Rio Grande Guardian
Building a Stronger, More Connected Texas
- Title
- Building a Stronger, More Connected Texas
- Runtime
- 55:48
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- YTexas is a business network for companies relocating, expanding and growing into and within the Lone Star State. Recently, the group held a regional conference at The Livery Venue in Brownsville. The keynote panel discussion was titled “Building a Stronger, More Connected Texas.” The panelists were Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., Albert Escobedo of RGV Desal South Texas, and Gilberto Salinas, CEO of Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation (GBEDC). The moderator was Jovanna Rangel, senior director of defense and space affairs of GBEDC.
- Title
- Energy Production: Powering the Future of Texas
- Runtime
- 34:09
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- YTexas is a business network for companies relocating, expanding and growing into and within the Lone Star State. Recently, the group held a regional conference at The Livery Venue in Brownsville. At the event, the group held a Fireside Chat. Its topic was: Energy Production: Powering the Future of Texas. The two speakers were William Dietrich, CEO of the Port of Brownsville, and Tom Ramsey, COO of America First Refining. The moderator was Tracye McDaniel, president of TIP Strategies. Here is a video recording of the discussion.
- Title
- Brownsville Navigation District: Villarreal sworn into office; Garcia must wait
- Runtime
- 42:01
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- For one week only, Brownsville Navigation District will have four commissioners rather than five. This is because David A. Garcia, top vote getter for Commissioner Place 2 in the recent election, was not sworn into office at BND’s May 13, 2026 board meeting. One of the two other candidates, Shariff Gonnella has called for a recount. Garcia secured 4,304 votes. Gonnella secured 2,455 votes. The recount is expected to take place on Saturday, May 16. At the May 13 board meeting, Luis H. Villarreal, Jr., the top vote getter in the Commissioner Place 4 election, was sworn into office. He was sworn in by former state Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. Also at the meeting, two commissioners, Chairman Steve Guerra, and John Wood, the longest-serving commissioner, stood down. Here are highlights from the meeting.
- Title
- Cuellar visits Pharr city leaders (U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar)
- Runtime
- 10:32
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The boundary lines for U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar's Congressional seat - TX 28 - has changed. After the next election, should he win re-election, he will represent part of Pharr. In anticipation, Cuellar visited the Pharr Economic Development Corporation offices to learn more about the projects city administrators are developing. After the meeting concluded, Congressman Cuellar gave the Rio Grande Guardian an interview. He spoke about how he can help Pharr's projects and the impact of a recent Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act.
- Title
- Arrieta provides update on USMCA review (Judith Arrieta Mungia)
- Runtime
- 12:43
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Mexico’s Consul General in Brownsville, Judith Arrieta Mungia, reports that the current United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) review is underway and on schedule. In an interview with the RGG Business Journal, Arrieta said trust is growing and the process is moving in the right direction. Current discussions focus on regional production, manufacturing employment, rules of origin, and supply chain resilience in key sectors such as automotive, steel and aluminum, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and medical devices. Arrieta said key areas of cooperation include economic security coordination and aligned industrial policy actions.
- Title
- Cuellar receives update on Pharr Bridge projects
- Runtime
- 9:28
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The boundary lines for U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar's Congressional seat - TX 28 - has changed. After the next election, should he win re-election, he will represent part of Pharr. In anticipation, Cuellar visited the Pharr Economic Development Corporation offices to learn more about the projects city administrators are working on. Pharr Bridge Director Luis Bazan and Deputy City Manager Cynthia "Cindy" Garza-Reyes were among those who presented to the congressman. Here is the conversation about the Pharr International Bridge.
- Title
- Harvard-MIT student encourages Valley high school students to pursue a career in STEM (Garza & Puteg
- Runtime
- 7:39
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- STEM Nation 2026 Student Conference, held at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg on May 12, was a big success, say organizers. More than 5,000 high school students from across the Rio Grande Valley attended. Speakers such as astronaut K. Megan McArthur of the Space Center Houston sought to encourage the students to pursue a career in STEM: science, technology, engineering and math. The event was hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation (RGVPF). Among the top sponsors were Rio Grande LNG, Lone Star National Bank, SpaceX, Driscoll Children’s Hospital, Harvard MIT, Rice University, Space Center Houston, Bert Ogden Arena, and Texas Southmost College. At the end of the program, the Rio Grande Guardian interviewed RGVPF board member Lizzy De La Garza Putegnat, and the group’s CEO Diane Milliken Garza.
