic Development Corporation, introduced a day of in-depth discussions about the economy, trade, and workforce development at Pharr Global Business Hub. No less than seven panel discussions took place in one day as part of RGV StartUp Week. In his opening remarks, Perez spoke about the partnerships Pharr EDC has developed with organizations such as Workforce Solutions, UT-Rio Grande Valley, and South Texas College. He also spoke about the importance of the Pharr International Bridge and his group’s trade missions to Mexico. And he said giving tax incentives to companies was not the only way to lure potential investment to the city.

Title: Nearshoring panel discussion
Runtime: 1:11:09
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: OrigoWorks is a full-service real estate firm based in Brownsville, Texas. The company recently sponsored a panel discussed as part of RGV StartUp Week at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization in downtown Brownsville. The panel was titled: “Nearshoring the Valley: Industrial Development Trends in the RGV.” Ramiro Gonzalez, OrigoWorks’ director of development, moderated the panel discussion. “As more manufacturers move operations closer to the U.S., demand for warehouse and industrial space in Cameron County is rising fast. With easy access to trade routes and the border, the Valley offers a cost-effective, strategic location for logistics, distribution, and light manufacturing,” Gonzalez said.

Title: Aaron Demerson
Runtime: 5:47
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Aaron Demerson is president and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Corporation. TEDC organizes trade missions across the world to highlight the advantages of investing in Texas. Demerson was a keynote speaker at the MxLAN Economic Summit, which focused heavily on AI and Tech. Hosted by the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, the summit was held at the McAllen Convention Center. Immediately following his keynote address, Demerson gave an interview to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service. He pointed out that the CEO of the Council for South Texas Economic Progress, Adam Gonzalez, accompanied TEDC on a trade mission to India last year. This year’s trips abroad will be announced as soon as the current legislative session ends, Demerson said. He also praised McAllen EDC and its president, Elizabeth Suarez, for their work in attracting investment to the region.

Title: Dr. Carlos Margo
Runtime: 3:38
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Dr. Carlos Margo is dean of advanced training and apprenticeships at South Texas College. He recently moderated an in-depth panel on AI and Tech at the MxLAN Economic Summit. The summit, held at the McAllen Convention Center, was hosted by McAllen Economic Development Corporation. In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian immediately following the panel discussion, Margo discussed the emergence of AI. “It’s not just for specific industries - AI is everywhere,” Margo said. “The sooner people adopt and utilize and, at minimum, learn the functions of AI and what it is, the better off everybody is going to be.”

Title: Jim Collins
Runtime: 3:30
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: After a four-year hiatus, Border Texan of the Year returned as the official opening dinner of MxLAN, the City of McAllen’s annual culture and arts festival. Since 1989, Border Texan of the Year has recognized individuals who have made a lasting impact in education, infrastructure, business and public service. This year’s honorees were Jim and Kathy Collins. The Rio Grande Guardian met up with Jim Collins at the MxLAN Economic Summit. In an exclusive interview he spoke about the award, giving back to the community, and the importance of RioPlex.

Title: Mike Fossum
Runtime: 20:56
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Mike Fossum, who went to high school in McAllen, is a former American astronaut, engineer, and chief operating officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston. He flew into space on board the NASA Space Shuttle missions STS-121 and STS-124 and served as a mission specialist of Expedition 28 and commander of Expedition 29 aboard the International Space Station. Fossum will be back in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday, May 20 for STEM Nation 2025. The student conference is being hosted by the RGV Philanthropic Foundation and held at the Bert Ogden Arena. In an in-depth interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Fossum says he wants to encourage Valley students to consider a career in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.

Title: Ron Garza and Adam Gonzalez
Runtime: 56:57
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: For the first time, this year's RGV StartUp Week was held in cities other than Brownsville. In addition to Brownsville, the program was featured in Harlingen, Weslaco, McAllen, and Pharr. The Pharr events were held at the new Pharr Global Business Hub. Seven presentations related to business, commerce and workforce development were staged there in just one day. One of the panel discussions featured Ron Garza, an associate vice president at UT-Rio Grande Valley, and Adam Gonzalez, CEO for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress. The panel was moderated by Daniel Rivera, executive director of Elsa Economic Development Corporation. Here are highlights from the discussion.

Title: Elizabeth Suarez
Runtime: 9:23
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Elizabeth Suarez is CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and McAllen Economic Development Corporation. In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Suarez looked ahead to the MxLAN Economic Summit, which takes place at the McAllen Convention Center on Friday, May 9, 2025. She also gave her analysis of the current economic conditions. Suarez acknowledged that border crossings were down 28 percent in March, 2025, as compared to the same month in 2024. But, other indicators were positive, she said. “We see some real dynamic opportunities,” Suarez said.

