The largest naval vessel ever scheduled for dismantling in the U.S. arrived at the Port of Brownsville in February. The ex-USS Forrestal, the Navy’s first super aircraft carrier at 1,067 feet in length and 60,000 tons, was towed from Philadelphia to the All Star Metals dock on the Brownsville Ship Channel. Nik Shah, president of All Star Metals, said the 18-month process of dismantling and recycling the towering flat top is another stage in the continuing growth of the business he…

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Mobile advertising has taken to the roads from Australia to Great Britain, New York to California. Now it has reached the streets in the Rio Grande Valley. Splashing color, design and information over the entire body of a vehicle is referred to as being fully wrapped. This latest trend in a long and creative history of advertising is quite possibly superseding billboards as the most effective way to promote business. Personalized designs, iconic cartoon figures and information partially covering a vehicle is – a wrap. One expert Valley wrapper…

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Ignoring workplace conflict is a common tactic, yet the head-in-the-sand approach is a surefire way to have conflict escalate, according to Barbara Baggerly-Hinjosa, Ph.D., and CEO of Leadership Empowerment Group.  Speaking at a Lunch and Learn session held at the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce, she pointed out that having to address conflict is a disturbing but unavoidable responsibility that comes with a leadership position. Handled well, conflict management can build synergy, develop more effective communications and lead to creative problem solving, explained Baggerly-Hinojosa. On the other hand, avoiding simmering conflicts can cause employee job stress, burnout and…

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Many people, when reaching the end of an illustrious career, look forward to retirement and unrestricted freedom to enjoy life. Others, like Brownsville’s Linda Wise Marin, go back to the beginning and pick up a career they left behind while attending college. “I loved art, but I loved people, too,” Marin said. “Although the many fine art electives I took in college strengthened my love of art, I completed a degree in psychology, a…

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When a father in Oklahoma placed his 3-year-old daughter Jami on a horse, the action led — many years later — to Jami Ricks opening the JHK Equestrian Country Club in Edinburg.  Ricks established the horsemanship academy after she had spent 25 years showing and competing nationally in English and Western riding contests.  At one time she was ranked first in the nation in English equitation and first in Western…

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Internet-connected devices – from dog collars and fitness trackers to lighting systems —  took center stage at the January Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The demand for faster and greater Internet connection service is slated to grow monumentally. “Orbit Broadband is the only ISP (Internet service provider) in the U.S. with 5G service for such a large geographical area that’s not a single city,” said Richard Galvan in Mercedes.  He is the operating director of Orbit Broadband, which provides upload…

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When Rachel Bunton decided on a gift for her husband’s 40th birthday last spring, she had no inkling the present would prompt them to create a business: SegValley Tours.  Brian and Rachel Bunton’s experience with a Segway tour of San Antonio changed their life. “It was love at first ride. The whole drive home we were talking about different places they would be fun to take. There’s nothing like it in the Valley,” she said. “We have beautiful weather, the beach and great places to go.  We realized…

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