IED Texas

Merari Ramos graduated from the The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2009, with a B. B. A. in Marketing. She joined the SBDCNET as a Researcher in July of 2009. She also holds a position as a Professional Spanish Interpreter for Nationwide Insurance.

Moutaz Shideed has been a Technical Staff Assistant III (TSA) for the SBDCNet since June 2009. He holds a bachelor's degree in management/International Business from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Orestes Hubbard is Director of the Minority Business Enterprise Center, one of 10 components of UTSA's Institute for Economic Development. Mr. Hubbard is a former banker, SBDC director in New Mexico and San Antonio SBDC Business Development Specialist. Mr. Hubbard is originally from Monterrey, Mexico and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering and management from Monterrey Tech and an M.B.A. from Texas A & M International University. He is certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council.

Have been an SBDCNet researcher since 2001.? Earned an MBA with post-graduate hours in finance and computer science.

Patricia is a native of San Antonio. She earned a BBA in Marketing from St. Mary’s University. After graduation from college, Patricia worked as a sales representative for Xerox Corporation before returning to help in a local manufacturing business in San Antonio. As a previous small-business owner in San Antonio, she brings 13 plus years of government contracting experience and business operation experience to the job. Patricia’s goal as a Project Manager for the UTSA SBDC Contracting Resource Center is to help entrepreneurs with their marketing activities and contracting opportunities.

Pik Thongdee is the Administrative Associate I for Small Business Development Center National Information Clearinghouse (SBDCNet).

Robert J. Garza (Rob) is the IT Operations Manager for the Institute for Economic Development. He holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. At the IED, he is responsible for everything related to technology from creating new web-based software to instructional design to technology advisement to technology upgrades. Rob is a native of San Antonio. His wife also works for UTSA and they have two sons ages 5 and 1.

Prior to joining the IED, Rob had worked for several small companies in the San Antonio area. His 15 years of experience have included software development, project management, proposal writing and business process reengineering. His software is used all of the world, his process improvements have saved companies money, he uses the concept of moral leadership for management and his proposals have helped bring, to date, close to 30 million dollars to the San Antonio economy.

As Associate Vice President for Economic Development at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Robert McKinley directs UTSA’s Institute for Economic Development (IED). Since 1979, the UTSA’s economic development programs have been a leading generator of jobs and small-business opportunities in South and West Texas.

Mr. McKinley leads a team of more than 150 professionals and support staff who are dedicated to creating a healthy economic environment for UTSA graduates, their families and communities.

The IED provides professional business consultation, technical training, research, and strategic planning services to help establish and grow small businesses. Its 10 programs serve the Texas-Mexico border area as well as regional, national and international outreach efforts. The Institute partners with federal, state and local governments and private businesses in support of UTSA’s community engagement mission.

Since joining UTSA in 1990, Mr. McKinley has guided UTSA’s economic development outreach efforts, achieving steady growth and tangible results. In FY 2008, for example, his staff served more than 32,000 clients, creating more than 4,000 new jobs and almost 500 new businesses.

Just as important, the Institute’s programs helped retain almost 4,000 jobs and expand more than 300 businesses. (An annual report is available.) The Institute’s programs also provide real-world internship and service-learning opportunities for UTSA students and regularly taps into UTSA faculty expertise for special projects.

Since 2000, Mr. McKinley has led the effort to create a new university-based network of  Small Business Development Centers in México and Latin America, as well as a global trade platform to facilitate international small-business to small-business commerce. He has served as past chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC).

As part of UTSA’s executive team, Mr. McKinley facilitated the 2016 Strategic Plan process. He also has led business process reviews and other major university task forces.

A graduate of UTSA’s public administration program, Mr. McKinley received the Distinguished Service Award from the UTSA Alumni Association in 2007. He has an undergraduate degree in community development from Pennsylvania State University.

His extensive background in economic development includes managing a business incubator facility in a barrio redevelopment area of San Antonio. This project achieved 97 percent occupancy, housing over 60 small businesses. Mr. McKinley also served as Executive Director of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where he tripled productivity in assisting clients with marketing their goods and services to governmental procurement agencies.

Early in his career, Mr. McKinley served as a community organizer for La Misión de Amistad, Município de Tizimín, Yucatán, Mexico. A church-sponsored mission, it coordinated rural development activities among seven Mayan Ejídos including economic development, health, agricultural, literacy and educational projects, while affording Mr. McKinley an opportunity to learn Spanish and some Mayan language and culture.

Mr. McKinley is married to Esther Ng, originally of Hong Kong, and they have four grown children.

Richard Sandoval is the Certification Specialist at the Southwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center. As the Certification Specialist, Richard is charged with the initial analysis of a firm looking to apply for the Dept. of Commerce TAA Grant Program. If the firm meets key criteria Richard will create the formal grant petition request to the Dept. of Commerce Washington D.C. on behalf of the firm. Richard joined the SWTAAC in 2007.

In this position Richard also represents the SWTAAC in marketing the TAA Grant Program to new clients within its three state region. Richard holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Texas A&M University Kingsville.

Sean manages the overall web presence for the Small Business Development Center National Information Clearinghouse, which encompasses three web properties: the NIC’s online research portal (http://www.sbdcnet.org); the NIC’s online magazine (http://www.sbdctech.org), and the NIC’s social networking site for small business professionals (http://sbdcnet.ning.com).

He has a diverse background in technology, public sector economic development and private sector business development.

Silvia Cano is the Assistant Director of Finance and Contract Compliance for the Southwest Texas Border SBDC (Small Business Development Center) Network at the Institute for Economic Development. She holds a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Silvia’s major responsibilities are to collaborate on the planning and distribution of federal, state and local funds throughout the South-West Texas Region and verify that all SBDC components are in compliance with the various grants, working in partnership with UTSA Office of Sponsored Projects. She has been with the Institute for Economic Development since 2002.

Steve McMillan has served with the Southwest TAAC for 15 years. He holds a BBA in Accounting and Finance. His interests includes raising his two sons.

Shuchi Nagpal joined SBDCNet as a Technical Staff Assistant III (TSA) in September 2009. She is currently pursuing a master's degree from UTSA in public administration and non-profit management. She holds two bachelor’s degrees in Economics (Delhi University, 1996) and (UTSA, 2006). Prior to joining SBDCNet she worked in the financial sector for ten years.

Ms. Palmer is the Marketing Manager for SATAI where she is responsible for marketing and executing the organization’s mission to Inspire, Create and Grow technology businesses in San Antonio and the South Texas region through its non-profit services and network of entrepreneurs, inventors, angel investors and service providers.She has worked in marketing for over twelve years, focusing on technology, finance, and professional sports. She also regularly volunteers her time and expertise to community events and charitable organizations.

Before joining SATAI, Ms. Palmer was the Assistant Marketing Director and Operations Manager for the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce (LAJCC) where she directed marketing and operations for the Northern Trust Open, a PGA TOUR tournament played at the Riviera Country Club.

Ms. Palmer holds a BA in Economics from Whitman College.

Theresa (Tracy) Ehrlich is a TSA Researcher for SBDCNet.

Tom Hansis has an extensive background in small business, management, and finance. He has shared his knowledge with small business owners since 1996 at the San Antonio SBDC where he has earned the top designation of Certified Business Advisor IV.

Tom presents workshops on business topics such as Business Plan Basics and Finances, Start-Up Essentials and QuickBooks. He also gives a Spanish language introduction to small business workshop. He speaks to service clubs, chambers of commerce, and other trade groups.

He has a BA in Latin American Studies from the University of Wisconsin Madison.