“I will tell you; she was one of those stars that I saw immediately,” McAllen City Manager Roy Rodriguez told a packed room at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 12 about Liz Suarez, the chamber’s new president and CEO. Rodriguez and Suarez worked together in city administration for just over 19 years. Suarez served as the director of the city’s transit department before transferring to McAllen International Airport,…
Marisela Nava, director of Texas Southmost College’s Raul J. Guerra Early Childhood Center, was recently appointed to the Texas Early Learning Council by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The honor comes after 34 years of service to the center, where Nava began as a student worker in fall of 1988. “I know this a very selective process and it was only a dream for me before,” Nava said. “I always thought;…
South Texas College Board of Trustee Chairwoman Rose Benavidez was recently inaugurated in New York City as the chairwoman of the Association of Community College Trustees board of directors. She is the first Latina to hold this distinguished position in the organization’s more than 50-year history. The Starr County native will serve on the national stage, working with leadership from the White House to Congress and the U.S. Department of…
The Rio Grande Valley Partnership has a new president and chief executive officer, and the new leader is a familiar face in the region’s economic development circles. Daniel Silva started as the Partnership’s new chief executive last week after an over three-year stint in the same role with the Mission Economic Development Corporation. Silva had a 15-years-plus stay with the Mission EDC, working his way up to the top spot.…
William G. Dietrich is the new Chief of Police for the Port of Brownsville’s Police and Security Department, effective July 11. Dietrich heads a department which includes sworn police officers, security guards and administrative staff. He succeeds Carlos L. Garcia, who retired July 8 from the Port of Brownsville after 10 years of service as police chief. Before joining the port, Dietrich retired from the Brownsville Police Department as commander…
The McAllen Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has named Josh Mejia as president and chief executive officer effective June 29. Bianca Cardenas, who has been serving as Interim President/CEO over the last eight months will continue her role as VP of Membership Services. Mejia is an economic development executive with more than 10 years of experience in economic development, entrepreneurship, government relations and marketing. He comes from the Brownsville…
Christopher De La Cruz Wycoco of WYCOTAX LLC is SBA’s Lower Rio Grande Valley District’s Small Business Person of the Year. District Director Angela Burton made the announcement last week, along with the awardees for nine other small business categories. Wycoco, born and raised in the Philippines, came to the United States in 2010 to work in the healthcare industry. Within five years, Wycoco’s journey led him from nursing to…
Kristi Collier, president/CEO of Welcome Home RGV has been appointed to the board of directors of the Texas Travel Alliance. The Texas Travel Alliance is the primary advocate and voice for the Texas travel industry. It is a diverse membership of Texas travel destinations, accommodations, attractions, transportation and support businesses. “We are excited to welcome Kristi to the Texas Travel Alliance Board of Directors,” said Erika Boyd, Texas Travel Alliance…
Local advertising and communications professional A.B. Barrera has been named to serve as a member of the American Advertising Federation District 10’s board of directors. As a member of the board’s executive committee, Barrera will serve as the district chair for Conferences and Conventions. District 10 encompasses the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. The District 10 board of directors also oversees 19 American Advertising Federation chapter clubs within…
Ben Peña, CPA and an Assurance Services Partner at Burton, McCumber & Longoria in Brownsville, has been appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Real Estate Commission for a term ending in 2027. The TREC safeguards consumers in matters of real property transactions and valuation services. Peña recently completed his six-year term at the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy. Here he served as member of the executive committee…