Pursuing a Noble Profession

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Pursuing a Noble Profession

 Texas Noble Builders partners Rene Capistran and Alfredo Garcia at the site where the company is constructing an Army/Navy Credit Union building in Brownsville. (VBR)
Texas Noble Builders partners Rene Capistran and Alfredo Garcia at the Brownsville site where TNB is constructing an Army/Navy Credit Union building in Brownsville. (VBR)

Texas Noble Builders is a company that does more than construct large scale commercial and non-commercial projects, even though that is its bread and butter. Founded four years ago by Brownsville native Rene Capistran and several partners, TNB’s community presence certainly speaks for itself.

The company logo seems to be everywhere these days, from South Padre Island where it’s building the new Cameron County Events Center and two pavilions at Isla Blanca Park and the Island’s bus terminal, to La Feria, McAllen, Brownsville and other cities in the Rio Grande Valley.

The La Feria-based enterprise employs 70-plus people. It has a practice of hiring people from the Valley as much as possible. The company also employs college students studying engineering or architecture. Beyond the Valley, Texas Noble Builders has offices in New Braunfels and El Paso.

Capistran, whose family owns and operates a chain of tortilla factories in Brownsville that bear the family name, said construction is the company’s core business. Helping the community is yet another aspect of the philosophy behind their work.

Partners Alfredo Cantu (left) and Rene Capistrain (right) talk with Alex Cantu of Golden Concrete on the site of a credit union under construction in Brownsville. (VBR)
Partners Alfredo Cantu (left) and Rene Capistrain (right) talk with Alex Cantu of Golden Concrete on the site of a credit union under construction in Brownsville. (VBR)

“We like to spread the wealth all over the area,” he said. “One day we might help Los Fresnos, the next day in Port Isabel.” TNB has its own philanthropic organization called Noble Charities.

The company hosts clinics with professional football players, such as those from the Dallas Cowboys, to teach youngsters discipline and skills they can use in the future.

The company’s presence as a sponsor is also evident in numerous Valley events. Just recently, TNB was one of the sponsors of the Kids Gone Fishing Tournament held at the Brownsville Events Center.

Both La Feria Mayor Olga Maldonado and City Manager Jaime Sandoval said they couldn’t be any happier to see such a company choose their city as its headquarters.

Some of TNB clients include Krispy Kreme, South Texas Independent School District and Magic Valley Electric Coop. There are also dozens of others, including H-E-B and McDonald’s.

Capistran, Alfredo Garcia and Patrick Williams of Austin are the company’s founders.

Asked why Noble, Capistran and Cantu both said the company’s name is very significant.

“If you live up to it, I think you can do well,” Capistran said. “The business of a general contractor is a noble career.”

Texas Noble Builders is constructing the Cameron County Events Center in Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island. (VBR)
Texas Noble Builders is constructing the Cameron County Events Center in Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island. (VBR)

NTB has completed numerous construction projects in the fields of municipal, educational, commercial, industrial, corporate and healthcare, as well as multifamily living complexes. The Isla Blanca Park events center and pavilions comprise the largest project going on today.

Capistran said they do design and construction management and general contracting work.

“One of our goals is to inspire others,” Cantu said. “So they can support their communities.”

An example of that is their contributions to educational institutions. Part of that list are colleges and universities, IDEA Public Schools and the South Texas Independent School District.

“We focus more on education because of the impact it has in the community,” Capistran said. “We strongly believe in giving back to the community.”

Freelance journalist Tony Vindell has more than 30 years experience as a newspaper reporter. Born in Nicaragua, he studied journalism and political science at the University of Missouri-Columbia and at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo. He began his career working for The Pecos Enterprise in West Texas. Vindell also worked for The Laredo News, The Brownsville Herald, Valley Morning Star, Port Isabel News Press and the Raymondville Chronicle/News. Vindell, who lives in Brownsville with his wife Sharon, enjoys hunting, fishing and traveling.

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