If you have been doing business with Mexican companies, you have an inkling of what doing business in China will be like. The countries have similar business cultures, most of which are diametrically opposite of American customs and culture, said Alberto Garcia-Jurado, CEO of Cultural Intelligence based in Mexico City and San Antonio. Garcia-Jurado spoke on “When East meets West: negotiating with the Chinese” at a presentation hosted by the…
In 2013, VAMOS scholarships were given to 49 new graduates of Valley high schools. The renewable awards cover all their unmet financial obligations at a four–year college or university. The scholarships are a critical element in improving educational opportunities for Hispanic students of Starr, Hidalgo and Cameron counties who rank in the top 25% of their class. Yet individual mentoring is a less visible but equally important mission of VAMOS,…
As waves splash onto the beach behind them, the bride and groom hold hands and exchange wedding vows. The romantic backdrop of South Padre Island — promising moonlit beach walks and carefree fun – draws hundreds of wedding parties each year. Although Valley couples see the Island as a close-to-home wedding venue, most everyone else views South Padre as a dreamy tropical wedding destination that doesn’t require a passport. Businesses…
“Lean forward. Look for someone to help.” That’s the instruction Francisco Castellanos, owner of the Chick-fil-A store in Harlingen, gives to his employees. “My job as a leader is talking about the word ‘anticipation’ and about trying to create a meaningful difference in interactions with guests through intentional acts of kindness. If I preach this every day and back it up with actions of my own, you can make it…
Wrapped in a fluffy de Sanchez Day Spa robe and sipping chilled cucumber water, I follow massage therapist Melly Barrientos past the inviting Jacuzzi and sauna to a subtly lit room for a relaxation massage. Barely audible classical guitar music and the faint scent of marigolds and chamomile tease my senses as the kink in my shoulder is chased away and my feet are massaged to nirvana. At day…
David Duff began working at his parents’ Shipley Donuts store in 1978, cutting and frying donuts with the rest of the family in McAllen. That’s why it was startling, 35 years later, when Duff, the owner of two Shipley stores, said, “I’m trying to understand the developing marketplace of a food franchise.” Shipley Donuts’ customer base requires a fast delivery system. “Our store prides itself on having one of the…
A Made in America label signifies quality to the growing Chinese middle class and has a certain cachet. By 2020, the Chinese middle class is expected to total 700 million. “That’s why we are encouraging American businesses to consider that market,” said Daniel Rodriguez, regional director of the U.S. Commercial Service, a division of the U.S. Commerce Department. U.S. exports to China grew from $91 billion in 2010 to $104…
Texas is the first or second largest beer-consuming state in the U.S., said Carter Huber, Valley branch manager of Glazer’s Distributors. Valley residents contribute more than their fair share to that ranking. “Per capita consumption is higher here then it is in most parts of country. The phenomenon is the same in El Paso. The market is totally different. My analogy is that beer is to Mexico what wine is…
Silvia Zubizar-Garcia, who has a master’s degree in engineering, has worked for electronics and automotive maquiladoras on both sides of the border. Her experience is in manufacturing covers, purchasing, quality, and environmental health and safety. A certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Manufacturing Specialist with TMAC-UTPA, Zubizar-Garcia talked to VBR’s editor about training new supervisors. Q The fastest machine operator in a department, for example, is sometimes promoted from…
For the happiest of times and the saddest of times, flowers say what we can’t always put in to words. Weddings, new babies, birthdays and romance are celebrated with flowers. Floral arrangements convey our concern and sympathy during illnesses and funerals. On a daily basis, plants and flowers enliven workplaces for customers and employees alike. And nothing beats flowers for getting you out of the doghouse after a major faux…