STBBCE History

Welcome to the premier contracting and manufacturing conference in South Texas. Hundreds of business owners, purchasing agents, procurement decision makers, vendors, suppliers, and manufacturers are expected at the 2010 South Texas Border Business Contracting Expo (STBBCE), scheduled for July 7th and 8th  in Mercedes, Texas.

The two-day event is hosted by the Rio South Texas Regional PTAC & South Texas Border Business Contracting Committee and honorary co-chaired by U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), U.S. Congressman Solomon Ortiz (TX-27) and U.S. Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15). The third annual event kicks off on Wednesday, July 7th with a welcome reception that will provide fun, entertainment and excellent networking opportunities.  On Thursday, July 8th, the congressmen will kick-off the day’s events, open the exhibit hall and open the doors to the contracting opportunities available. The exhibit hall will feature more than forty agencies looking to do business with small businesses.  The event will also feature several training sessions in a variety of topics designed to get the business owner ready to contract with governmental agencies, such as How to do Business with the State, Contracts for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Marketing to GSA, and Business Opportunities with Maquiladoras.

The STBBCE will be the significant event in South Texas to offer opportunities for small business owners, manufacturing leaders and government representatives to network, establish business relationships and create opportunities for South Texas business owners.

Our Mission Statement

The South Texas Border Business Contracting Expo aims at providing opportunities to help small businesses grow. The expo is designed to provide a scene for individuals to learn more about accessing the billion dollar government and private sector contracting market. The expo intends to create a forum for networking and for dialog among business owners, vendors, and suppliers with procurement representatives from government and private sector.

Committee Members

The committed of the South Texas Border Business Contracting Expo consists of members of several community organizations.  Committe members are:

• Abel E. Atkinson – Economic Development Planner, LRGVDC
• Marcela Arredondo – Business Development Specialist, SBDC
• Rick Carrera – Procurement Specialist, Rio South Texas PTAC
• Silvia de León – Marketing liaison, Rio South Texas PTAC
• Victor de León – Area Coordinator, Office of Congressman Henry Cuellar
• Alonzo Gracia – Director, Veteran’s Business Outreach Center
• Hector Landez – Procurement Specialist, Rio South Texas PTAC
• Linda Rodriguez-Guillen – Director of Purchasing and HUB Coordinator, Texas State Technical College
• Cynthia Sakulenzki – President, McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Alex Valdez – Asst. Director of Purchasing and HUB Coordinator, University of Texas Pan American
• Mark Winchester – Director, Rio South Texas Regional PTAC   * Committee Chair

Seated (left to right): Marcela Arredondo – SBDC, Cynthia Sakulenzki – MHCC, Linda Rodriguez-Guillen – TSTC, Silvia Deleon – PTAC. 

Standing (left to right): Rick Carrera - PTAC, Mark Winchester – PTAC, Alonzo Gracia – VBOC, Victor Deleon – Office of Congressman Henry Cuellar, Abel Adkinson – LRGVDC, Alex Valdez – UTPA, Hector Landez – PTAC