We welcomed our #sistercity of Monterrey Mayor Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas and his business delegation to San Antonio earlier this week six weeks after our successful trade and cultural mission to Monterrey just over six weeks ago. It is great to see so many organizations and individuals come together as a community behind a shared vision to help our partners in Mexico be successful in San Antonio with what they do. The evening was a success because of generous #donors, #collaboration #friendship #teamwork by so many people and last but not least, the seamless execution by Wendy Nave and her team at Outside the Box Events Ltd. Thank you to our current President Magdalena Barrera for her leadership and also to previous presidents I have been honored to work with: Louis Escareno, Juan Antonio Flores, Frances Schultschik, Cecilia Elizondo Herrera, Beth Costello and Henry Sauvignet over the last 12 years. Thank you to the City of San Antonio Economic Development Department, San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and the City of San Antonio Military and Veteran Affairs Department for their support. I am honored to serve on the board of SAMFCO in representation of the City of San Antonio and work alongside some brilliant people to support the Mexican Consulate’s community outreach through civic and cultural events, community education programs and scholarships that benefit exchange between both countries. I could not think of two more deserving people to be honored on this special night and am priviledged to call them both friends. Juan Manuel Fernandez received the Mexicano Distinguido award for his accomplishments as a Mexican businessman who migrated and moved his family to San Antonio and has contributed so much in the more than twenty years of living here. Erika Prosper was presented with the Ohtli for her contributions to the Mexican and Mexican American community through her work and volunteerism especially with curriculum she spearheaded to teach entrepreneurship to children whike she was Chair of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This wonderful evening chaired by Lisa Montoya, PhD, celebrated and honored two San Antonians with distinguished awards presented by the Mexican government. SAMFCO also marked this special anniversary and Consul General Ruben Minutti Zanatta reminded everyone of the special place San Antonio also plays in that history. Throughout this year, the USA and Mexico have commemorated 200 hundred years of diplomatic relations and there have been many events throughout the year in both countries. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and County Judge Peter Sakai and other elected officials including Commissioner Rebeca Clay Flores and Councilwoman Marina Gavito, MBA, PMP honored us with their presence. Recently the San Antonio Mexico Friendship Council (SAMFCO) celebrated ties between Mexico and San Antonio at the annual Noche de Amistad gala dinner at the fantastic Boeing Center at Tech Port. There are many families today in San Antonio who draw on their Czech and Slovak heritage who are able to come together in community with the Czech Heritage Society of Texas - Bexar County Chapter Bexar County Chapter presided by Monika Prochazkova who comes in with many ideas to lead the local chapter and raise the profile of our local Czech and Solvak communities. San Antonio has a rich history featuring Czech settlers who immigrated to Central Texas including San Antonio during the 19th Century and another wave of Czech migration in mid 20th Century when refugees came over fleeing communism in Czechoslovakia. The City of San Antonio Economic Development Department’s Alfred Breuer and greater:SATX ‘s Shirley Frobish met with Jan Hladík and Levan Bokeria to talk about trade and business opportunities. During their time here they they visited and met with San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg as well as with the leadership of OKIN Process a Czech owned company based at Brooks, and also had a rich exchange with The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Global Relations Office led by Dr Lisa Montoya, PhD and even explored opportunities for sports diplomacy with the another group. We were recently honored by the visit of His Excellency Miloslav Stasek, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic who visited San Antonio with Jan Hladík, Head of the Economic Section at the Embassy of Czech Republic and their visit was faciliated locally by Robert Braubach who for many years has promoted engagement between the Czech Embassy and San Antonio.
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