- Title
- Harvard-MIT student encourages Valley high school students to pursue a career in STEM (Anna Wadhwa)
- Runtime
- 4:06
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- STEM Nation 2026 Student Conference, held at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg on May 12, was a big success, say organizers. More than 5,000 high school students from across the Rio Grande Valley attended. Speakers such as astronaut K. Megan McArthur of the Space Center Houston sought to encourage the students to pursue a career in STEM: science, technology, engineering and math. The event was hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation (RGVPF). Among the top sponsors were Rio Grande LNG, Lone Star National Bank, SpaceX, Driscoll Children’s Hospital, Harvard MIT, Rice University, Space Center Houston, Bert Ogden Arena, and Texas Southmost College. At the end of the program, the Rio Grande Guardian interviewed Harvard-MIT aeronautics and astronautics MD/PhD student Anna Wadhwa.
- Title
- Arrieta ofrece una actualización sobre la revisión del T-MEC (Judith Arrieta Mungia)
- Runtime
- 11:52
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- La Cónsul General de México en Brownsville, Judith Arrieta Mungia, informa que la actual revisión del Tratado entre México, Estados Unidos y Canadá (T-MEC) se encuentra en curso y avanza conforme al calendario previsto. En una entrevista con el *RGG Business Journal*, Arrieta señaló que la confianza está aumentando y que el proceso avanza en la dirección correcta. Las discusiones actuales se centran en la producción regional, el empleo en el sector manufacturero, las reglas de origen y la resiliencia de las cadenas de suministro en sectores clave, tales como el automotriz, el del acero y el aluminio, el farmacéutico, el electrónico y el de dispositivos médicos. Arrieta indicó que las áreas clave de cooperación incluyen la coordinación en materia de seguridad económica y la alineación de las acciones de política industrial.
- Title
- Salazar: More RioPlex trade missions planned (Astrid Salazar)
- Runtime
- 7:23
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Astrid Salazar chairs RioPlex's strategy committee. In an exclusive interview with the RGG Business Journal, Salazar unveils the group's event calendar for the remainder of 2026. It includes trade missions to Mexico, which are being coordinated with the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico. Salazar also spoke about the need for all residents of the Rio Grande Valley and northern Tamaulipas to promote the RioPlex region.
- Title
- Vanguard Academy's Vision 2036 plan called for expansion. It is happening. (Marisol Rocha and Rosa G
- Runtime
- 16:42
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- As part of its Vision 2036 plan, Vanguard Academy is building a new early childhood center in Alamo, Texas. Slated to open in August 2026, the center will be called the Mozart Early Childhood Center. A principal has been named: Rosa Garcia. The Rio Grande Guardian sat down for an interview with Vanguard Superintendent Marisol Rocha and Garcia to discuss the need for the new center. In addition, Rocha spoke about Vision 2036 and plans for Vanguard to expand into Mission, Texas.
- Title
- Future of the Region South Texas plans Laredo conference (Daniel Korus)
- Runtime
- 2:35
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Daniel Korus is president of the Future of the Region - South Texas. In an exclusive interview with the RGG Business Journal, Korus discussed the group's history and mission statement and unveiled plans for a Fall conference in Laredo.
- Title
- CIL Groundbreaking in Raymondville
- Runtime
- 39:34
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- CIL Capital held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Raymondville Plaza project in Raymondville, Texas, on May 8, 2026. The project comprises six 1,000-square-foot units on 2.02 acres of land. From the podium, leaders from Willacy County and Raymondville welcomed the CIL project and CIL founder and president Joaquin Spamer told a story about his affection for Raymondville.
