Category Archives: Industry

Santoscoy Is New MFE Aviation Director

Jeremy Santoscoy

The City of McAllen has hired Jeremy Santoscoy as its new director of Aviation of McAllen International Airport. The Rio Grande Valley native has 18 years of experience with the City of McAllen, serving most recently as the deputy director for the airport and previously as transportation engineer. Santoscoy is a licensed engineer with experience in strategic planning, leading infrastructure development, governmental affairs as well as finance and federal compliance.…

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UTRGV Researcher Warns Against Excessive Smartphone Use

Dr. Murad Moqbel, assistant professor in the UTRGV Department of Information Systems

Smartphones have evolved into all-in-one devices, replacing calendars, navigation systems, music players and entertainment consoles. But UTRGV’s Dr. Murad Moqbel warns there can be harmful effects as excessive smartphone use becomes normalized. “The first thing many people do when they wake up is get on their phone, and they’re on it until the last moment that they go to bed,” said Moqbel, assistant professor in the UTRGV Department of Information Systems. “Excessive, or…

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Wind Energy Gives Students New Challenges

Dolores Delgado has left behind being a dental assistant for new opportunities in the wind energy industry.

Andrew Garza spent over a decade in the fast-food industry, rising to management positions at Chick-fil-A and Pizza Hut. He enjoys working in teams and helping to lead them. Garza figured there was another industry where his experience would prove valuable. “The green energy field is growing, here in the Valley and around the world,” Garza said. “I see really good opportunities in wind energy technology. Hopefully, at some point,…

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SPI Hopes Spurs Link Builds Brand

Promotional materials were plentiful during an event announcing a marketing partnership between SPI and the Spurs.

Blake Henry had his fingers crossed last summer when the NBA held its annual player draft. Henry, as the chief executive officer of the South Padre Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, was seeing the draft more as a marketing professional than a sports fan. In his just over a year on the job, Henry has been active in seeking partnerships to build greater state and national awareness of the Island.…

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StartUp Events Feature Local Entrepreneurs

BCIC CEO Cori Pena makes a check presentation to one winner at a recent StartUp Texas event. (Courtesy)

The 36,000-square-foot eBridge Center in downtown Brownsville was envisioned as a space where aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners could experiment and test new ideas. After a year of operations on East Adams Street, eBridge is proving to be just that and more. Its StartUp Texas innovation competitions feature enterprising businesses from a variety of industries representing food, research and emerging technologies. Just in recent months, presenters offered judges in…

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Knapp Medical Extends Services In Mid-Valley

Knapp Medical Center of Weslaco is bringing some of its hospital services to a family health center in Mercedes. (Courtesy)

The Mid-Valley has a new healthcare option with Knapp Medical Center extending urgent care at a Mercedes clinic it jointly operates with the UTRGV School of Medicine. Knapp Medical of Weslaco recently added urgent care to the services offered at the UT Health RGV/Knapp Family Health Center at Expressway 83 and North Mile 2 W Road. A wide range of essential medical services are offered by UTRGV staff during daytime…

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Colleges Create Programs To Fit Needs

A wide array of technical skills are in demand as industrial activity ramps up in the Rio Grande Valley. (Courtesy)

SpaceX has more than gained a foothold in southern Cameron County with its imposing rockets looming over Boca Chica Beach. More than 2,000 employees work at Starbase, a production and launch site just across the Laguna Madre from South Padre Island. Keeping such a large operation going as it pursues audacious goals related to space travel requires vast amounts of skill and know-how from its teams of employees. South Texas…

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Welding Together a New Life with VIDA

Diego Medina

Normally a 10 year old would be considered a child; however, at the age of 10, Diego Medina saw himself as a young man when his parents divorced. He began working in the fields and mowing lawns on the weekends to assist his mother with their household bills.  Over the years, Medina had countless setbacks, and he found it more and more difficult to get ahead. In his early 30s,…

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La Plaza Adds New Retailers

STEPS New York is one of five retailers which recently opened at La Plaza Mall, just in time for the holiday shopping season. (Photo La Plaza Mall)

La Plaza Mall has recently added Mango, TOUS, Abercrombie & Fitch, Steps New York and Perfume Gallery to its lineup of retailers. In addition, MINISO will open later this year.  Mango is a worldwide women’s fashion chain from Barcelona, Spain, delivering Mediterranean culture and style. Mango focuses on fashion trends, attention to detail, and efficiency. Located across from JD Sports, Rio Grande Valley area shoppers will find at the retailer…

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New Aircraft Provide Local Medical Transport Support

Air Methods

With a growing need to transport patients over longer distances and in a wider variety of weather conditions, Air Methods has opened a fixed wing base — AirLift 10 Texas — in New Braunfels that will support the entire state and communities already served by AirLift Texas bases. “This is very exciting for the Rio Grande Valley as we’re seeing more and more patients needing to be transported to hospitals as…

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