Author Archives: Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

Ricardo D. Cavazos is a Rio Grande Valley native and journalist who has worked as a reporter, editor and publisher at Texas newspapers. Cavazos formerly worked as a reporter and editorial writer at The Brownsville Herald, Dallas Times Herald, Corpus Christi Caller-Times and San Antonio Light. He served as editor of The Monitor in McAllen from 1991-1998 and from there served for 15 years as publisher at The Herald in Brownsville. Cavazos has been providing content for the Valley Business Report since 2018.

Consulting Company Rises To Success From Mercedes

News Professional Services Comments
Dr. Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa says being based in Mercedes and the Valley is a key part of her company's success with statewide and national clients.

A stately and historic home on Missouri Avenue in Mercedes needed work after years of neglect. Beyond its then-rough exterior, Dr. Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa and her husband, C.A., saw great potential.  Baggerly-Hinojosa was looking for a corporate office for her Leadership Empowerment Group. Hinojosa, a Mercedes native, encouraged his wife to look at the city as a Mid-Valley hub to grow her business. They would settle on 805 S. Missouri –…

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Chamber Leader Rises To National Honor

Community News Comments
Danielle Rodriguez is one of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives's top 40 under 40 chamber executives.

Danielle Rodriguez’s first job is the one she currently holds. Technically, Rodriguez’s initial job at the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce held a different title, but she views it as a continuation of the opportunities given to her by Esmeralda Villarreal, the chamber’s chief executive officer. Starting as an intern in college, Rodriguez has worked her way up, diligently, learning and growing in a rising career. She is today the Brownsville…

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Weslaco Chamber CEO Earns National Honor

Community News Comments

Barbara Jean Garza was in the midst of a lengthy and successful public administration career at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley when a job opportunity arose that piqued her interest. The Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce was looking to hire a new chief executive officer. Garza’s initial thought was to take a pass on applying for the job but colleagues encouraged her to “throw my name in the…

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Shuttle Company Meeting Demand To SPI

News Transportation & Travel Comments
South Padre Island officials say there is a need to improve shuttle services to transport tourists from area airports to the Island. (courtesy)

Being a kiteboarder, Jason Norwood got a frequent question as a sporting event loomed at South Padre Island in 2021. “How do we get from the airport to the Island?” he recalled being asked.  Getting from the Valley International Airport in Harlingen to South Padre can be problematic. Finding reliable ground transportation for the hour-long trip from the airport to SPI is often a challenge. This is especially true during…

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Businessman Cycles To Retirement Plan

News Retail Comments
Jesus Mendiola has guided to his version of a retirement plan in owning two bicycle stores in the Valley.

The way Jesus Mendiola sees it, “you’ve got to move or you’ll go down.” It’s a befitting viewpoint for the owner of two Trek Bicycle stores in the Rio Grande Valley. Mendiola recently opened a store in Harlingen to go with his existing shop in Mission. He opened the latter business in 2007. A visit to the Trek Harlingen showroom features dozens of bicycles of differing styles, colors and prices.…

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Sir’s Features Great Drinks & Family Ties

Food & Entertainment News Comments
Sir's features a wide variety of adult beverages made by a business owner and staff with years of experience in the business. (Courtesy)

Jesus Pena and his big sisters Carmina and Sonia knew the sights and sounds of the downtown Harlingen of their growing up years.  They grew up on Monroe Street, within walking distance of downtown, as well as their schools, churches and stores. Jesus recalled a neighborhood barber shop on Van Buren Street where his father took him as a child. It’s just down the street from the former barber shop…

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Faith & Community Support Sparks Matt’s Rebirth

Featured News Retail Comments
Matt's Building Materials plans to come back bigger and stronger with a new Pharr store after a fire destroyed their original building a year ago.

Danny Smith was taking a holiday break in New Mexico when one of his sons called with devastating news on the first day of 2022.  “Dad, your shop is on fire,” Smith recalls upon hearing his 125,000-square-foot Matt’s Building Materials store in Pharr was engulfed in flames. Baldo Arriaga, a 20 year-plus employee of Matt’s, got to the store 30 minutes after the blaze was reported to the local fire…

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Storybook Garden Connects Books To Community

News Retail Comments
Activities focused on reading and learning bring children and their parents to The Storybook Garden. (Courtesy)

The Storybook Garden sits on a corner of Texas Boulevard just a moment’s walk from Business 83 in Weslaco.  It’s main street Weslaco and an appropriate place to find an independent bookstore with deep ties to its community. The historic hotel site suits the purposes and goals of Sarah Cuadra, the bookstore’s owner.  “We want to be a place for families to come and meet and develop a love for…

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Mission EDC Eyes New Trade Opportunities

Government News Comments
Teclo Garcia will bring a wealth of international trade experience to his new job.

Mission within a year will have direct access to a full-service, cross-border international bridge. The city, anticipating new opportunities in international trade, has hired an economic development executive with expertise in that field. Teclo Garcia is the new chief executive officer for the Mission Economic Development Corporation. He comes to the job after a three-year stint as Laredo’s economic development director in dealing with the Mexican business community and international…

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Don Gollito Serves It Up “Harlingen-Style”

Featured Food & Entertainment News Comments

The block of West Van Buren Street where Don Gollito sits in Harlingen stirs a nostalgic feel. The Tex-Mex restaurant is down home all the way, “Harlingen-style,” as one of its owners, Fred Uribe, puts it. He co-owns the restaurant with Rick Silva, a self-described “jack-of-all-trades” of the local restaurant scene. On Van Buren, vehicles park at an angle that’s reminiscent of small-town America of previous eras. It’s appropriate since…

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