- Title
- Cowen, Treviño, Vela discuss economic development collaboration in Cameron County (Eddie Treviño Jr)
- Runtime
- 5:12
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- At the historic Dancy Building in Brownsville, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño joined leaders from numerous municipalities in the county to sign a “Regional Benefit Agreement.” According to Workforce Solutions Cameron, the agreement is a “collaborative effort among Cameron County leaders to strengthen regional coordination on workforce and economic development.” WSC said the agreement “brings together cities across the region in a shared commitment to communication, collaboration, and long-term growth.” After each entity signed the agreement document, the participants gave interviews to news reporters. Here is an interview with Judge Treviño.
- Title
- Cowen, Treviño, Vela discuss economic development collaboration in Cameron County (Rafael Vela)
- Runtime
- 9:38
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- At the historic Dancy Building in Brownsville, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño joined leaders from numerous municipalities in the county to sign a “Regional Benefit Agreement.” According to Workforce Solutions Cameron, the agreement is a “collaborative effort among Cameron County leaders to strengthen regional coordination on workforce and economic development.” WSC said the agreement “brings together cities across the region in a shared commitment to communication, collaboration, and long-term growth.” After each entity signed the agreement document, the participants gave interviews to news reporters. Here is an interview with WSC Executive Director Rafael Vela.
- Title
- Cowen, Treviño, Vela discuss economic development collaboration in Cameron County (John Cowen, Jr.)
- Runtime
- 3:20
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- At the historic Dancy Building in Brownsville, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño joined leaders from numerous municipalities in the county to sign a “Regional Benefit Agreement.” According to Workforce Solutions Cameron, the agreement is a “collaborative effort among Cameron County leaders to strengthen regional coordination on workforce and economic development.” WSC said the agreement “brings together cities across the region in a shared commitment to communication, collaboration, and long-term growth.” After each entity signed the agreement document, the participants gave interviews to news reporters. Here is an interview with Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr.
- Title
- Muévase más rápido: La ventaja en comercio, logística y acceso-Luis Bazan y Guillermo Rico-Leal
- Runtime
- 56:27
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Un panel abordó el comercio internacional y los futuros proyectos de infraestructura durante la RGV StartUp Week. La mesa redonda tuvo lugar en el Pharr Global Business Hub y contó con la participación de Luis Bazan, director del Puente de Pharr, y Guillermo Rico-Leal, director de desarrollo empresarial del Puerto de Brownsville. El moderador fue Rick Carrera, director de desarrollo económico del Consejo para el Progreso Económico del Sur de Texas. El título de la discusión fue: «Muévase más rápido: La ventaja en comercio, logística y acceso». La mesa redonda se llevó a cabo en español.
- Title
- Longoria says LIHEAP and CSBG federal programs deserve support (Jaime Longoria)
- Runtime
- 16:28
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Jaime Longoria is executive director of Hidalgo County Community Service Agency. Longoria recently stat down for an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian about two of the federal programs his department administers: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). Both programs would be eliminated under President Trump’s 2027 Budget. Eliminating LIHEAP would save the government $ billion, while doing away with CSBG would save $775 million. President Trump’s budget would have to win approval in Congress. Longoria says both programs are vital in Hidalgo County. He notes that CSBG has won bipartisan support in the past from the Rio Grande Valley’s congressional delegation. In the interview, Longoria gives examples of the effectiveness of both programs.
- Title
- Salomon Torres
- Runtime
- 12:32
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Salomón Torres es un apasionado de la historia de las relaciones entre Estados Unidos y México, y colabora con el Rio Grande Guardian. Hace cinco años organizó un simposio para conmemorar el 175.º aniversario de la guerra entre Estados Unidos y México. Este año planea organizar otro para conmemorar su 180.º aniversario. Recientemente, concedió una entrevista al Rio Grande Guardian para hablar sobre el proyecto.
- Title
- Perez thanks Abbott for $4.8 million semiconductor innovation fund investment (Victor Perez)
- Runtime
- 10:44
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund awarded a $4,830,000 grant to Avant Technology, Inc., to expand its manufacturing facility in Pharr. The facility is expected to create 250 jobs and represents more than $20 million in capital investment. Pharr Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Victor Perez teased the announcement in an interview with the RGG Business Journal a month or so back. Now, he is able to talk about it publicly. In a new interview he spoke about Avant’s major expansion in Pharr, plus the importance of a panel discussion he participated in as part of RGV StartUp Week.
