Featured, from left: Leticia Reyes, Director of Business Development and Public Affairs, Edinburg Economic Development Corporation; Jonathan Torres, Production Specialist, City of Edinburg; Pepe García Gilling, Independent Filmmaker, Monterrey, Mexico; Viviana Ozuna, Business Consulting and Marketing, McAllen; Luis Suner, MG Digital Group, Edinburg; and Dr. Dahlia Guerra, Assistant Vice President for Public Art, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. These individuals were gathered on Saturday, September 10, 2016, during the South Texas International Film Festival 2016 awards banquet held at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance. The Edinburg EDC was the major financial sponsor for the event, which organizers said drew more than 1,000 people to the three-day event, held from Thursday, September 8 through Saturday, September 10, 2016. STXFF is a competitive international film festival in the categories of Best Short Film, Best Feature Length Film, and Best Regional Film. This year’s edition showcased local, regional and international films that have a unique voice and style. As an added bonus, STXFF premiered the first local 3D movie filmed and produced in the Rio Grande Valley as part of the Festival’s opening. More than 102 submissions in Feature Film, Short Film, and film projects from more than 12 countries were in the running for awards.
Photograph By MARK MONTEMAYOR
Leticia Reyes, Director of Business Development and Public Affairs for the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, on Friday, October 7, 2016 will participate in the Fourth Annual Binational Innovation Conference (INNO 2016), which is being hosted by South Texas College (STC) in McAllen. The Edinburg EDC is one of the sponsors of INNO 2016. INNO 2016 is a bi-national collaborative effort between STC and El Instituto Internacional de Estudios Superiores in Reynosa, Mexico, and takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, October 7, 2016 at the STC Technology Campus located at 3700 W. Military Highway in McAllen. Reyes will be part of a panel of representatives from various economic development corporations in the region talking about entrepreneurial innovation as part of the INNO 2016. Joining her on the panel, which will be featured from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., will be Keith Patridge, President and CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation; Rose Benavídez, Member, Board of Trustees, South Texas College, and President, Starr County Industrial Foundation; and Frank Almaraz, CEO of Workforce Solutions. They will focus on “Entrepreneurial Innovation”. The Edinburg EDC, of which Agustín García, Jr. is Executive Director, is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council. The Edinburg EDC Board of Directors is comprised of Mayor Richard García as President, Elías Longoria, Jr., Harvey Rodríguez, Jr., Richard Rupert, and Dr. Peter Dabrowski.
••••••
Leticia Reyes will represent Edinburg EDC on Friday, October 7, during INNO 2016 panel focusing on Entrepreneurial Innovation
By DAVID A. DÍAZ
[email protected]
Leticia Reyes, Director of Business Development and Public Affairs for the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, will participate on Friday, October 7, 2016 in the 4th Annual Binational Innovation Conference (INNO 2016), which is being hosted by South Texas College in McAllen.
The Edinburg EDC is one of the sponsors of INNO 2016.
The Edinburg EDC, of which Agustín García, Jr. is Executive Director, is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council.
The Edinburg EDC Board of Directors is comprised of Mayor Richard García as President, Elías Longoria, Jr., Harvey Rodríguez, Jr., Richard Rupert, and Dr. Peter Dabrowski.
INNO 2016 is a bi-national collaborative effort between STC and El Instituto Internacional de Estudios Superiores in Reynosa, Mexico, and takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, October 7, 2016 at the STC Technology Campus located at 3700 W. Military Highway in McAllen.
Reyes will be part of a panel of representatives from various economic development corporations in the region talking about entrepreneurial innovation as part of INNO 2016.
Joining her on the panel, which will be featured from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., will be Keith Patridge, President and CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation; Rose Benavídez, Member, Board of Trustees, South Texas College, and President, Starr County Industrial Foundation; and Frank Almaraz, CEO of Workforce Solutions.
They will focus on “Entrepreneurial Innovation”.
Reyes has been in the economic development field for 14 years.
She is a graduate of the University of Texas-Pan American. She received her Business Administration Degree specializing in International Business and Marketing and her MBA has an emphasis in Finance.
Reyes has served many professional, civic, and community organizations including the Edinburg Arts Foundation, National Hispanic Professional Organization (NHPO), Texas Economic Development Council, and the Rio South Texas Economic Council to name a few. Her day-to-day includes business development, business retention and expansion, marketing, and event planning among others.
This year’s keynote address will focus on Binational Entrepreneurial Innovation.
Dr. Carlos Marín, President and CEO of Ambiotec Engineering Group, will be the featured speaker.
“This conference is all about promoting entrepreneurship. We will have speakers focus on that theme,” said Mario Reyna, Dean for Business and Technology at South Texas College. “We are trying to let the public know that if you are interested in starting your own business, and if you have an idea, there are ways you can go about to make sure your ideas develop.”
The INNO 2016 Conference provides entrepreneurs and the business community with information about the new cross-border economic opportunities that could arise so they are enabled to develop new business plans, and adjust existing strategies to potential opportunities.
The conference will consist of speakers, sessions and student workshops, all designed to foster cross-border economic development.
Speakers and topics include Jesús Cañas, an expert business economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, speaking on the economic outlook of the region.
Dr. John Sargent, UTRGV Professor of International Business and Entrepreneurship, will speak on Entrepreneurial Innovation in Higher Education, and Joaquín Spamer President of Reynosa-based Consejo Binacional Para El Fomento Economíco de Reynosa, will speak about cross-border entrepreneurial innovation.
“We need to remember that Mexico is a free economy, and we need to remind our residents that they can open a business across the border,” Reyna said. “All of us understand, when we look at the Valley, that there are so many restaurants that were opened here in McAllen which originally started in Mexico. If they can do it here, we can do it there also.”
“There are economic opportunities and business opportunities in Mexico, and we want to tell the public that this also an opportunity for them,” Reyna said. “We invite members of the public who have an interest in promoting the business community, as well as interested in knowing what the community is doing to promote entrepreneurship. This conference will help all of them.”
For more information, to register, or a full schedule of events please visit http://www.southtexascollege.edu/info/inno
BALLOONAPALOOZA TOUR COMING TO EDINBURG OCTOBER 14 – 16 WILL HELP SHOWCASE THE H-E-B PARK
Get ready to join thousands of people at Balloonapalooza at The H-E-B Park in Edinburg on Friday, October 14 through Sunday, October 16, 2016, the Edinburg EDC also announced.
The Edinburg EDC is an in-kind sponsor the Balloonapalooza by helping with marketing and related promotions.
With H-E-B Park conveniently located 1616 S. Raúl Longoria Road in Edinburg, promoters of the event are inviting South Texans to come witness what is described as “an amazing performance! A Balloon Festival that manifests itself into a fantastic show captivating the crowd from beginning to end.”
Thousands of spectators are anticipated to show up and marvel at these magical giants close-up as part of the Balloonapalooza ever-popular “Balloon Glow & Show” each evening.
A balloon glow is a gathering of hot air balloons that inflate at night.
When the burners are ignited, the balloons come to life with brightly glowing colors and the roar of the burners. It’s a spectacular display of color and sound within the magical nighttime ambiance of Edinburg.
Families and children may walk up to the balloons to feel the heat from the burners as it inflates the canopy and see first hand the shapes and colors come to life.
Spectators will be able to watch as these colorful shapes float high above the crowd with music, lights and special effects that will be sure to bring smiles to all ages.
Want to get that experience and “feeling” of a balloon flight without leaving the venue? Then a Hot Air Tethered ride is a great way to enjoy the experience.
What is a tethered Balloon Ride?
Tethering means, the balloon is securely anchored to the ground via a series of high-tensile strength ropes.
During a tether ride, passengers climb aboard the aircraft for a short ride. This is ideal for people with fears of flying or heights.
Then the hot air balloon ascends to a predetermined height above the ground and crowd to a height of 50 feet or less.
Tethered Balloon Rides are sold on the website and onsite, are weather dependent, and are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The festival grounds open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night at 4 p.m. till midnight.
Each evening features food, arts and crafts, a carnival, a car show Saturday and Sunday, tethered balloon rides, musical entertainment and an exhilarating balloon glow show.
Tickets to the festival are $8 for children, military and seniors, adult tickets are $15, which include parking and ticket service fees.
VIP and corporate packages are available.
Advance parking passes, VIP packages and tickets may be purchased online at http://www.balloonapaloozatour.com
No coolers, glass, pets, food, drinks, bottles or cans will be allowed to be brought onto the premises since food and drinks will be available for purchase at the site.
However, lawn chairs and blankets are welcome.
For more information, vendor space or entertainment submissions, call 956-212-8081.
Don’t miss this incredible night and bring your camera to capture the moment! The balloon glow has been described as “simply amazing” and fun for all ages.
••••••
Joey Gómez and Héctor Hugo contributed to this story. For more information on the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and the City of Edinburg, please log on to http://edinburgedc.com or to http://www.facebook.com/edinburgedc
