Category Archives: Moving On Up

Promotions and hires around the RGV

McAllen Chamber Seeks Top Small Businesses

2016 winners of the McAllen Top 5 Small Business Awards (photo McAllen Chamber)

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting nominations for its Top 5 Small Business Awards. The honor recognizes “those businesses which have been the foundation for the economic prosperity and resilience which McAllen has experienced over the last several years.” Businesses may showcase accomplishments and impact on the community. The chamber views the exposure as an outlet to tell success stories of businesses. Participating businesses must complete a Top 5…

Read More

Weslaco Chamber Announces New Board

Robert Donaldson, Alex Montenegro and Omar Rodriguez

Three new members are now on the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Robert Donalson of Texas Regional Bank, Alejandra Montenegro of Frost Bank and Omar Rodriguez of Rio Bank all accepted the nominations to serve a three-year term. Donalson is a loan officer at Texas Regional Bank in Weslaco. He is a graduate of Leadership Mid Valley XI and served on the…

Read More

Census Official Urges Accurate Valley Count in 2020

Bishop Daniel Flores addresses the audience at a Census 2020 Forum.

The 2020 U.S. Census will go out to a nation that’s more technologically wired than ever. Census Bureau officials expect the nation’s official population count to be the first of its kind. A solid majority of respondents will do so online. “The fact we’ve moved beyond paper only makes us more relevant to the American people,” said Timothy Olson, the associate director of field operations for the U.S. Census Bureau. …

Read More

Bobby Calvillo Named Board Chair

Robert “Bobby” Calvillo

Robert “Bobby” Calvillo is the board chairman of the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. He began his service on the Weslaco Chamber board in 2015. For the last 23 years, Calvillo has served as executive director of Affordable Homes of South Texas Inc. AHSTI is one of the largest non-profit housing producers in the country. It serves as a subdivision developer, builder and mortgage company…

Read More

State Recognition for Willacy EMS Director

Frank Torres is flanked by family relatives. Far left are Manny Vela and Texas Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr.

Frank Torres, director of the Willacy County Emergency Medical Services, has been recognized by the Texas Senate for his exemplary service to the Lone Star State. Torres was chairman of the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System Board of Trustees since 2001. This year, he began a six-year reappointment on the administrative body that oversees 237 department members. He was recognized by the Senate and by Texas Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr.…

Read More

Pharr Announces New Assistant City Managers

Hilda Pedraza and Anali Alanis

As Pharr moves to improve the city’s organizational structure to better serve the needs of the community, City Clerk Hilda Pedraza and Human Resources Director Anali Alanis have been promoted to new assistant city managers. “When evaluating performance for consideration of promotions, decisionmakers traditionally reward past performance and results,” said Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez. “In Pharr, we have adopted a more forward-thinking mentality as we evaluate the types of leaders we…

Read More

Brownsville Names Engineering & Public Works Director 

Armando Gutierrez Jr.

Armando Gutierrez Jr. is now the Engineering & Public Works director of the City of Brownsville. Gutierrez oversees the department to implement systems, operational plans and policies to improve city services by efficiently and effectively allocating resources. The Engineering & Public Works Department aims to execute capital projects for improvements to city infrastructure. There is an emphasis on streets and drainage. Gutierrez was most recently the director of Public Works for…

Read More

State Association Recognizes HIDTA Agents

Two agents of the Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney’s Office – High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force have top honors from the Texas Narcotic Officers Association. HIDTA Commander Juan Pablo Sifuentes is “Supervisor of the Year” and Agent Genovevo “Geno” Martinez III “Narcotic Officer of the Year” for the TNOA South Region. Both will receive recognition at the organization’s annual conference Aug. 19-22 in South Padre Island. Hidalgo County Criminal District…

Read More

Teacher Receives Lifetime Award

Kelsey E. Martin

McAllen Memorial High journalism teacher Kelsey Martin will soon receive the Edith Fox King Award from the Interscholastic League Press Conference. The lifetime achievement award will be presented May 4 in Austin. She is the first journalism adviser/teacher from McAllen ISD to receive this honor. She is also only the fourth in the Rio Grande Valley. The award recognizes those people who have a life dedication to continuing the ideals…

Read More

Mission EDC Thriving With Silva

Daniel Silva

Straight out of college and Daniel Silva was job hunting after earning a degree in computer information systems from then-University of Texas-Pan American. His job search then led to the Mission Economic Development Corporation at their former home at the Texas Sweet Building. He started as a project manager, a job that had little to nothing to do with computers. Then in late November 2018, after a 14-year climb, Sliva…

Read More