- Title
- Murray: When there's a need for more infrastructure, there's a need for more Halff (Menton J.”Trey”
- Runtime
- 7:45
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Civil engineering firm Halff recently celebrated an expansion of its Brownsville offices. The square footage has shot up from 3,000 to 8,500. To learn more about growth in the lower Rio Grande Valley, the RGG Business Journal interviewed Menton J.”Trey” Murray, III. He is Halff’s chairman of the board for South Texas operations. Murray pointed out that Halff is consistently named one of America’s top workplaces because of an environment built around “people first.” He said: “We do things the right way.” Asked if the incredible growth happening in Brownsville explains why Halff is looking for more engineers, Murray said: “When there is a need for more infrastructure, there is a need for more Halff.”
- Title
- Murray: When there is a need for more infrastructure, there is a need for more Halff (John W. Clint)
- Runtime
- 5:27
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Civil engineering firm Halff recently celebrated an expansion of its Brownsville offices with a ribbon-cutting. The square footage has increased from 3,000 to 8,500. To learn more about growth in the lower Rio Grande Valley, the RGG Business Journal interviewed John W. Clint, vice president and operations manager for Halff. Clint pointed out that Halff is consistently named one of America’s top workplaces because of an environment built around “people first.” Clint said: “Halff is different, it is definitely different.” Everything Halff does is engineered for people – whether it’s the company culture, career development, caring philanthropy or the client projects that truly touch lives and improve the world around us, he explained.
- Title
- Salomon Torres
- Runtime
- 13:31
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Salomon Torres is a US-Mexico history aficionado based in the Rio Grande Guardian. Five years ago he organized a symposium to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the U.S.-Mexico War. He plans to host another one this year to commemorate its 180th anniversary. He recently sat down for an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian to discuss the project.
- Title
- Arrieta: Excitement for the 2026 World Cup is mounting (Judith Arrieta Mungia)
- Runtime
- 5:47
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Judith Arrieta Mungia is Consul General of Mexico in Brownsville. She recently sat down for an interview about the excitement building up in her country for the 2026 World Cup. To celebrate the event, Arrieta has organized many sports events in Brownsville over the past week or so. She explained how the program is going, and why it is important.
- Title
- Why Congress should pass the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act (Kathleen Clark)
- Runtime
- 10:37
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- More than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and more than 12 million provide their unpaid care. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is estimated to total $409 billion in 2026, increasing to nearly $1 trillion (in today’s dollars) by mid-century. Kathleen Clark, a finance advisor and volunteer community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association in Corpus Christi, told the Rio Grande Guardian about important legislation the group is pushing for in Congress. The bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act would change the law so Medicare can cover FDA-approved blood tests for Alzheimer’s, Clark said. Currently, Medicare does not routinely cover these tests, which can detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear.
- Title
- Larson reviews Rotary District 5930’s annual conference (Arlina Larson)
- Runtime
- 7:39
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Arlina Larson is president of Edinburg Rotary Club. In a recent interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Larson spoke about the work her group does in Edinburg and reviews the 2026 annual conference of Rotary District 5930, which took place in McAllen.
- Title
- Stories from StartUp Week: William Steele
- Runtime
- 10:56
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Harva CEO and co-founder William Steele was a keynote speaker at RGV StartUp Week 2026, held at the eBridge Center in downtown Brownsville. His company is the title sponsor of the event. After his presentation on AI, Steele gave an interview to the RGG Business Journal. In the interview, Steele was asked what excites him most about AI in the next five years. Steele answered: Not knowing what is coming next. He also offered advice for Rio Grande Valley companies that have yet to embrace AI. Going forward, Steele will host a monthly workshop at the eBridge Center, sponsored by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation.
- Title
- Stories from StartUp Week: Rubén Cantú
- Runtime
- 5:31
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Rubén Cantú is executive director of Frontera Leadership Institute. The nonprofit’s goal is to provide opportunities for emerging leaders to make a big impact in tech and entrepreneurship, especially in the Brownsville area. Cantú gave a presentation at RGV StartUp Week 2026 at the eBridge Center in downtown Brownsville. The RGG Business Journal caught up with him there.
