showcases the endeavors led

by the LCC Economic Development Center and its

dynamic partners to spur

economic growth, global competitiveness and other

quality of life issues in Laredo

and the south Texas region.

For queries or

change of address

please send to

Laredo Community College

Economic Development Center

West End Washington Street

Laredo, Texas 78040-4395

Telephone: 956.721.5110

Facsimile: 956.721.5478

E-mail: edc@laredo.edu

ONWARD! Volume 01 Issue 06 Nov/Dec 2014 Pictured from left to right is Mr. Rogelio Trevino, Mr. Ignacio Urrabazo, Jr., Mr. Rodney Rodriguez,

Dr. Juan L. Maldonado, Mr. Mario Palos Garza, Mr. Rolando Ortiz and Mr. Christopher C. Herring.

The Laredo Community College

IMPACT Economic Development Forum

honored community leaders for their valuable

contributions to the Laredo region. Honorees

included Mr. Rolando Ortiz, Killam Develop-

ment, Ltd., for Economic & Industrial Devel-

opment, Mr. Mario Palos Garza, Grupo Palos

Garza, for International Trade, Mr. Rogelio

Trevino, Workforce Solutions for South Tex-

as, for Workforce Development and Mr. Ig-

nacio Urrabazo, Jr., Commerce Bank, for

Commerce & Business Development. Dr.

Juan L. Maldonado received the first Honor-

ary IMPACT award for his leadership in Edu-

cation and Mr. Christopher C. Herring re-

ceived the Keynote Speaker appreciation IM-

PACT recognition.

IMPACT was created by community or-

ganization members, under the auspice of the

Economic Development Center, with a mutu-

al mission of enhancing the economic growth

and global competitiveness of Laredo and the

South Texas region. IMPACT promotes and

brings awareness to the promotion of high

quality education, training, and services in-

cluding workforce business development.

For more information regarding IMPACT

or to inquire on requirements to join the

membership committee, please call LCCEDC

at 956.721.5110.

LCCEDC IN ACTION

Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina and Friends Jim Hogg County Judge Humberto Gonzalez and

Zapata County Judge Joe Rathmell and Friends

LLUSCBA ALFA

Heartfelt welcome to all our

newsletter readers. I am so

proud to provide our

newsletter readers with our

publication of ONWARD!

What a great year 2014 has

been. We have celebrated

milestones by offering

import/export online

courses for the

transportation industry,

began our workshop series

to meet the demands of the

business sector, and

established our first IMPACT

Economic Development

Forum to create awareness

and recognize leaders in the

workforce, business,

international trade and

industrial development

arenas. These are just a

few of the events and

accomplishments I was

privileged enough to take

part in and as we begin

planning exciting events for

2015 with our partners, I

look forward to a very

successful year.

We invite you to learn more

about the LCCEDC by

visiting our website at

www.laredo.edu/edc . Let

us know if there are ways

that we might work together

and be of assistance to you.

Rodney Rodriguez earned

his AA Degree from LCC and

BA/MA Degree from TAMIU

and is currently pursuing a

PhD in Leadership Studies

from Our Lady of the Lake

University in San Antonio,

Texas. Mr. Rodriguez has

over 15 years of experience

in community and economic

development including

economic and workforce

development, community

relations, management and

business administration.

PARTNERS/CALLOBORATIONS

Department of Homeland

Security-U.S. Customs and

Border Protection

U.S. Border Patrol-Laredo

Sector

Laredo Licensed U.S. Custom

Brokers Association

(LLUSCBA)

Association of Laredo

Forwarding Agents (ALFA)

NCBFAA Educational

Institute (NEI)

Laredo Development

Foundation (LDF)

Workforce Solutions for South

Texas

Region 1 Education Services

Laredo Chamber of

Commerce

Webb County

City of Laredo

Goodwill Industries

Holding Institute

Middle Rio Grande Eagle Ford

Shale Consortium

UTSA Institute for Economic

Development

Texas Department of Assistive

and Rehabilitative Services

(DARS)

Texas Health and Human

Services Commission-Office of

Border Affairs (HHSC)

Workplace Literacy

Committee of Laredo

Literacy Volunteers of Laredo

Laredo Job Corps

Casa Misericordia

Dr. Judith Zaffirini, award-winning commu-

nication specialist, conducted the Public Speak-

ing and Customer Service Workshops for the

Laredo Community College Economic Devel-

opment Center Workshop Series. She is the

recipient of more than 760 awards and honors

for her legislative, public service, and profes-

sional work. Dr. Zaffirini is a Distinguished

Alumna of Laredo Community College and her

educational accomplishments include a B.S.,

M.A., and PhD degrees from The University of

Texas at Austin, Texas. An Educator and busi-

nesswoman, Dr. Zaffirini shared her public

speaking expertise, focusing on developing an

audience-centered speech that was meaningful

and memorable.

Over 20 businesses and 50 participants at-

tended the workshops which proved to be very

beneficial for the participants. “This is a learn-

ing opportunity for us to implement and braid

successful communication methods with our

previous experiences and working knowledge”,

said workshop participant Mr. Juan Hernandez,

TRDI Compliance Manager from San Antonio,

Texas. “Dr. Zaffirini has an incredible ability to

relay her expertise and connect with the audi-

ence to fully utilize these techniques in your

everyday life and apply them immediately in

your professional career”. LCCEDC provides

specialized trainings for the community as a

resource to develop a skilled, trained, and pro-

fessional workforce that provides the crucial

support to meet the business needs of our eco-

nomic, transportation, international trade, and

import/export industry.

Fabiola Rodriguez

Project and Planning Specialist

Ms. Rodriguez joined the LCCEDC in 2012. She earned a BBA with

concentration in Management from TAMIU in 2010. Ms. Rodriguez

supports the Director in planning and managing all LCCEDC projects.

Maricela Morales

Administrative Assistant

Ms. Morales joined the LCCEDC in 2006 to provide overall

administrative support to the Center. She has the longest tenure of

LCCEDC staff members.

LCCEDC awarded 49 certificates to Interna-

tional Trade Professionals for their successful

completion towards becoming a Certified Cus-

toms Specialist (CCS) and/or a Certified Export

Specialist (CES) year ending 2014. The online

courses that are offered through LCCEDC are

certified through the NCBFAA Educational In-

stitute (NEI) and lead towards a certification for

Customs/Export Specialist or preparing for

completion of a license to become a Customs

Broker. LCCEDC will begin Cohort 6 starting

on January 2015 and cost is an administration

fee of $80 per participant per month with access

to over 40 courses with a value of $3,999 that

may be completed.

Also, in collaboration with the LCC Busi-

ness Department, these courses have been ex-

tended to be included in the Logistics/

Distribution Management (IBUS) Degree incor-

porating Broker Fundamentals, Customs Com-

pliance, and Trade Fundamentals. This allows

students completing the Logistics & Distribu-

tion Program an opportunity to acquire supple-

mentary credentials to enhance their marketabil-

ity and be workforce ready. Additionally, stu-

dents learn the demands of the transportation

trade including the rigorous compliance regula-

tions required and how to comply with them in

the areas of Classification, Customs Compli-

ance, Trade Fundamentals, Export, and Import

Process.

For more information contact Ms. Fabiola

Rodriguez at 956-721-5110 or register for

online classes at www.laredo.edu/edc.