In 2013, VAMOS scholarships were given to 49 new graduates of Valley high schools. The renewable awards cover all their unmet financial obligations at a four–year college or university. The scholarships are a critical element in improving educational opportunities for Hispanic students of Starr, Hidalgo and Cameron counties who rank in the top 25% of their class. Yet individual mentoring is a less visible but equally important mission of VAMOS,…
“Lean forward. Look for someone to help.” That’s the instruction Francisco Castellanos, owner of the Chick-fil-A store in Harlingen, gives to his employees. “My job as a leader is talking about the word ‘anticipation’ and about trying to create a meaningful difference in interactions with guests through intentional acts of kindness. If I preach this every day and back it up with actions of my own, you can make it…
Wrapped in a fluffy de Sanchez Day Spa robe and sipping chilled cucumber water, I follow massage therapist Melly Barrientos past the inviting Jacuzzi and sauna to a subtly lit room for a relaxation massage. Barely audible classical guitar music and the faint scent of marigolds and chamomile tease my senses as the kink in my shoulder is chased away and my feet are massaged to nirvana. At day…
David Duff began working at his parents’ Shipley Donuts store in 1978, cutting and frying donuts with the rest of the family in McAllen. That’s why it was startling, 35 years later, when Duff, the owner of two Shipley stores, said, “I’m trying to understand the developing marketplace of a food franchise.” Shipley Donuts’ customer base requires a fast delivery system. “Our store prides itself on having one of the…
A Made in America label signifies quality to the growing Chinese middle class and has a certain cachet. By 2020, the Chinese middle class is expected to total 700 million. “That’s why we are encouraging American businesses to consider that market,” said Daniel Rodriguez, regional director of the U.S. Commercial Service, a division of the U.S. Commerce Department. U.S. exports to China grew from $91 billion in 2010 to $104…
“We want everybody to feel at home,” said Leticia Garcia, picturing what diners should experience at the new bakery-café, Antigua. She and co-owner Brenda Araneda located Antigua in a cozy three-dining room house that seats 27 on Harlingen’s East Harrison. The café has a laidback and intimate ambience that is attracting a solid customer base built on word-of-mouth and return business. Open since mid-February, Antigua serves homemade pastries, soups and…
In this section we will review the second phase of the employee lifecycle- interviewing the candidate. The following are some basic guidelines that can lead to a more effective interview. Structure your interview by basing questions on job duties. Use specific job-knowledge, situational or behaviorally-oriented questions and objective criteria to evaluate the interviewee’s responses. Keep control of the interview and take brief notes. Prepare for the interview by holding it…
If I were to tell you there is one skill, if improved upon, that would increase your influence with clients, employees, employers, friends and family more than any other skill, would you want to hear more? It is a skill most everyone can improve, yet only a very small percentage takes the time or realizes the power of improving this skill. Dale Carnegie said, “You can make more friends in…
Silvia Zubizar-Garcia, who has a master’s degree in engineering, has worked for electronics and automotive maquiladoras on both sides of the border. Her experience is in manufacturing covers, purchasing, quality, and environmental health and safety. A certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Manufacturing Specialist with TMAC-UTPA, Zubizar-Garcia talked to VBR’s editor about training new supervisors. Q The fastest machine operator in a department, for example, is sometimes promoted from…
For the happiest of times and the saddest of times, flowers say what we can’t always put in to words. Weddings, new babies, birthdays and romance are celebrated with flowers. Floral arrangements convey our concern and sympathy during illnesses and funerals. On a daily basis, plants and flowers enliven workplaces for customers and employees alike. And nothing beats flowers for getting you out of the doghouse after a major faux…