- Title
- Meet the Candidate: Prisci Roca Tipton
- Runtime
- 22:55
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Education administrator Prisci Roca Tipton is running for the Port of Brownsville Commission. She recently sat down for an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian to explain her top campaign issues and what the voters are telling her. Like other candidates, Roca Tipton wants more transparency in port affairs. Roca Tipton's family has a storied history within the Port of Brownsville. Her father built boats for the shrimping industry. When that industry hit hard times he manufactured panels for oil rigs.
- Title
- Villarreal wants more transparency at the Port of Brownsville (Luis Villarreal)
- Runtime
- 33:48
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- For the latest in our Meet the Candidate series, the RGG Business Journal sat down for an interview with project developer Luis Villarreal, who is running for a vacant slot on the Port of Brownsville Commission. In an in-depth discussion, the Brownsville native laid out his vision for the Port. He wants to see more transparency, with commission members barred from doing business with tenants at the Port. He also wants to see commission meetings live-streamed, which does not happen now. He also wants to see a property tax Brownsville Navigation District levies on area residents abolished.
- Title
- DHR Health & University of Houston Announcement
- Runtime
- 47:36
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- DHR Health and the University of Houston held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new medical research and education center on April 23, 2026. The center will be build on the DHR campus on the south side of Dove Avenue in McAllen. The two institutions said their collaboration represents a milestone investment that will expand health education programs and improve access to care in one of Texas' most rapidly growing and high-demand regions. Here is a recording of everything said at the podium.
- Title
- René Xavier González
- Runtime
- 36:45
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- CODEM (Matamoros Economic Development Committee) is a nonprofit, private sector group that aims to bring economic development success to Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Its president is René Xavier González, director of business development and marketing at SIDEE Construction. González recently sat down for an in-depth discussion with the RGG Business Journal. He talked about the importance of CODEM, his company, SIDEE Construction, economic conditions in Matamoros, and his support for regional collaboration, as shown by his involvement with COSTEP and RioPlex.
- Title
- Felida Villarreal
- Runtime
- 16:52
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Felida Villarreal is president and CEO of VIDA (Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement). The group is now in its 30th year and has helped over 7,000 students achieve educational success to secure better-paying jobs. VIDA provides holistic support to students, including childcare, transportation, and counseling. In a recent interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Villarreal spoke about VIDA’s work with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Unidos US, and California-based Open AI. She also reflected on VIDA’s 30th-anniversary gala at the McAllen Convention Center and how she secured billionaire and Brownsville-Matamoros native Fernando De Leon as the keynote speaker.
- Title
- Brian Godinez
- Runtime
- 9:29
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Brian Godinez is CEO of ERO Architects, the largest architectural firm in the Rio Grande Valley. The 25-year-old company recently celebrated the opening of its new Brownsville office. In an exclusive interview with the RGG Business Journal, Godinez discussed ERO's growth, vision, and mission statement. RGG Business Journal met with Godinez at a recent strategic leadership meeting of RioPlex. ERO is a member of RioPlex. The meeting took place at the Texas National Bank offices in Brownsville. Godinez said it was great to learn about everything happening at the Port of Brownsville and to know RioPlex would adopt a Code of Excellence for its members.
- Title
- RGV Connect Water Forum - Part One
- Runtime
- 53:36
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- For the latest in its RGV Connect series, the Rio Grande Valley Partnership focused on water. It held its RGV Connect Water Forum at the Texas Southmost College Performing Arts Center. The panel discussion featured: Hidalgo County Commissioner David Fuentes, Brian Jones of the Texas Farm Bureau, Bryan Martinez, a City of Brownsville Commissioner, and Marilyn D. Gilbert, CEO of the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. The conversation was moderated by Colin McDonald of the Texas Water Foundation. Here is a video recording of Part One of the conversation.
