WESLACO, Texas – The Rio Grande Valley Partnership has announced the appointment of Daniel Silva as president and CEO.
Silva takes over as head of the RGV Partnership from Sergio Contreras. Contreras left the president’s role at the Partnership to become CEO of Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez LLP. He has retained a link at RGVP, however, by becoming a member of its board of directors.
Silva worked most recently at Mission Economic Development Corporation, holding the positions of COO and CEO. There he created workforce, technology, and entrepreneurship programs to serve Mission and its surrounding areas.
“We are excited to welcome Daniel to the RGVP,” said Arlene Garza, president of Gulf Aviation and chairwoman of the RGVP. “Daniel is a highly experienced, successful leader; we look forward to his leadership that will further the success of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership.”
RGVP is the Valley’s longtime regional chamber of commerce. Its board comprises community-minded business leaders who actively promote economic growth across the region.
Garza said Silva will lead initiatives to strengthen RGVP’s membership and engage in projects to improve transportation and port of entry infrastructure; as well as policies that impact economic development, international trade, healthcare, education, and workforce development.
“I am excited to bring my economic development background and my passion for business development to a regional level,” Silva said. “I look forward to working with our board of directors and members that are represented across Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron County, as well as municipalities and organizations that continue to drive opportunities in our four-county region.”
Silva said he would like to thank the City of Mission and Mission EDC for allowing him to serve in various capacities over the past 20 years. He said his experience in economic development has grown exponentially as a result.
“Throughout that time, I have had the privilege of working on projects that created thousands of jobs and tens of millions of dollars of investment, as well as education initiatives that have helped train our community for future technology jobs. I have also had the honor of directly impacting infrastructure projects that will prepare Mission for generations of future growth.”
Silva earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems from the University of Texas-Pan American. He is certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP), a Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED), and a Certified Public Manager (CPM).
Editor’s Note: For more information about the RGV Partnership, contact Monica Sanchez at 956.968.3141.
Video:
The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service was able to secure a video interview with Daniel Silva soon after his first board meeting as CEO of the Valley Partnership. In the interview Silva talks about his goals as president and CEO of the Partnership; the Partnership’s hosting of state legislative tours, and a new program to produce more allied health professionals.
Video Interview
Video:
The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service was able to secure a video interview with Daniel Silva soon after his first board meeting as CEO of RGVP. In the interview Silva talks about his goals as president and CEO of the Partnership; the Partnership’s hosting of state legislative tours, and a new program to produce more allied health professionals.