Title: Brian Humphreys
Runtime: 23:51
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: The Rio Grande Guardian recently sat down for an exclusive interview with Brian Humphreys, president of Rio Bank. In the interview, Humphreys spoke about his career in banking, the history of Rio Bank, the bank's deep roots in the community, its charitable donations, and current economic conditions in the Rio Grande Valley. Here is the interview.

Title: Focus on the Ports
Runtime: 58:41
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: The two busiest ports in the Rio Grande Valley were featured during RGV StartUp Week. A panel discussion at the Pharr Global Business Hub comprised Luis Bazan, director of the Pharr International Bridge port of entry, and Antonio Rodriguez, director of cargo services and foreign trade zone administrator at the Port of Brownsville. The moderator was Rick Carrera, economic development director for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress. In answer to Carrera's questions, Bazan spoke about the timeline for completing the eagerly-awaited second span at the Pharr Bridge. And Rodriguez fielded questions about the possibility of the Port of Brownsville becoming a container port.

Title: Rebeca Lopez
Runtime: 3:48
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: RGV Focus released its 2024 Annual Report & Scorecard on May 6, 2025. The release came at UT-Rio Grande Valley’s School of Medicine Clinical Education Building in Harlingen. At the event, education leaders shared updates about their work on improving educational opportunities and outcomes for students across the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande Guardian interviewed RGV Focus Director Rebeca Lopez at the event about the new report and scorecard.

Title: Mike Willis
Runtime: 6:13
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: UT-Rio Grande Valley has officially opened its new Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility. The AMRF will serve as a center for research and development collaboration in advanced manufacturing, automation and integrated systems related to the automotive, space, defense and energy sectors. The 14,000-square-foot facility is equipped with state-of-the-art tolls for additive manufacturing, robotics, materials testing and semiconductor fabrication. Its capabilities include high-precision CNC machines, laser powder bed fusion systems, robotic laser direct energy deposition tools, composite fabrication equipment, autonomous mobile robots and nano-scale 3D printing technology. These resources allow students and faculty to work with advanced tools used in national laboratories and high-tech industries. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service interviewed Mike Willis, executive director of the South Texas Manufacturers Association.

Title: Dr. Jianzhi (James) Li
Runtime: 7:21
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: UT-Rio Grande Valley has officially opened its new Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility. The AMRF will serve as a center for research and development collaboration in advanced manufacturing, automation and integrated systems related to the automotive, space, defense and energy sectors. The 14,000-square-foot facility is equipped with state-of-the-art tolls for additive manufacturing, robotics, materials testing and semiconductor fabrication. Its capabilities include high-precision CNC machines, laser powder bed fusion systems, robotic laser direct energy deposition tools, composite fabrication equipment, autonomous mobile robots and nano-scale 3D printing technology. These resources allow students and faculty to work with advanced tools used in national laboratories and high-tech industries. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service interviewed Dr. Jianzhi (James) Li, director of the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at UTRGV.

Title: Dr. Can Saygin
Runtime: 5:47
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: UT-Rio Grande Valley has officially opened its new Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility. The AMRF will serve as a center for research and development collaboration in advanced manufacturing, automation and integrated systems related to the automotive, space, defense and energy sectors. The 14,000-square-foot facility is equipped with state-of-the-art tolls for additive manufacturing, robotics, materials testing and semiconductor fabrication. Its capabilities include high-precision CNC machines, laser powder bed fusion systems, robotic laser direct energy deposition tools, composite fabrication equipment, autonomous mobile robots and nano-scale 3D printing technology. These resources allow students and faculty to work with advanced tools used in national laboratories and high-tech industries. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service interviewed Dr. Can Saygin, UTRGV senior vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate College.

Title: Mayor John Cowen Jr.
Runtime: 0:34
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: "We are the future economic powerhouse for the world."- Mayor John Cowen

Title: TWC Commissioner Joe Esparza
Runtime: 4:15
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: The JET program is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). It provides grants to buy and install equipment for career and technical education (CTE) courses. These courses must lead to a license, certificate or post-secondary degree in a high-demand occupation. The JET Advisory Board meets in Austin every quarter to review received applications. Eligible grantees include public junior, state or technical colleges, Texas Independent School Districts (ISDs) in partnership with a public junior, state, or technical college, and Open-enrollment charter schools in partnership with a public junior, state, or technical college. Joe Esparza, the commissioner representing employers on TWC, attended the most recent meeting of the JET Advisory Board as an observer. After the meeting he gave an interview to the Rio Grande Guardian.

