Small business owners who think a good social media presence is all they need to promote their enterprises in the digital world are most likely mistaken. Digital marketing started with websites and they remain a critical component of branding a business. “A website is your digital storefront and it’s what sets you apart from similar businesses,” said Ben Haight, senior digital sales manager for Spectrum in Texas, during a seminar…
The McAllen Chamber of Commerce hosts its GoodPitch Competition Dec. 6, nurturing public speaking skills in the entrepreneurial and business community in McAllen. According to the chamber, the competition is “a great occasion to polish and/or prepare a speech to a potential business opportunity.” During the competition, participants give “elevator pitches,” simulating the real-world process of promoting, selling or soliciting buy-into an idea, product, service or request. The best elevator speech…
Juan Guerra is now the city manager of Edinburg, with his appointment coming at a special Edinburg City Council meeting Oct. 9. Guerra comes to Edinburg with 18 years of experience in city government. This includes three years as city manager for the City of Pharr since 2015. Born and raised in Chicago, Guerra has been a resident of the Rio Grande Valley for 26 years. He is a graduate of Nikki…
From advances in studying determinants of health, to public health initiatives to combat obesity and patient case studies, researchers from across the country and world gathered recently at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine’s second annual Research Symposium to discuss how they are addressing disparities in healthcare. “Health Disparities 2018: Closing the Gap” featured keynote speaker Maria Elena Bottazzi, associate dean of the National School of…
It is urgent students are ready for jobs of the future. According to those speaking at INNO at STC, now more than ever, college graduates with real-world experience are needed for even the most entry level of jobs. Last week, INNO, STC’s sixth annual Binational Innovation Conference, welcomed those in industry, education and economic development. Each brought information focused on innovation as well as the impact of students on the…
After years of discussion and negotiation, a new merger has created one of the largest independently owned full-service commercial brokerage real estate firms in South Texas. Michael Blum, partner and managing broker of NAI Rio Grande Valley; Charles Mueller, managing partner of Synergis Realty Group, LLC, owner of NAI Rio Grande Valley; and Edward Villarreal, owner of South Texas Commercial Real Estate, recently signed off on the merger that has…
Looking out over drought-parched ranchlands in 2012, Victoria Cappadona noticed one native type of vegetation holding forth, keeping its green amidst the dryness. It was the mesquite, the indestructible and ubiquitous South Texas tree with its golden string of bean pods hanging down like ribbons. Cappadona, a McAllen native now living in the Linn-San Manuel ranch country of northern Hidalgo County, remarked to her father-in-law about the tenacity of the…
South Texas College is the recipient of a $40,000 grant to scale and sustain learner success for adult Latino students. The Adult Learner 360 Grant comes from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning in partnership with Excelencia in Education. The initiative seeks to provide Hispanic Serving Institutions with tools and support to implement researched-based practices to improve outcomes for adult Latino students. The grant enables STC to participate in a three-year…
“The orchids grow in the woods and they let out their fragrance even if there is no one around to appreciate it. Likewise, men of noble character will not let poverty deter their will to be guided by high principles and morals.” –Confucius Orchids are known for representing things like love, beauty, refinement, thoughtfulness, charm and especially elegance. Pink orchids especially have an association with grace, joy, happiness and femininity.…
The Texas economy added 32,000 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs in August, which marked 26 consecutive months of employment growth. Over the year, Texas added 394,500 jobs for an annual employment growth rate of 3.2 percent. Private-sector employers added 32,800 positions over the month. Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.9 percent in August, down slightly from 4.0 in July 2018. Locally, unemployment rates are also down in Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Brownsville-Harlingen…