Rio Grande Guardian

Title: Rene Alcala Salinas
Runtime: 22:09
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: René A. Alcala Salinas is a commercial real estate broker with Black Rock. In a podcast with Rio Grande Guardian Editor Steve Taylor, Alcala discusses the current commercial real estate market, his upbringing in both Texas and Mexico, international trade with Mexico, and his previous employment with the Mexican federal government.

Title: Daniel Covarrubias Tariff Impact
Runtime: 7:38
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Daniel Covarrubias is director of the Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development at Texas A&M International University's A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business. A new report he and his team have produced looks at the impact of tariffs. A 25 percent tariff on imported goods from Mexico could result in the loss of 4.3 million jobs in the U.S., the report states. The state that would be impacted the most is Texas, due to the fact that its economy is so intertwined with Mexico. Coavarrubias and his team analyzed two sectors, the manufacturing sector and the agricultural sector. The manufacturing sector showed the highest vulnerability with about 3.7 million jobs at risk. "I think our report opened a lot of eyes, especially for policy folks - being able to grasp the unintended consequences of some policy actions," Covarrubias said.

Title: Samantha Boiser
Runtime: 5:10
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Samantha Boiser is deputy director for policy and advocacy for the Communities Foundation of Texas and Educate Texas. Boiser gave an update on legislation impacting the training of teachers when she spoke at a forum titled "It Pays to Attract and Retain Strong Teachers. Hosted by UT-Rio Grande Valley, RGV Focus, and Educate Texas, the event was held at the Pharr One Center. At the conclusion of the event, Boiser gave an exclusive interview to the Rio Grande Guardian.

Title: Ediel Barrera
Runtime: 4:54
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Rio Grande City Mayor Pro Tem Ediel Barrera said great things are happening in his city. Specifically, he referenced industrial activity connected to the Starr-Camargo International Bridge, the bypass TxDOT is building to get trucks off of US 83, and the new specialty clinics DHR Health is developing alongside Starr County Memorial Hospital. The more residency programs DHR can develop, the more newly trained physicians are likely to stay in the community, Barrera said.

Title: Emilio Guzman
Runtime: 17:36
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Houston-based businessman Emilio Guzman is founder and president of Open EB5. The company helps foreign nationals secure permanent residency to the United States through a federally-approved investment program. Guzman's company is developing a housing project in Pharr that will be funded in part by foreign investment. In this video Guzman explains how the program works and the future projects his company has for the Rio Grande Valley.

Title: Jesus Perez
Runtime: 0:51
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Campesino Jesus Perez feeds his chickens on his ranch at San San Antonio de las Barrancas near Matehuala in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.

Title: Ester Salinas
Runtime: 7:10
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Mission-based environmental activist Ester Salinas has invited Maytag water resource specialist Caleb Alvarez to come back to her city and do more water testing. On his previous visit, Alvarez found that the level of arsenic coming out of the faucets in Salinas’ home were dangerously high. Salinas wants Alvarez to check arsenic levels in the water being piped into the homes of her neighbors in and around the Hayes-Sammons Superfund area. If the levels are high there also, Salinas says this could point to the water pipes being infected by toxic pesticides from the old Hayes-Sammons plant that seeped into the ground.

Title: Ted Jones
Runtime: 1:01:18
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Houston-based real estate economist Ted C. Jones gives over 150 presentations a year on the economic and real estate outlook. His recognized specialty is applied real estate research and he has completed numerous mass-appeal assignments. He is a past board member of the National, Texas, and Houston Association of Realtors. A fixture on his calendar is the annual Edwards Abstract & Title Company’s State of the RGV Real Estate forum. This year’s forum took place at the McAllen Convention Center. At the forum, Jones pointed out that the Brownsville-Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area is one of the top performing MSAs in the nation.

Title: Daniel Covarrubias
Runtime: 9:45
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Daniel Covarrubias is director of the Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development at Texas A&M International University's A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business. Covarrubias recently penned a white paper with Gerónimo Gutiérrez Fernández, the former Mexican Ambassador to the United States. It was titled "The BiNational Customs Agency - A Vision for U.S.-Mexico Joint Customs Operations." The white paper argued for combining customs operations between the U.S. and Mexico, and potentially Canada too. The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service interviewed Covarrubias about his ideas.

