Everything Texas A&M's Manny Vela said at IWS3

Rio Grande Guardian's Podcast

PHARR, Texas - Manny Vela, vice president and chief operating officer for Texas A&M McAllen, said the excitement in the room during a panel discussion about higher education at the recent IWS3 was palpable.

Vela was joined on stage by South Texas College President Ricardo Solis and UT-Rio Grande Valley Associate Vice President for Workforce and Economic Development Ron Garza. The moderator was Interlink Trade Service President Jorge Torres. The event was co-hosted by the Pharr Bridge Board and Pharr Economic Development Corporation.

“The excitement that you hear from us is real. The excitement, I hope, is palpable. But most importantly, I hope it's contagious. Not necessarily for you all. You already have that sense of excitement because you're here today,” Vela said.

“But spread this word. We are so well positioned in the (Rio Grande) Valley to do very, very well. To do even better than we've already done.”

Vela noted that he and STC President Solis were recently in Rio Grande Cit for an event hosted by Starr County Industrial Foundation.

“We were emphasizing to them… just look at the improvements that have been made in South Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, in particular over the last two decades with regard to socioeconomic status, poverty levels, those kinds of things,” Vela said.

“Oh my God, we are years and years ahead of where we were 20 years ago, in an incredibly positive way. And it's not happened by accident. It's happened by this and by this and all of us working together.”

Vela said it was imperative that Valley leaders work together. He recalled the statement he made when he was appointed vice president and COO of Texas A&M McAllen, just over a year ago.

“I made the statement; this is not the time to look at our world from an academic perspective through a competitive lens. My very good friend Nolan Perez is very fond of saying, we have yet to match the number of opportunities that we create with the immense talent that we have in the Rio Grande Valley,” Vela said.

“Until we do that we're not done. We're not nearly there. The time right now is not to compete in the traditional sense. The time right now is to collaborate.”
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