Title: Ricardo Rubiano
Runtime: 14:51
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Ricardo Rubiano, a land developer and co-founder of Open EB5, was a panelist at RGV StartUp Week. The discussion took place at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization in downtown Brownsville. After the panel discussion had concluded, Rubiano gave the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service an exclusive and in-depth interview. During the interview, he spoke about Open EB5, the remarks at StartUp Week of former Mexican President Vicente Fox, RioPlex, SpaceX, and his vision for the future of the region.

Title: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez
Runtime: 1:57
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Zoho Corporation is in the process of purchasing 1,050 acres of land north of Edinburg. The company plans to build a tech campus there. Zoho is an Indian multinational technology company that develops and provides a suite of cloud-based business software applications. In a brief interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez discussed Zoho's plans.

Title: Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza
Runtime: 1:05
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Zoho Corporation recently purchased the famous old Echo Hotel in Edinburg. The company plans to renovate the 15-acre property for office space. Zoho is an Indian multinational technology company that develops and provides a suite of cloud-based business software applications. In a brief interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza discussed Zoho's plans.

Title: Norma Sepulveda
Runtime: 0:46
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Norma Sepulveda on the topic of how we have the workforce now and for the future.

Title: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez
Runtime: 1:29
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz held a press conference at the offices of Texas Citrus Mutual in Mission on April 29, 2025, to announce increased water deliveries from Mexico. De La Cruz said the U.S. has accepted Mexico's proposal to increase water deliveries through multiple sources, ensuring a diversification of water supplies requested by Texas stakeholders. De La Cruz said the water deliveries will total approximately between 324,00 to 420,000 acre feet between now and October. In addition to Rep. De La Cruz, remarks from the podium were made by Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez and Texas Citrus Mutual President Dale Murden. This video features a brief interview the Rio Grande Guardian secured with Judge Cortez upon completion of the press conference.

Title: Increased water deliveries from Mexico
Runtime: 13:09
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz held a press conference at the offices of Texas Citrus Mutual in Mission on April 29, 2025, to announce increased water deliveries from Mexico. De La Cruz said the U.S. has accepted Mexico's proposal to increase water deliveries through multiple sources, ensuring a diversification of water supplies requested by Texas stakeholders. De La Cruz said the water deliveries will total approximately between 324,00 to 420,000 acre feet between now and October. In addition to Rep. De La Cruz, remarks from the podium were made by Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez and Texas Citrus Mutual President Dale Murden. This video also includes a Q&A section with reporters.

Title: Dale Murden
Runtime: 1:10
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz held a press conference at the offices of Texas Citrus Mutual in Mission on April 29, 2025, to announce increased water deliveries from Mexico. De La Cruz said the U.S. has accepted Mexico's proposal to increase water deliveries through multiple sources, ensuring a diversification of water supplies requested by Texas stakeholders. De La Cruz said the water deliveries will total approximately between 324,00 to 420,000 acre feet between now and October. In addition to Rep. De La Cruz, remarks from the podium were made by Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez and Texas Citrus Mutual President Dale Murden. This video features an interview the Rio Grande Guardian secured with Murden upon completion of the press conference.

Title: Dr. Daniel P. King
Runtime: 7:04
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: The City of Pharr hosted a check presentation ceremony recently to celebrate its $1 million donation to The PossAble Dream Foundation. The funding allows for the launch of The PossAble Dream Adult High School, a first-of-its-kind public high school for adults up to age 50 in South Texas. The school will be based at the old Pharr Events Center on N. Cage Boulevard. The tuition-free school will offer adults up to 50 years of age the opportunity to earn a traditional high school diploma along with industry-based certifications, employability training, and college coursework. To ensure student success, the program will also provide support services—including transportation, childcare, mental health counseling, job placement assistance, and pathways to higher education. The PossAble Dream Foundation is the dream of Dr. Daniel P. King, executive director of Region One Education Service Center. Dr. King is president of the foundation. He gave the Rio Grande Guardian an interview at the chec...

Title: Dr. Darcia Cuellar
Runtime: 4:00
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: The City of Pharr hosted a check presentation ceremony recently to celebrate its $1 million donation to The PossAble Dream Foundation. The funding allows for the launch of The PossAble Dream Adult High School, a first-of-its-kind public high school for adults up to age 50 in South Texas. The school will be based at the old Pharr Events Center on N. Cage Boulevard. The tuition-free school will offer adults up to 50 years of age the opportunity to earn a traditional high school diploma along with industry-based certifications, employability training, and college coursework. To ensure student success, the program will also provide support services—including transportation, childcare, mental health counseling, job placement assistance, and pathways to higher education. The founding superintendent of the new high school will be Dr. Darcia Cuellar, director of Region One Education Service Center’s dropout recovery program. The Rio Grande Guardian secured an exclusive interview with Dr. C...

