Jorge Jaber shares some characteristics with his northwest Hidalgo County vineyard for he seems to have absorbed the Valley’s sunshine and flourished with its soil. The grapes now being harvested at Jaber Wine Estate have overcome great odds, and so has Jaber, an idealist as resilient as any Valley pioneer. Thirty years ago, Jaber purchased two hundred and eleven acres in northwest Hidalgo County with the intention of planting a…
The FastTrac Entrepreneurship program, which has 300,000 graduates nationwide, is now strengthening the ranks of Valley business owners through training facilitated by ITEC of the University of Texas-Brownsville. Classes were held simultaneously at TSTC’s University Center and at UTB. As the 10-week-long training session wrapped up in late August, program participants were already applying the insights and skills gained during the training. Four entrepreneurs talked to VBR’s editor about the…
Paul Moxley, former President and Director of Texas State Bank and Regional Commercial Executive of BBVA Compass, became the new CEO of Texas Regional Bank on August 1, after 12 months out of the banking industry. A Valley native, Moxley has been in banking since 1970 and was instrumental in overseeing the 2008 integration and conversion of Texas State Bank into BBVA Compass. He talked to VBR’s editor about the…
“When you first open a restaurant, no one wants to do business with you because they don’t think you can pay your bills,” said Steve Harrison, owner of Las Mecates restaurant in Brownsville. Harrison reviewed the surprises and struggles peculiar to new restaurant owners at an Accion Texas seminar, disclosing the seldom-discussed facts of life concerning restaurant startups. About 25 percent of new restaurants close in their first year, and…
Three times an international conglomerate tried to buy George Ramirez’ company, Polibrid. And three times Ramirez had refused to sell his Brownsville-based industrial coatings business. Over a 30 year period, Ramirez had developed his ‘starter formula’ purchase into successful proprietary formula for solventless protective coatings and made Polibrid an industry leader. “I’m an entrepreneur. If I was a real chemist, I wouldn’t have started Polibrid,” said Ramirez, describing his product…
Start-up companies that need capital for production or marketing can seek funding from angel investors, also known as seed investors. After due diligence and reviewing a company’s valuation, these outside investors are willing to hand over significant sums for a percentage of the company. But how does anyone put a value on a business that is pre-revenue or has only minimal sales and no cash flow? “Valuing a start-up company…
On July 15, Schlitterbahn Beach Resort will open its beachfront hotel and year-round indoor waterpark next to the popular South Padre Island water park. With the hotel and mini-water park, Schlitterbahn expects to extend the busy season for both the resort and the island as whole. The sprawling water park, which attracts up to 5,000 on the hottest days, is already the island’s largest employer. The hotel and indoor park…
When it’s 96 degrees out there, brain freeze seems a small price to pay for the delicious chill of ice cream in your mouth. From traditional ice cream sundaes and raspas to frozen yogurts and Italian ices, everyone in the Valley is willing to wrap themselves around a frozen treat once summer arrives. Be thankful your choices are limitless. Red Mango Frozen Yogurt is the new kid in the Valley…
“Bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. is something that really motivates people,” said James Michael Aiken, CEO of Santana Textiles. In August, Brazil-based Santana is slated to begin producing 15 million meters of denim at its huge plant in north Edinburg. By the time phase IV is completed in 2016, Santana Textiles expects to be manufacturing 60 million meters of denim annually. That will certainly make it the largest denim…
Most employers who participate in job fairs hope to fill specific hourly and salaried positions. Given the number of businesses who participate in job fairs, employers obviously have found the venues beneficial. The event exposes them to a pool of potential employees who might not have known about the business or the job. “A job fair reaches more people,” said Cristina Castillo of ADL Services, a home help agency in…