Spring 2016
The following businesses successfully completed the 30-hour Kauffman FastTrac® GrowthVenture™ course and are now proud alumni of the ScaleUp Rio Grande Valley program.
American Industrial Constructors is an industrial-construction company in Edinburg, owned and operated by Levi Quiroz, a second-generation owner.Previously, the business was operated by his parents, Roberto and Beatriz Quiroz. The company specializes in the construction of water, sewer, and utility lines, mains, pumping stations, treatment plants, and storage tanks. It offers construction, reconstruction, repair, rehabilitation, installation, fabrication, and sale of products. The majority of American Industrial Constructors services are provided to local municipalities, school districts, universities, farmers, and government agencies – who make up 90 percent of the company’s client base. Additional clients include local businesses and personal clients. The company is primed for growth and seeking to expand the company to other market segments, including manufacturing, sales, and service.
Border BBQ is a barbeque restaurant, owned and operated by Margarita Reyna. Reyna has five-years experience in the industry while her father has over 50 years of experience in the BBQ-restaurant business. The restaurant, established in June 2010, is located in Weslaco. The restaurant has one, full-time employee, five, part-time employees, and two, contracted-laborers. Recently, there has been increase in competition in her area through the presence of several chain restaurants, such as Applebee’s and Chic-fil-A. Reyna believes the product and service offerings at her restaurant will allow her to sustain her client base and continue to grow despite the increased competition.
Break A Sweat Fitness Center was established in May 2011 in Mission. The fitness center is owned and operated by Gerardo A. Acevedo Jr., a personal trainer who has a Masters of Exercise Sport Science from Texas Tech University. His industry experience and business know-how has supported the growth of the fitness center. Previously, Acevedo leased a facility in Mission, but has now moved operations to another facility in the same city, a 12,400 square-foot location he is owner-financing. Break A Sweat currently employs three, full-time and two, part-time staff. The small, independently-owned gym has maintained its presence despite intense competition from gym franchises, such as Gold’s Gym, Max Fitness, or Freedom Fitness.
Cardoza Funeral Home is a funeral-service company located in Edcouch-Elsa. The funeral home is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Osvaldo and Alicia Cardoza since 2008. Currently, the funeral home employs four, full time and two, part time employees. It provides funeral services, including traditional burial and cremation services, along with the sale of caskets, urns, monuments, etc. Cardoza Funeral Home dominates its local market, prompting the partnership to expand their service area to other cities in the Rio Grande Valley.
Daker is a countertop and stone-sink manufacturer in McAllen. The company was established in 2014 by Daniel and Amira Kernion, a husband-and-wife team with 10 years of experience in the industry. Daker specializes in fabricating stone sinks, countertops, and tabletops. The company offers custom-made designs as well as commercial, ready-to-install products. Due to demand, the couple sees the opportunity to further grow their company while hiring additional staff to meet the increased demand.
JDC Jewelers is a jewelry store in Mission with sales in over 30 states and five countries. The company, owned by Abraham Neave, who has over 35 years in the industry, has been in operations since 2001. JDG Jewelers is a full-service, jewelry store, offering gold and silver jewelry, watches, ,and other products. Currently, the store has six, full-time employees and one, contracted-laborer. Due to consistent demand, Neave sees further growth opportunities in wholesaling to existing, area retailers and in exporting to Mexico. Neave plans on incorporating computer-aided design, increased quality through 3D printing, and increased manufacturing efficiencies to his store.
My Green Garden is a lawn service, and maintenance, and design company servicing the Rio Grande Valley for the past seven years. The business, owned by Maria del Pilar Gonzalez, offers landscaping, maintenance, and illumination services to residential and commercial properties. Currently the company has four employees. Gonzalez sees growth potential for her company as the Rio Grande Valley is a fast, growing area with new, commercial and residential developments. She also sees an opportunity to incorporate sprinkler-system installation and maintenance services as part of her service offering.
OMA Industries is a company that has been in operations since 2007. Located in McAllen and owned by Lucia Valdez, the business exports industrial machinery and parts globally. The business is HUB-certified and also engages in procurement with the federal government. OMA Industries currently employs two, full-time employees. Currently, the company services the automotive and aerospace industries. Due to consistent sales, Valdez sees the opportunity to expand her product-line and client base.
RGV Surplus is an online retailer, established in December 2007. The online store is owned and operated by Juan Rosales. Currently, the store has one, full-time and three, part-time employees. The store specializes in retail of computers, electronics, office equipment, and general merchandise. Rosales has experienced consisted retail sales, which he projects will continue to grow due to an increase in consumer spending through e-commerce purchases.
Royal Piaget Academy is a child day care, owned and operated by Eugenia Alonso. Alonso started operations in July 2007 as a home-based, child day care with a continuous enrollment of 12 children. The day care, which operates with extended hours at maximum capacity and with approval from licensing, has two, full-time and three, part-time employees. Recently, Alonso leased a space in McAllen for her business. The new location, a 3,000 square-foot facility with capacity for 75 children, is expected to generate increased revenues due to increased enrollment. Alonzo will also offer after-school programs and a 24-hour service to working parents with night shifts.
Sam Garcia Architect is an architectural-service company, established in 2012 in McAllen. Currently, the company has four, full-time employees with over 30 years of combined experience. The company, owned by Jean Gearheart, offers commercial and residential architectural services in the public, private, and governmental sectors. Due to the strong state and regional economy and an increase in disposable income, consumer spending, and lending, there has been continued growth in real estate investment and development in the area. Although there are several, established competitors in the area, the company has differentiated themselves through personalized services, directly involving the principal architect in all projects. Gearhart believes that they have been able to build a reputable company with an exponential opportunity for growth.
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools is an Arizona-based, international franchise, established in 1991. With over 50 locations worldwide, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools is currently the largest, children’s swim-school franchise in the United States. Husband Sergio H. Garcia and wife Gabriela Ballesteros are the owners of the school. South Texas Swim Schools, LLC purchased an Aqua-Tots Swim Schools franchise in November 2011 and obtained Protected Territory rights that include the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, and Corpus Christi. Sergio and Gabriela currently own and operate four, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools in their protected territory: two locations in McAllen, one in Brownsville, and one in Corpus Christi. They plan to open another Aqua-Tots Swim School in June 2016 to service the Laredo community where no privately-owned, indoor, swim schools exists.
Texas Scholars Magazine is a publication co-founded in 2013 and owned by Silvestre Treviño IV. Based out of McAllen, the multimedia platform focuses on education news across the State of Texas. The business quickly expanded its audience and the platform to online, digital and video content. The company has four, full-time employees and one, part-time employee. Treviño has already had great success expanding to markets outside of South Texas. He has consistently experienced an increase in demand for his product and plans on growing their coverage area throughout the entire state with this platform.
Batteries+Bulbs is a franchise, retail store that is owned by Laura Villarreal. Established in 2009 in Pharr, the retail store sells batteries and bulbs for all types of electronics and household and commercial items. The company has six employees and has experienced consistent sales growth. Villarreal assessed that sales slightly decreased in 2015 but has now identified that an increase in processes and procedures will assist the company to boost sales and employee performance.