Lab serves underprivileged areas Technology, science and art will come together in a learning laboratory setting to design new products. Two faculty members at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are teaming up to create what will be known as a fabrication laboratory, or “fab lab.” Donna Sweigart, associate professor of art, and Dr. Emmett Tomai, associate professor of computer science, received an Internal Seed Research Program grant from…
“It is within our power to be unconquerable.” Seneca (4 B.C. – 65 A.D.). When Roman philosopher Seneca spoke these words, he was referring neither to our bodies nor our positions in life. He was referring to the power of our minds. Stoicism was a way of life for Seneca, and he taught it to all who would listen. Stoicism is the practical everyday philosophy of virtue and self-discipline introduced by the…
More than likely, you have several shelves full of books about leadership and management. Maybe you’ve attended a four-hour seminar on some aspect of leadership. You’ve listened to motivational speakers. If that has worked for you, great. If not, consider going in a new direction with a community leadership program. I believe that leadership happens in the doing, not the reading. I compare it to riding a bike or sex. You can read all the books you want…
What Your Small Business Needs to Know Ever wish your small business could do more for the community? Maybe you volunteer as a group or have a favorite cause, but you want to take that work a step further. A corporate social responsibility (CSR) program could be what your company needs to work toward a community mission alongside your business mission. These programs are increasingly becoming a staple of business transparency efforts; many…
Calculations vary with contributions and earnings In last month’s article, I wrote about the mistaken idea some people have that they earn too much to benefit from a Roth IRA. The Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act, passed by Congress in 2005, effectively opened up a legal avenue to make contributions to a traditional IRA, and then convert all or part of the funds to a Roth. Let’s dig a…
Creating economic clout The Rio Grande Valley, often referred to as Rio South Texas, offers many choices for both global business location and generous economic development incentives. With a dynamic young labor force, great weather, low cost of living and plenty of recreational activities year round, the Rio South Texas region is an ideal location for companies looking to expand or relocate. For several decades, business leaders across the Rio…
Are you a hybrid? Do you prefer your news online, in print or both? I am a hybrid, maybe because of my age, my profession or how busy I am – possibly a combination of all three. It seems like we are always on the go, from one meeting to the next, en-route via vehicle or in the air. At times we’re catching up on emails, texts and more from…
When Roth IRAs were created in 1997, they were an exciting new idea. They provided a way to make after-tax contributions that could, under certain conditions, grow entirely free of federal income taxes. Prior to that, traditional IRAs worked basically the other way around — you could make deductible contributions, but distributions would be fully taxable. The law also allowed taxpayers to “convert” traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs by paying…
New store offers stringed instruments, lessons A Valley Symphony Orchestra viola player has opened a new business in Harlingen to share his love of stringed instruments. The Harlingen Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting and grand opening on July 13 for Cremona House, the venture started by 29-year-old Miguel Gutierrez. The name comes from the Italian city in the Lombardy region known for its tradition of violin-making. Cremona House…
What used to be a family home is now splintered debris after being beat by strong winds. An office building or retail store that serves as a source of sales and income for several workers is now unusable and unprofitable in the blink of an eye. Who do you call? Helping communities recover and rebuild after hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other disasters is a side of the U.S. Small Business…