Title: Dr Michael Hocker
Runtime: 9:56
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Dr. Michael B. Hocker, dean of UT-Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, gave a speech at the State of RGV Real Estate forum hosted by Edwards Abstract & Title Co. In his speech, he spoke about the shortage of physicians in Texas, the quality and diversity of the students at the SOM, the prevalence of diabetes in the region, and the importance of the research his medical school is undertaking. At the end of the program Dr. Hocker gave the Rio Grande Guardian an in-depth interview about his remarks.

Title: Joaquin Spamer
Runtime: 7:10
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: CIL Group President Joaquin Spamer had a speaking role at a recent conference Select USA held in Mexico City. Spamer said the conference was excellent, arguing that any business owner from Mexico that wants to open up shop in the U.S. needed to be there. Spamer also spoke about RioPlex, the new branding initiative he helped start that is designed to attract investment from across the world to South Texas and Northern Tamaulipas. He said RioPlex's arrival on the scene is spurring economic development groups from across the region to "up their game."

Title: Hugo Elio Sarabia
Runtime: 1:02
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Palmview Chamber of Commerce may not be the biggest organization of its type in the Rio Grande Valley but what it lacks in numbers it makes up for in spirit. The leadership of Palmview Chamber of Commerce thanks Hidalgo County Commissioner Everado Villarreal for his support. Here is a brief interview with the Chamber's coordinator, Hugo Elio Sarabia, III.

Title: Maria D. Juarez- Serna
Runtime: 20:25
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: The UT-Rio Grande Valley’s Small Business Development Council recently connected with UTRGV’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization chapter in Edinburg. The event was titled Entrepreneur Talk. The SBDC’s director, Maria D. Juarez-Serna was one of the panelists. Juarez-Serna explained what her organization does and how it helps foster a community of entrepreneurialism and innovation.

Title: Angela Burton
Runtime: 17:57
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: The UT-Rio Grande Valley’s Small Business Development Council recently connected with UTRGV’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization chapter in Edinburg. The SBDC invited Angela Burton, director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Rio Grande Valley district, to speak at the event. Burton explained what her organization does and how it helps foster a community of entrepreneurialism and innovation.

Title: Marlene Rodriguez
Runtime: 5:51
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: The UT-Rio Grande Valley’s Small Business Development Council recently connected with UTRGV’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization chapter in Edinburg. The SBDC invited Marlene Rodriguez, senior business development officer for LiftFund, Inc., to speak at the event. Rodriguez explained what her organization does and how it helps foster a community of entrepreneurialism and innovation.

Title: Mike Willis
Runtime: 12:13
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Mike Willis, executive director of South Texas Manufacturers Association, has given an update on the work of his group and the state of manufacturing in the Rio Grande Valley. He noted that STMA is gaining members in the lower Valley. In his exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Willis also spoke about the potential imposition of tariffs and their likely impact on the region's economy. Indeed, just the talk of tariffs is having a chilling effect on investment decisions, he said.

Title: Cynthia Sakulenzki
Runtime: 8:26
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: The UT-Rio Grande Valley’s Small Business Development Council recently connected with UTRGV’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization chapter in Edinburg. The SBDC invited Cynthia Sakulenzki, president of the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, to speak at the event. Sakulenzki explained what her organization does and how it helps foster a community of entrepreneurialism and innovation.

Title: Career Squad
Runtime: 32:56
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Jayshree Bhat is back! The former assistant vice president for professional education and workforce development at UT-Rio Grande Valley left the region a few years ago to pursue her higher ed career in Vermont. She is now based in North Carolina but is promoting a product she believes will work well in the Valley. CareerSquad AI is a software product developed by UpSquad. It helps entry level workers interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. Bhat is a business development partner for UpSquad. She says CareerSquad AI helps job seekers through custom chat. She says this is an under-utilized, high impact solution that gives workers clear step by step guidance. In this Zoom interview, Bhat is joined by her colleagues at UpSquad, Eric Branch and Venki Mandapati.