- Title
- RGV Connect Water Forum - Part Two
- Runtime
- 19:09
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- For the latest in its RGV Connect series, the Rio Grande Valley Partnership focused on water. It held its RGV Connect Water Forum at the Texas Southmost College Performing Arts Center. The panel discussion featured: Hidalgo County Commissioner David Fuentes, Brian Jones of the Texas Farm Bureau, Bryan Martinez, a City of Brownsville Commissioner, and Marilyn D. Gilbert, CEO of the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. The conversation was moderated by Colin McDonald of the Texas Water Foundation. Here is a video recording of Part Two of the conversation.
- Title
- Salomon Torres
- Runtime
- 31:57
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Salomon Torres, former district director for U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, is principal of Soluciones, a Harlingen-based consultancy firm. Torres helped HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability secure a $7.4 million grant from the U.D. Department of Agriculture. However, the department has now rescinded the money, claiming the grant was given due to DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). In a podcast with the Rio Grande Guardian, Torres disputes this. He explains how the funding originated, its intended purpose, and what small farmer operators Diana and Saul Padilla, the leaders of HOPE, are doing to get USDA to rescind its decision.
- Title
- Morgan LaMantia
- Runtime
- 7:46
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Business leader Morgan LaMantia is a board member of RioPlex. The group had a private strategy meeting at the offices of Texas National Bank in Brownsville on April 14, 2026. It was titled: RioPlex Strategic Meeting with Board and Visionary Partners. There were two presentations. One from William Dietrich, port director and CEO of the Port of Brownsville. The other from former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos, also a board member of RioPlex. After the meeting had ended, La Mantia gave an exclusive interview to the RGG Business Journal about what was discussed in the meeting and future projects for RioPlex.
- Title
- Paco Sanchez
- Runtime
- 6:49
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Paco Sanchez is president and CEO of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. In a recent interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Sanchez detailed the group’s annual RGV-to-DC trip. This year’s event runs June 10 through 12. Participants will meet with federal agency and department leaders and members of the Texas congressional delegation. “We have a really impactful agenda set,” Sanchez told the Guardian. Sanchez said those wishing to participate must pay their own way, but RGVP secured a discounted rate on hotel accommodation.
- Title
- Cori Peña previews RGV StartUp Week
- Runtime
- 30:24
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Cori Peña, president and CEO of the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, has given the Rio Grande Guardian a detailed preview of this year’s RGV StartUp Week. The event, now in its third year, is a weeklong celebration of entrepreneurs. It runs from April 24 to May 2, with many of the events taking place at the eBridge Center in downtown Brownsville. In her podcast with the Guardian, Peña explains how the program came about, its economic impact on the local economy, what to expect from this year’s activities, and a new component this year: AI.
- Title
- Paco Sanchez
- Runtime
- 2:31
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Rio Grande Valley Partnership recently hosted a forum on water at Texas Southmost College. It was part of the group's RGV Connect series. At the conclusion of the panel discussion, the Rio Grande Guardian secured an interview with RGVP President and CEO, Paco Sanchez. Here is the interview.
- Title
- Sarah Rountree Schlessinger
- Runtime
- 1:56
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Sarah Rountree Schlessinger is CEO of the Texas Water Foundation, a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit that works in water policy, workforce and leadership initiatives, and a statewide water campaign called Texas Runs on Water. She previously worked in groundwater policy and regulation, and has experience with international nonprofits and disaster response. Recently, the Texas Water Foundation held a Rio Grande Valley Funding Forum and Workshop at the Cameron County Courthouse. At the conclusion of the event Schlessinger gave the Rio Grande Guardian a brief interview.
- Title
- Colin McDonald
- Runtime
- 12:18
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Colin McDonald is director of strategic partnerships for the Texas Water Foundation. Based in Austin, McDondald visited the Rio Grande Valley in successive weeks for two forums. The first was hosted by the Texas Water Foundation. It was titled Rio Grande Valley Funding Forum and Workshop and held at the Cameron County Courthouse in Brownsville. The second was hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership as part of its RGV Connect series. It was held at Texas Southmost College in Brownsville. At the conclusion of the second forum, McDonald gave the Rio Grande Guardian an in-depth interview about state and local water policy.
