Texas Border Business
First of all, I hope that you and your family are well and safe as you read this Texas Border Business issue. It goes without saying, that the last few weeks have been challenging as we learn to adapt to these new realities. Trying to do business while in the middle of dealing with a pandemic emergency is a whole new challenge.
Nevertheless, I would like to recommend our feature story which is based on Natasha Del Barrio and a television interview she did. She is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Bert Ogden and Fiesta Auto Group in the Rio Grande Valley.
Being a man or a woman responsible for the leadership of a large corporation is not something that just anyone can do. The position comes with some very challenging demands. Business doesn’t give you a break because you are a man or a woman.
We are proud to know Natasha and respect her for stepping up to the plate. She is probably one of a few executives in retail auto in the nation with this high a ranking. Congratulations! enjoy.
Recently, Texas Senator Juan ‘Chuy’ Hinojosa told Texas Border Business that there is no doubt that the best thing all American’s can do right now to help contain the spread of COVID-19 is to stay at home. “Practice social distancing,” he said.
“In Texas, I support the leadership of our local officials, who in coordination with their public health experts, have led the efforts in our community to implement shelter in place orders. We must all continue working together to flatten the curve and get this health crisis behind us so that we can safely get Texans back to work and have the Texas economy thrive once again,” Senator Hinojosa stated.
On another note, Angela Burton, district director for the SBA’s Lower Rio Grande Valley District announced the 2020 District Small Business Week awardees for six small business categories. She said, “It is with great honor we congratulate Michelle and Danny Quiroz, owners of Reserva Coffee Roasters as the Lower Rio Grande Valley District’s Small Businesspeople of the Year.”
Adios to our friend Vantage Bank Texas CEO, Sam Munafo, he retired. I met Sam when he first came to take over as President and CEO Inter National Bank, now Vantage Bank. He and I used to enjoy lunch at one of the local seafood eateries. He is a down to earth professional. We are going to miss him. Sam was in charge of a $2 billion bank with offices in San Antonio, Fort Worth, the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, and El Paso; he retired on March 31, 2020.
Effective with Munafo’s retirement, Jeff Sinnott, Vantage Bank Texas Senior Executive Vice President of Operations, Technology, and ERM has become the Bank’s President and CEO, replacing Munafo on the Vantage Bank Board of Directors. Congratulations!
Engineering students from Mexico and the United States, separately are helping with their talents during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the U.S., a mechanical engineering student at Binghamton University, State University of New York, made a ventilator mainly over a weekend using items he bought at Walmart.
Inspired by the 2010’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology publication, a group of students (from School of Engineering and Technology at Universidad de Monterrey, Mexico) has changed their thesis project to that of an affordable ventilator. “We used the easiest and simplest way of creating the ventilator. With simplicity comes low costs and fast production,” said Sergio Caballero Lozano, one of the students in the group. This means a great deal to the people who will be in need of a respirator in the near future.
Read the story in this issue. Enjoy!
Stories mentioned in this article:
