South Texas College is seeking to bring as many leaders as possible from across the Valley to share their concerns about industry in the region. Working with decision makers in the healthcare and information technology industries, the goal is to gather those who recognize that there is a high demand for growth in these sectors throughout the Valley. In a two-day event held at the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 24-25, the RGV Healthcare Industry Partnership and the RGV Information Technology Partnership, in collaboration with representatives from STC’s Texas Regional STEM Degree Accelerator (TRSDSA), RGV FOCUS, McAllen Economic Development Corporation, Harlingen Chamber of Commerce, Weslaco EDC, Workforce Solutions-Hidalgo, and the Rio South Texas Economic Council continued their discussion to determine priorities for collective action among professionals in healthcare and information technology. “Our plan is to get as many leaders from across the Valley, from Brownsville to Rio Grande City,…

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Following official ribbon cutting, South Texas College set to open new student enrollment center. For the upcoming Summer and Fall semesters, students registering for classes at the South Texas College Pecan campus will avoid waiting in long lines at the old admissions, info & welcome centers thanks in part to a new Student Enrollment Center the college unveiled Tuesday.  The renovated space, located inside the first floor of Building K, combined these areas into one larger, open-concept space to offer students a virtual one-stop for admissions and registration. “This embodies what South Texas College is all about, no barriers for students,” said STC President Dr. Shirley A. Reed. “Everything is open and collaborative. Students will be here in a comfortable environment, and will have the chance to register early and get their services done on time.” The enrollment center should be fully operational by the end of February. When it…

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The City of McAllen and the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) at South Texas College are announcing an investment to help McAllen become increasingly competitive on a global scale. The city will present a $400,000 Development Corporation Fund grant award to STC at its Technology Campus Building B atrium at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 19. The campus is located at 3700 W. Military Highway in McAllen. The ceremony recognizes McAllen and South Texas College in their partnership for manufacturing customized training catered to industry located within the city. “This is a partnership that has been ongoing for the last 15 years,” said Carlos Margo, STC Dean of Industry Training. “These funds will be used primarily for the delivery of customized training for McAllen manufacturing companies, and is intended to help companies grow and become more efficient, productive and ultimately help the economy here by doing so.” Customized training involves over…

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Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world’s largest hotel companies, O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC, Hankin Enterprises, and Fulcrum Management are set to officially open the doors of the new Cambria hotel & suites in McAllen, TX today. Located just steps from the McAllen Convention Center, the 121-room Cambria McAllen will serve as the brand’s third property in Texas “said Roxanne Pequeno, General Manager of the new hotel. The new Cambria Hotel & Suites McAllen Convention Center features a modern design, while also taking cues from the vibrant city that surrounds it. Amenities will include a contemporary Bistro called Social Circle, serving a menu comprised of local specialties created by Chef Michael DeMaria; liquor, wine, beer and freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches; and a barista bar; an outdoor pool; and over 2000 square feet of meeting space with integrated AV capabilities available for meetings. “McAllen is…

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Tom Burr, COO of the Raba Kistner Environmental group, has announced that Raba Kistner has brought their coastal protection, restoration and resiliency services to the Valley. The Coastal Services and Engineering (CSE) group will focus their efforts along the entire Texas Gulf Coast. The CSE group is led by Melany Larenas, PG and Scott Hicks, PE.  The group introduces a full suite of coastal engineering and geological capabilities to Raba Kistner’s Valley offices. For more information, please contact Melany at mlarenas@rkci.com or Scott Hicks at shicks@rkci.com.

Registration for the upcoming 2017 spring semester is underway at all South Texas College campuses. Classes start January 17 and students are encouraged to register early. South Texas College offers 119 degree and certificate programs with classes ranging from art, biology, and automotive technology to nursing, mathematics and political science. More than 34,000 students attend STC, and a faculty and staff of more than 1,600 serve STC’s five state-of-the-art campuses, two teaching centers and South Texas College Online, a virtual campus. Day, night, weekend, and online classes allow students to fit school into even the busiest of schedules. Many classes are in high-demand and fill quickly, so early registration ensures the best selection of classes and times. Advisors are available to assist new students with the registration process. Current and recently enrolled students can register online at SouthTexasCollege.edu/register or at any South Texas College location. New students can apply for admission…

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Merrill Stanley has joined the firm as Healthcare Division Manager. He will use his 22 years of third party project management consulting experience to expand Project Control’s healthcare presence into multiple markets. Merrill specializes in management of greenfield, expansion and renovations to healthcare facilities.      

Southern Careers Institute is proud to announce it is hosting a Community Career Fair and Business Networking Event on Friday, September 23 from 12:00pm through 4:00pm. This will be a time for you to market your business, network with other employers and the community, interview on the spot, and potentially find new employees. We are opening up our facility to provide plenty of space for local employers to participate in this community wide event. Space is being offered on a first come first serve basis so reserve your spot today. If you’d like to be included in this event, please reply to sdelagarza@scitexas.edu with your company name, contact name, address, phone, email, and any special requirements you may have for your booth. You can fax the signup sheet to 956-632-2749; email it to the above email address or mail to 1500 N. Jackson Rd. Pharr, TX 78577, attn.: Sonia De…

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Hospitals Using Innovative Approach to Make Transition from Hospital to Home Care Easier    The U.S. Center for Disease Control reports that, on average, 20 to 30 percent of medication prescriptions are never filled, and medication is not continued as prescribed in about 50 percent of cases. Patients who are non-compliant with medications are more likely to wind up in the hospital, and skipping medications is likely to cause approximately 125,000 deaths in the United States annually. The statistics are higher is areas with low health literacy, such as in the Rio Grande Valley. Dealing with medication non-compliance is a huge concern for healthcare facilities, not only because it is not in the best interest of the patient, but because medication issues are a primary cause of readmission to a hospital 30 days after discharge. Patients may not understand how or when to take prescriptions, some are unable to pay…

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Nilda Paxman of LIFT YOUR SPIRITS Balloon Decorators in McAllen, TX recently earned Certified Balloon Artist (CBA®) status. Nilda is one of a select group of balloon professionals who successfully completed a series of tests, including oral and practical examinations. The certification was administered by the Qualatex Balloon NetworkSM (QBN®), a professional organization dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in balloon decor and bouquets. There are currently less than 3,000 Certified Balloon Artist professionals worldwide. To order or discuss possible balloon décor for your next event, call Nilda at LIFT YOUR SPIRITS, 956-467-1922. They offer all occasion balloon décor for your various events such as: quinceañeras, birthday parties, bat & bar mitzvahs, school events, business events like ribbon cuttings and grand openings.

Regional Sales Manager, Rio Grande Valley, Texas ABC Metals – Pharr, TX Full-time, Contract Markets ABC Metals strip products and related services. For more information, please visit this link:  ABC Regional Sales Manager  

McAllen, TX area Applebee’s introduce new Hand-Cut Wood Fired offerings including USDA Choice Top Sirloin Steaks and Bone-in Pork Chops Moving to take back America’s neighborhoods – the roots of its rise as the country’s largest casual dining restaurant chain – Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar® is unveiling new American-made, wood-fired grills as the centerpiece of nearly 2,000 U.S. locations and inviting guests to follow the enticing aroma of American Oak smoke into their neighborhood Applebee’s to try a new Hand-Cut, Wood Fired Grill item. Three McAllen & Edinburg, TX area Applebee’s will introduce certified USDA Choice Top Sirloin Steaks as the marquee item of its revamped menu highlighting the elevated quality, flavor and freshness of its dishes. “Our new wood-fired grill is the cornerstone of our elevated dining experience and we’re excited for our guests to come in and try our delicious new wood-fired steak options,” said Regional Vice…

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