Author Archives: Beth Martinez

Thinker…Creator…Doer. Beth is passionate about life, learning, and all things creative. She has known from an early age that she had a love for journalism and media and spent her time in high school and college as part of the school yearbook, newspaper, and television station. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Texas Pan-American and immediately went on to earn her Master of Arts in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. Beth has 15+ years working in all aspects of the media industry including: client services, graphic design, media creation for print, web, and television, and sales. Yet, she constantly strives to become more knowledgeable and accomplished within the field she loves. Aside from work, she has an active life she truly enjoys. With her husband, she owns her own business in which she uses her creativity to design and sell party printables as well as build, refinish, and paint wood items such as door hangers, decorations, and furniture. She also spends time with her family, husband, two daughters and sweet animals. A few of the things she loves… reading, purple, butterflies, the beach, chocolate, flowers, animals, good quotes, roller coasters and Chinese food.

When Passion Becomes Business

Very Artsy owner, Veronica Cerda-Ayala, stands at her checkout counter, which used to be an old restaurant cashier stand that she transformed by added the molding details on the front and painted in a trendy ombre pattern.

Whether writing, playing a sport, dancing or creating something new, our hobbies are a labor of love and enjoyment. Every once in a while, we are lucky enough to turn our hobbies into something more. This is exactly what Veronica Cerda-Ayala did.  After 18 years of being a teacher, Ayala decided she was ready to pursue her true passion … home decor. She began several years ago in her very…

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Q&A With The RGV Matters

The RGV Matters founding members and youth volunteers Alyssa Yarritu, Mia Aleman, Briana Pedraza, Dagoberto Gutierrez, Sydney Ramon, Yasmeen Medrano, Jonah Riojas and Mariella Vela. (Courtesy Ray Pedraza)

The Rio Grande Valley is a growing and thriving region of Texas and the United States. For many years, though, the area and the people of the RGV have not always gotten the positive recognition they deserve. Seventeen-year-old Sydney Ramon set out to change that. Ramon founded The RGV Matters in 2017. She is a recent graduate of McAllen ISD who will be attending Texas A&M College Station in the…

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Collaboration Improves Community Homes

Pastor Ricky Sanderford from First United Methodist Church McAllen blesses the family’s home at the completion of the service week. (VBR)

For 38 summers, youth from churches across the state have been visiting the Rio Grande Valley to participate in Mission Service Project. MSP is a week-long service opportunity where teenagers work with adult sponsors to improve a home for someone in need. This project began at the Mission United Methodist Church in 1981. It was inspired by a trip their group had attended in the Appalachian Mountains. They went on…

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