Title: Carol Warkoczewski
Runtime: 5:57
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Carol Warkoczewski, founder of The Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects, kicked off the recent “Building the Valley–Uniting for RGV Regional Growth” conference. It was I-LinCP’s inaugural program in the Rio Grande Valley and explored the opportunities the region offers for AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) and allied professionals. It also highlighted the significance of organizations like the RGV Partnership and UT-Rio Grande Valley in shaping the region’s future. Here are Warkoczewski’s opening remarks.

Title: Oscar Chapa
Runtime: 12:42
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Rio Grande Valley Angel Network facilitates the introduction of entrepreneurs to potential investors through presentations and other mechanisms. RGVAN consists of individual angel investors interested in financing privately held companies or ventures typically in an early stage of development. At a recent event at UT-Rio Grande Valley in Weslaco, the group heard two pitches from two out-of-town startups. However, RGVAN Chairman Oscar Chapa said many Valley investors would like to back local projects. And they want to give back to the community by mentoring budding entrepreneurs, Chapa told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.

Title: Rose Benavidez
Runtime: 5:40
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: The Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition, which has the support of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC), has unveiled the RGV Broadband and Digital Opportunity Plan.

The group says the plan is a "bold initiative to ensure every home, business, and community anchor institution in the region has access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet."

The group points out that much of the RGV still lacks reliable internet access, holding the region back in a world that increasingly depends on digital tools.

The digital opportunity plan was unveiled at the offices of LRGVDC in Weslaco on Feb. 25, 2025.. At the launch, the Rio Grande Guardian interviewed the president of Starr County Industrial Foundation, Rose Benavidez.

Title: Jordana Barton Garcia
Runtime: 10:18
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: The Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition, which has the support of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC), has unveiled the RGV Broadband and Digital Opportunity Plan.

The group says the plan is a "bold initiative to ensure every home, business, and community anchor institution in the region has access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet."

The group points out that much of the RGV still lacks reliable internet access, holding the region back in a world that increasingly depends on digital tools.

The digital opportunity plan was unveiled at the offices of LRGVDC in Weslaco on Feb. 25, 2025. At the launch, the Rio Grande Guardian interviewed the director of the Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition, Jordana Barton-Garcia.

Title: Javier De Leon
Runtime: 8:28
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: The Cameron County Small Cities Coalition is hosting its first ever "Day at the State Capitol" on Feb. 26, 2025. Ten cities and four drainage/irrigation districts will be represented. Facilitating the trip is the Greater Harlingen Chamber. In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, the chamber's president and CEO, Javier De Leon, explained how the coalition came into existence and what the top issues will be when the Cameron County officials visit with state lawmakers.

Title: HEB Teacher Awards
Runtime: 2:07
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Each year, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program awards cash prizes to honor outstanding public school professionals, and to thank them for their dedication and commitment. It is one of the nation’s largest monetary awards programs for educators. Through the program, H-E-B seeks to pay tribute to those educators who go the extra mile every day to serve their students and their communities and who inspire others to do the same. H-E-B recently visited Harlingen to announce one of the finalists for the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. The educator was Valarie Paredes of Harlingen Collegiate High School.

Title: Luis Bazan - Pharr Bridge
Runtime: 9:36
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: The second span project for the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge would not have happened as quickly had officials on both sides not worked closely together. This is the view of Luis Bazan, director of the bridge on the U.S. side. The second span is more than 70 percent complete. It is slated to be finished before the end of the year. In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Bazan gave an update on the project and other bridge developments.

Title: Mark Murray FUTURO RGV
Runtime: 7:07
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Ninety-two year old Nedra S. Kinerk, founder of Futuro RGV, has retired from the civic engagement group. The former educator has led Futuro since its inception in 1999. At a recent board meeting, Kinerk handed over the gavel to another educator, Mark Murray. The Rio Grande Guardian was there to exclusively record the handover. At the meeting, the board of directors agreed to name an existing student scholarship program in honor of Kinerk.

Title: Judge Cortez I-LinCP Feb 13 2025
Runtime: 16:53
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: The Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects (I-LinCP) recently partnered with the Rio Grande Valley Partnership to present its first inaugural program in the Rio Grande Valley. It was called the "Building the Valley – Uniting for RGV Regional Growth" and it was held at the Embassy Suites in McAllen. A keynote speaker was Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez. He spoke about his efforts to reduce poverty levels in the county. Here is a video recording of his presentation in full.

