MCALLEN, Texas – Ralph Garcia, a vice president of McAllen Economic Development Corporation, has been named one of the Top 50 economic developers in North America by Consultant Connect.
Consultant Connect is based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The group describes itself as a bridge builder, a passionate connector and a change agent. It says its quest is to revolutionize economic development.
In a posting on LinkedIn, McAllen EDC said making the Top 50 is an “amazing recognition” for Garcia.
“Those who know Ralph know that his drive and passion towards our binational region’s economic development have helped shape its success,” MEDC said.
“We are so proud of his achievements and to have him as part of our team.”
Attorney Francisco J. Peña-Valdés, a partner at Cacheaux Cavazos & Newton, had this reaction to the award: “My dear friend, Ralph Garcia, congratulations to have been appointed a North America Top 50 economic developer. Keep up the excellent work that you have done for all these years.”
Also offering praise were land developer Mike Rhodes, Adam Gonzalez of the Council for South Texas Economic Progress, real estate professional Bryan Cook, hotel manager Omar Guevara, and Mike Willis of South Texas Manufacturers Association.
Garcia joined the MEDC team in 2001 and has served as a vice president since 2006. According to the group’s website, Garcia is focused on “attracting new international companies to the McAllen region to add to the 16 countries with manufacturing operations in the McAllen region.”
Through MEDC’s business retention and expansion program, Garcia assists companies already doing business in the McAllen region to grow and expand, the website states.
“Mr. Garcia is an active member of the Transatlantic Business & Investment Council and works closely with our neighbors in Reynosa, Mexico to strengthen our bi-national community.”
Garcia has previously won praise for playing a key role in bringing Indian tech company Zoho to McAllen.
Editor’s Note: Click here to watch a presentation Garcia made at a South Texas Manufacturers Association luncheon earlier this year.
Editor’s Note: The above news story is the first in a three-part series running this week on the work of McAllen Economic Development Corporation.
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