Title: Mayor John Cowen
Runtime: 0:49
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Mayor John Cowen on how we have the human capital needed...

Title: 2-Minute Pitch
Runtime: 15:26
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: The 2025 RGV StartUp Week included a 2-Minute Pitch Competition. The owners and managers of 17 local businesses participated. It was held at the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization in downtown Brownsville. Here is a video recording of the pitches the budding entrepreneurs made.

Title: Ruben Cantu
Runtime: 3:05
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Frontera Leadership Institute hosted a panel discussion at the e-Bridge Center for Business and Commercialization in downtown Brownsville as part of RGV StartUp Week. The panel was titled: “Beyond SpaceX: Building the Next Generation of Innovators in the RGV”. Ruben Cantu, executive director of Frontera Leadership Institute, said the idea was to spotlight rising entrepreneurs and local leaders who are shaping the future of the Rio Grande Valley’s innovation economy. Cantu said that from fintech to community development to tech startups, young founders and professionals are building solutions rooted in equity, ingenuity, and impact. “There’s no better way to know what the RGV has to offer in the future than to talk to the future entrepreneurs today,” Cantu said. Nathan Burkhart, vice president of Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, agreed. “We’re proud to showcase the best startup talent in Brownsville and spotlight what lies ahead for our entrepreneurial ecos...

Title: Glenn Hamer
Runtime: 1:25
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Glenn Hamer talks on building trade with Mexico.

Title: Javier Villalobos
Runtime: 0:39
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Javier Villalobos McAllen Mayor speaks on the Rio Grande Valley

Title: Dr. Lyudmyla Dickinson
Runtime: 3:09
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Dr. Lyudmyla Dickinson is an economics professor at South Texas College. She is considered a rock star at the college because of her deep knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI). She has over 20 professional certificates on the subject. Recently, Dr. Dickinson spoke about AI at a forum co-hosted by the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service and STC. The forum was titled: “Smart Cities, Smarter Economy - The Future of Automation in the Rio Grande Valley.” After the forum had concluded, Dr. Dickinson gave the Guardian an exclusive interview.

Title: Commissioner Ellie Torres
Runtime: 2:11
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Ellie Torres is a county commissioner for Precinct 4 in Hidalgo County. Torres spoke at a recent press conference held at a cold storage facility in south Pharr. At the conference she made the case for the Tomato Suspension Agreement. The agreement, which has been in place for nearly three decades, has to be ratified in Congress every few years and when it comes up for renewal, tomato growers in Florida always try to have the agreement quashed. Now, the U.S. Department of Commerce has signaled its intention to withdraw from the agreement. Torres says this would be disastrous for importers of tomatoes from Mexico and consumers throughout the country. The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service secured an in-depth interview with Torres at the press conference.

Title: Melissa Peña-Montes
Runtime: 3:09
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Melissa Peña-Montes is director of Valley Promise at South Texas College. Valley Promise was launched a year ago to help students in Hidalgo and Starr counties secure an affordable education at a higher education institution. In addition to providing free tuition and fee support, the program also includes free coaching and mentoring. "We're trying to make higher education affordable for our students. We're trying to transform our region," Peña-Montes told the Rio Grande Guardian, in an exclusive interview.

Title: Alejandro Barrera
Runtime: 2:23
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Alejandro Barrera is city manager for the City of Roma, Texas. Barrera spoke at a recent press conference held at a cold storage facility in south Pharr. At the conference he made the case for the Tomato Suspension Agreement. The agreement, which has been in place for nearly three decades, has to be ratified in Congress every few years and when it comes up for renewal, tomato growers in Florida always try to have the agreement quashed. Now, the U.S. Department of Commerce has signaled its intention to withdraw from the agreement. Barrera says this would be disastrous for importers of tomatoes from Mexico and consumers throughout the country. The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service secured an in-depth interview with Barrera at the press conference.

Title: Norie Gonzalez Garza, Mission Mayor
Runtime: 1:48
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: Norie Gonzalez Garza on RioPlex and growth

Title: Josue "Josh" Vasquez
Runtime: 4:12
Date posted: 1 year ago
Description: The McAllen Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, and the City of McAllen is hosting the MXLAN International Economic Summit on May 9 at the McAllen Convention Center. It will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Josue “Josh” Vasquez, director of workforce development for McAllen EDC, said the event will bring business leaders, policymakers, educators, and innovators together to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies are shaping the economic future of the Rio Grande Valley and its binational partners. Among the sessions slated are: “AI in manufacturing and supply chains,” “Cybersecurity and compliance in the age of AI,” and “Re-skilling and up-skilling for the Future of Work.”

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