Lone Star National Honored For Services

McAllen-based Lone Star National Bank was recently honored with five best of bank awards in honors given by the Independent Bankers Association of Texas.

LSNB was honored for providing South Texas entrepreneurs with a range of services, including business education, expert-led workshops, networking opportunities and financial guidance through a complimentary eight-session cohort. Lone Star’s Small Business Education Program provides business owners with added expertise while sharing the successes of LSNB’s business customers.

The bank’s Small Business Education Program was launched in 2025 and has served 82 participants. The program has achieved an 80 percent-plus graduation rate while generating more than $600,000 in new lending activity and over $54,000 in new deposit activity. Over 90 percent of program participants report they now see LSNB as a strategic partner for their business.

For building such effective partnerships, Lone Star Bank was honored with five Best of Community Banking Awards. The bank received a Gold Eagle Award for innovation for its “LSNB Advantage Small Business Education Program.” The bank also received Silver Eagle Awards in Marketing for its LSNB Local Highlights campaign, along with financial literacy programs and Lone Star Bank’s community service efforts.

The bank received a Bronze Eagle Award in Bank Culture for its “Lone Star Way” program. LSNB features the businesses it supports with a video storytelling campaign that spotlights the entrepreneurs and small businesses that make South Texas thrive. The campaign has featured 15 businesses since its 2025 inception and generated more than 125,000 video views across social media.

The campaign has helped to increase visibility for participating businesses while strengthening customer relationships and celebrating the impact of local entrepreneurs.

TSTC Sees Surge In Female Welders

Texas State Technical College is seeing more women enroll in welding programs at its Harlingen campus.

This fall, there are 13 new female students joining 10 returning classmates, which indicates a surge in enrollment in traditionally male-dominated industry. The growth in the number of female welders comes during a time when demand for the skill is growing. Students like Gracie Martinez say they are drawn to welding because of the sparks and processes of joining metal.

“Many women can do this job,” said Martinez, a Brownsville native. “I wanted to do more than usual. I would like to become a welding inspector or instructor.”

Joshua Anstead is a TSTC alumnus and a general foreman for Batchelor & Kimball, a mechanical and plumbing contractor company. He says employers can benefit in looking beyond traditional backgrounds when recruiting for the trades.

“The average person who wants to apply themselves and their drive to be better is all one needs,” Anstead said.

Perla Contreras is one such student. She says the welding process can be learned through extensive hands-on practice.

Jonnathan Perez Olivieri is a senior craft recruiter for Kiewit Corp., and says partnerships with schools like TSTC are essential in developing the next generation of welders as experienced tradespeople retire.

“Partnerships with technical schools such as TSTC are essential in helping bridge that gap and prepare students for rewarding careers in the skilled trades,” he said. “Kiewit is focused on developing the next generation of welders as experienced tradespeople retire.”

McAllen Airport Adding New Parking Options

McAllen International Airport is expanding its ticketless parking options by adding hundreds of new spaces to meet the growing needs of travelers and visitors.

Mayor Javier Villalobos says the city is investing in the future by adding hundreds of new parking spaces for travelers. He believes that the added spaces deliver more convenience for residents and visitors alike.

The airport’s parking expansion adds to the Tap n’ Fly ticketless parking that was introduced in 2025. Its intention is to bring new conveniences to travelers and provide new parking options as the McAllen airport continues to grow in serving the region. The airport’s overarching goal is to add hundreds of additional parking spaces and options in providing greater capacity and choice.

“For many visitors, parking is their first experience with McAllen International Airport, and we want that experience to be as easy and convenient as possible,” said Jeremy Santoscoy, the airport’s director of aviation. “We make every decision with our travelers and their experience in mind, and those additional parking spaces offer convenience from the moment they arrive.”