- Title
- Meet the Candidate: David Garcia
- Runtime
- 27:43
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Economic development consultant David Garcia of Brownsville is running for the vacant Place 2 position on the Port of Brownsville Commission. Garcia recently sat down for an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian to discuss his candidacy. He explained why he was running, the importance of the port commission; his experience in city and county government - both in Washington, D.C., and the Rio Grande Valley - and his vision for the Port of Brownsville. Here is the interview.
- Title
- Carlos Margo
- Runtime
- 18:15
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Carlos Margo is dean of the Center for Advanced Training & Apprenticeships at South Texas College. He recently gave a presentation to the South Texas Manufacturers Association during a luncheon the group held at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton in McAllen. Margo spoke about the work his department does. Here is a video recording of his presentation.
- Title
- David Ortiz
- Runtime
- 19:26
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- David Ortiz is the South Texas Regional Director for the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, and operates out of UT-Rio Grande Valley. He recently gave a presentation to the South Texas Manufacturers Association during a luncheon the group held at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton in McAllen. Ortiz spoke about TMAC's work. Here is a video recording of his presentation.
- Title
- Michelle Vallejo
- Runtime
- 21:17
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Former Congressional candidate Michelle Vallejo is senior advisor to the Latino Victory Texas Coalition. Latino Victory was founded in 2014 to build political power within the Latino community, so that its voices and values are reflected at every level of government, and in the policies that drive the country forward. The group has supported over 350 candidates for public office and helped elect over 200 Latino leaders, thereby expanding Latino political representation throughout the country. In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Vallejo explains the group’s goals in Texas in 2026 and beyond.
- Title
- Orlando Campos
- Runtime
- 11:59
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- El Consejo para el Progreso Económico del Sur de Texas (COSTEP) recibió recientemente a una delegación de líderes de la Agencia Nacional de Proveedores del Sector Automotriz (ANAPSA) de México. ANAPSA es una organización trinacional con sede en la Ciudad de México, cuyo objetivo principal es apoyar a los principales fabricantes de vehículos ligeros y pesados —así como a los fabricantes de autopartes de nivel 1 (T1)— de México, Estados Unidos y Canadá en la localización de sus proveedores dentro de México (sourcing); asimismo, busca conectar a las empresas y proveedores de servicios mexicanos de niveles T3, T2 y T1 con toda la cadena del sector automotriz y con los fabricantes de los tres países, fortaleciendo así el sector automotriz mexicano. Los líderes de COSTEP organizaron dos eventos para la delegación de ANAPSA: uno en Brownsville y otro en McAllen. En el evento de Brownsville, Orlando Campos, director ejecutivo de Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, ...
- Title
- Eleazar Rodriguez
- Runtime
- 24:02
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- El Consejo para el Progreso Económico del Sur de Texas (COSTEP) recibió recientemente a una delegación de líderes de la Agencia Nacional de Proveedores del Sector Automotriz (ANAPSA) de México. ANAPSA es una organización trinacional con sede en la Ciudad de México, cuyo objetivo principal es apoyar a los principales fabricantes de vehículos ligeros y pesados —así como a los fabricantes de autopartes de nivel 1 (T1)— de México, Estados Unidos y Canadá en la localización de sus proveedores dentro de México (sourcing); asimismo, busca conectar a las empresas y proveedores de servicios mexicanos de niveles T3, T2 y T1 con toda la cadena del sector automotriz y con los fabricantes de los tres países, fortaleciendo así el sector automotriz mexicano. Los líderes de COSTEP organizaron dos eventos para la delegación de ANAPSA: uno en Brownsville y otro en McAllen. En el evento de Brownsville, Eleazar Rodríguez, director de desarrollo industrial y de proyectos de la Corpora...
- Title
- Jorge Cardenas
- Runtime
- 32:23
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Jorge Cardenas is chief information officer for the City of Brownsville. He is also, in the absence of a designated Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), the lead officer for the city’s cybersecurity strategy. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran with over 20 years of leadership experience across municipal government, defense, and technology sectors, he specializes in developing and executing technology strategies that drive mission success, operational efficiency, and long-term resilience. Cardenas recently participated in a podcast with the RGG Business Journal about the rollout of Brownsville’s lightning fast fiber optic broadband service.
