As originally published by Texas Border Business newsprint edition September 2021
In 2018, Jeff Sinnott joined Vantage Bank as the Chief of Operations and Technology and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Officer. His experience as an engineer that deals with software and hardcore technology and his experience in banking made him the perfect professional to lead Vantage Bank. He led a complete overhaul of the bank’s operations and technology divisions, emphasizing an enhanced, omnichannel customer experience. As of fourteen months ago he became President and Chief Executive Officer for the bank.
Get to know more; this issue is featuring an Exclusive story about him and Vantage Bank.
Also, enjoy an article about Bob Vackar, and Bert Ogden’s Electric Cadillac LYRIQ Dealership facility and the demographic and business explosion around it.
At the beginning of 2021, Bert Ogden Auto Group celebrated a milestone by topping out a state-of-the-art Bert Ogden Electric Cadillac Dealership in Edinburg. It will be the newest, the only, and the first electric Cadillac dealership south of San Antonio.
Visionary businessman Robert “Bob” C. Vackar is already preparing to open by November of this year to show and sell the acclaimed Cadillac LYRIQ all-electric SUV. Bob told Texas Border Business that the new facility to house such a gem sits on a ten-acre tract of land on South 281 I-69 in Edinburg. More in this issue.
The good news is that the Edinburg City Council approved the issuance of $23M certificates of obligation bonds dedicated to several major downtown improvement and revitalization projects including a future Edinburg Arts, Culture, & Events Center (A.C.E.)
This 45,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose facility will serve as a downtown venue to host local conferences, cultural art exhibits, live performances, classes, and community events. The facility will also serve as a City Hall Annex housing several administrative and department offices.
South Texas College (STC) in partnership with the Mexican Consulate in McAllen have formalized an amendment assisting students of Mexican origin.
STC and the Consul of Mexico in McAllen Froylán Yescas Cedillo formalized an official IME Becas amendment to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by STC President Dr. Ricardo J. Solis on July 22. The scholarship aims to increase the educational attainment level of Mexicans or persons of Mexican origin living in the U.S. More inside…
The Port of Harlingen starts its last quarter with a 21 percent increase in tonnage over this time in the last fiscal year totaling, year-to-date 1,896,220 tons. Official numbers from June indicate the quarter’s largest increases were in imports of petroleum products and agricultural fertilizers.
Petroleum transport increased 18 percent with 1,554,732 tons coming through the Port via barge and pipeline. There is so much coming and going on in Harlingen’s port.
As of July 2021, Matt Z. Ruszczak is leading COSTEP’s regional Domestic & Foreign Direct Investment Initiative as the Vice-President of Economic Development.
COSTEP has been working to improve the economy and education within the RGV and beyond for the past 49 years, most importantly having assisted thousands of students and their families access millions of dollars of financial aid, scholarships and holding free financial literacy education programs. COSTEP recently embarked on a data-driven and market-validated approach to regional economic development and their efforts with Matt’s addition to the team.
Enjoy!
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