Title: Edinburg Day - Mayor Ramiro Garza
Runtime: 0:54
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza gave an interview during Edinburg Day at the Capitol. He was pleased for the accolades his city received as a four-time All-America City.

Title: Edinburg Day
Runtime: 0:36
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Edinburg was recognized at the state Capitol for achieving an historic fourth All-America City title. City leaders were there for Edinburg Day at the Capitol. Legislators learned that Edinburg is one of the fastest growing cities in Texas.

Title: Alex Meade I-LinCP Feb 13 2025
Runtime: 16:36
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description

Title: Gilberto Salinas I-LinCP Feb 13 2025
Runtime: 7:11
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description

Title: Victor Perez I-LinCP Feb 13 2025
Runtime: 5:25
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Victor Perez, president of Pharr Economic Development Corporation, spoke at an event hosted by the Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects (I-LinCP). It was called "Building the Valley – Uniting for RGV Regional Growth" and it was held at the Embassy Suites in McAllen. Here is what Perez said.

Title: Rose Benevidez I-LinCP Feb 13 2025
Runtime: 4:55
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Rose Benavidez, president of Starr County Industrial Foundation, spoke at an event hosted by the Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects (I-LinCP). It was called "Building the Valley – Uniting for RGV Regional Growth" and it was held at the Embassy Suites in McAllen. Here is what Benavidez said.

Title: Panel I-LinCP Feb 13 2025
Runtime: 36:06
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: For the first time ever, three South Texas economic development leaders appeared on stage together. The three were: Daniel Silva, president and CEO of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, Adam Gonzalez, CEO of the Council for South Texas Economic Progress, and Mario Reyna, a director with RioPlex. The three spoke at a program hosted by the Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects (I-LinCP). It was called the "Building the Valley – Uniting for RGV Regional Growth" and it was held at the Embassy Suites in McAllen. The moderator was Brian Godinez, CEO of ERO Architects and South Texas Facility Partnership.

Title: Ester Salinas
Runtime: 5:39
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Ester Salinas is an environmental activist and retired educator from Mission, Texas. She is perhaps best known for starting a class action lawsuit against chemical companies that manufactured commercial grade pesticides at the Hayes Sammons plant in Mission in the 1950s and 1960s. The lawsuit, which was settled out of court, alleged proximity to the pesticides caused cancer and other illnesses. The federal government listed the factory as a Superfund site. In this interview, Salinas discusses the settlements paid to affected families. She also calls for a state historical marker to be erected at the site of the now demolished manufacturing plant.

Title: Ester Salinas
Runtime: 7:16
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Ester Salinas is a community activist in Mission, Texas. She is perhaps best known for bringing together thousands of Mission residents to file a class action lawsuit against numerous chemical companies that manufactured pesticides at the old Hayes Sammons plant in Mission in the 1950s and 1960s. Recently she received a visit from a Maytag representative that wanted to test the water in her home. The representative said it was not safe to drink. Here is her reaction.

Title: Caleb Alvarez
Runtime: 7:18
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Caleb Alvarez is a water research specialist for Maytag. He goes door to door in the Rio Grande Valley showing residents that the water coming out of the faucets in their homes is not good enough to drink. He then tries to persuade them to purchase Maytag water filtering equipment. Alvarez recently visited the home of Mission community activist Ester Salinas and warned her that the water provided by her local municipality is not good.

Title: Angel Ramos
Runtime: 16:15
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Angel Ramos is aviation director for Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport. In an in-depth interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Ramos said BRO had a great year in 2024, in part because it now has direct flights to Monterrey, Mexico. He said his airport benefits greatly from all the economic activity happening at SpaceX and the Port of Brownsville. He says if Brownsville residents fly in and out of their own airport, rather than traveling to others, it will help grow the city.

Title: Mario Reyna - Rioplex
Runtime: 14:47
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Mario Reyna has been appointed to the board of directors for RioPlex. The group was formed recently to attract more high tech and manufacturing companies from around the world to the Rio Grande Valley and northern Tamaulipas region. In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Reyna discusses a new branding initiative for RioPlex, and explains the ways in which RioPlex can augment the work of existing economic development corporations in the region.

Title: Orlando Campos
Runtime: 2:50
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Southwest Airlines has celebrated 50 years flying into Valley International Airport in Harlingen. The airline started in the early 1970s and Harlingen was the fourth station it connected to. There was a huge turnout at VIA to celebrate the milestone. Here is an interview with Orlando Campos, CEO of Harlingen Economic Development Corporation.

Title: George McShan
Runtime: 3:07
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Southwest Airlines has celebrated 50 years flying into Valley International Airport in Harlingen. The airline started in the early 1970s and Harlingen was the fourth station it connected to. There was a huge turnout at VIA to celebrate the milestone. Here is an interview with George McShan, chairman of the board at VIA.

Title: Steve Goldberg
Runtime: 2:47
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Southwest Airlines has celebrated 50 years flying into Valley International Airport in Harlingen. The airline started in the early 1970s and Harlingen was the fourth station it connected to. There was a huge turnout at VIA to celebrate the milestone. Here is an interview with Steve Goldberg, senior vice president at Southwest Airlines.

Title: Marv Esterly
Runtime: 4:09
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Southwest Airlines has celebrated 50 years flying into Valley International Airport in Harlingen. The airline started in the early 1970s and Harlingen was the fourth station it connected to. There was a huge turnout at VIA to celebrate the milestone. Here is an interview with Marv Esterly, aviation director for VIA.

Title: Michael Hawton Headwater
Runtime: 3:23
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description

Title: Brianna Casares
Runtime: 2:17
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Mission Economic Development Corporation has awarded nearly $220,000 in grant funding to 16 small businesses from its Ruby Red Ventures Build Mission Fund. The program assists existing businesses in Mission with operation sustainability, facility improvements, expansion, working capital, and job creation and retention. Here is an interview with Mission EDC's manager of marketing and programs, Brianna Casares, about the program.

Title: Natalie Garza
Runtime: 3:12
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Mission Economic Development Corporation has awarded nearly $220,000 in grant funding to 16 small businesses from its Ruby Red Ventures Build Mission Fund. The program assists existing businesses in Mission with operation sustainability, facility improvements, expansion, working capital, and job creation and retention. Here is an interview with one of the winners, Natalie Garza, owner of Con Ganas Mija.

Title: Origo Works - Livery Ribbon Cuting
Runtime: 2:35
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr., and Brownsville Chamber of Commerce President Esmy Villarreal have welcomed a new events center to their city. The Livery Venue was developed by OrigoWorks. Here is a video story on the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Title: Manuel 'Manny' Cruz
Runtime: 5:54
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Manuel "Manny" Cruz is executive director of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council. LRGVDC is the official Council of Government for Willacy, Cameron and Hidalgo counties. At a recent meeting, LRGVDC agreed to apply for funding for a feasibility study on the creation of a regional transit authority. After the meeting the Rio Grande Guardian secured an exclusive interview with Cruz on the topic of a regional transit authority and why the feasibility study is important.

Title: Brownsville Day Capitol pt 4
Runtime: 9:08
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Brownsville Chamber of Commerce organized its first Brownsville Day at the Capitol for many years. As well as being recognized by the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate, many high-level meetings were scheduled for a delegation of over 50 Brownsville leaders. The third day of the trip saw a panel discussion at the offices of the Mexican Consul General in Austin. Panelists included Mexico's Consul General in Austin, Humberto Hernández Haddad, Mexico's Consul in Brownsville, Judith Arrieta Munguia, Texas Association of Business President Glenn Hamer, Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Chambers Vice President JR Gonzales, Antonio “Tony” Rodriguez, director of cargo services and business development for Brownsville Navigation District, and Brownsville City Commissioner Linda Macias. The panel was moderated by Brownsville Chamber President Esmy Villarreal. This is the fourth in a four-part series.

Title: Madhavan Pisharodi eBridge Center
Runtime: 2:25
Date posted: 2 years ago
Description: Brownsville physician Madhavan Pisharodi says he has done all he can to tell people how to avoid the next pandemic. The next step, he says, is for someone "rich and powerful" to come in and amplify his message. The Rio Grande Guardian secured an exclusive interview with Dr. Pisharodi at a recent book signing event for his book about COVID 19. The book is called "Corona: Be Not Proud." It can be purchased on Amazon.com. The book signing event was held at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization in downtown Brownsville.

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Rio Grande Guardian

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