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LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE - THE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

Contacto medios: Información al público:


Martine Kaye – (713) 639-4768 mkaye@hmns.org


Director de ventas corporativas


Melodie Wade (713) 639-4743 mwade@hmns.org


Consultora de PR Website para medios


Latha Thomas (713) 639-4712 lthomas@hmns.org


VP de Mercadotecnia & Comunicaciones


PARA DISTRIBUCION INMEDIATA:


LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE


Nueva exhibición especial revela los orígenes de la Emperatriz de la Américas


HOUSTON, TX— La Virgen de Guadalupe ha sido un símbolo de paz, protección y consuelo para sus seguidores por casi 500 años, pero ¿por qué? ¿Qué tiene la virgen que ha inspirado a millones de personas en el continente americano? Su historia llega por primera vez a Houston en una exhibición especial desarrollada por el Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Houston (HMNS por sus siglas en inglés) en colaboración con la Basílica de la Ciudad de México, La Virgen De Guadalupe: Empress of the Americas, a partir del 11 de diciembre.


Para algunos, la aparición de la Virgen es una verdad absoluta, incuestionable y una cuestión de fe. Para otros su imagen es un poderoso elemento cultural, piedra angular de la identidad de un pueblo.


Y para otros más, su historia es un recuento épico del choque apocalíptico de dos mundos y la germinación y crecimiento de una nueva civilización, como el renacimiento de un bosque después de su destrucción catastrófica.


"Independientemente de cual sea la percepción personal hacia esta historia, invitamos a los visitantes de la exhibición a que consideren la historia y la realidad que rodea la aparición de La Virgen de Guadalupe," explicó Dirk Van Tuerenhout, Curador de Antropología del HMNS. "Ella es, tanto en imagen como en nombre, la patrona de cientos de millones que la llaman madre, la consideran su reina y su protectora. Ella es La Virgen de Guadalupe, Emperatriz de las Américas."


La exhibición se inicia en el siglo VIII en España y termina en las Américas del siglo XXI. Los visitantes recorrerán una compleja y fascinante historia de fe profunda, conquista y cristianización, y el desarrollo de expresiones contemporáneas de adoración a la Virgen.


La historia inicia en la Península Ibérica, en una época en la que las fuerzas musulmanas controlaban vasta parte de ese territorio. Durante los siguientes ocho siglos, los gobernantes Católicos que reinaban en el norte de la península se embarcaron en una lucha épica para reconquistar esas tierras. Al mismo tiempo, a principios del siglo XIV, un nuevo imperio se levantó en la parte central de México: el Imperio Mexica, mejor conocidos como Aztecas. En 1519, cuando los conquistadores invadieron el Nuevo Mundo, estas dos culturas se encontraron y cambiaron para siempre.


Commented [A1]: this expression appeared for the first time during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. Through their marriage they united their two kingdoms and carried the Reconquista to a successful conclusion. Pope Alexander VI conferred this title to them in 1494 (htpps://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/r/reyes_catolicos.htm). What is meant by "Catholic kings" in the English language version is the Christian (i.e. Catholic) rulers in northern Spain who initiated the fight well before Ferndinand and Isabella appeared on the scene. Suggest changing the terms to "gobernantes católicos" to avoid confusion.


De acuerdo a creencias profundamente arraigadas, durante los últimos años de la historia azteca, nació un humilde individuo llamado Juan Diego. En el año 1531, La Virgen de Guadalupe apareció ante él. Este encuentro, y la subsecuente decisión de construir una capilla en el lugar donde ocurrió este evento, tuvieron efectos de amplio alcance en la historia de esta parte del mundo. Durante los siguientes tres siglos, La Virgen de Guadalupe aumentó su popularidad, ganando en número de seguidores y en influencia. En el amanecer de la era moderna, con los aires de independencia brotando en el horizonte de varios países Latinoamericanos, el papel de la Virgen transcendió más allá de la religión y se extendió al ámbito político. La exhibición concluye con una muestra de expresiones contemporáneas de adoración a la Virgen y la historia de la canonización de Juan Diego por el Papa Juan Pablo II.


Algunos elementos más importantes de la Exhibición incluyen:


 Una reproducción autorizada de la imagen de La Virgen de Guadalupe, presentada en un área que le permitirá a los visitantes admirar la imagen en una atmósfera de contemplación. (La imagen en la tilma original está alojada permanentemente en la Basílica de la Ciudad de México).


 El manuscrito original conocido como Nican Mopohua, un documento en lengua Azteca, en el cual se recuenta la Aparición Guadalupana. Escrito en el siglo XVI, este manuscrito forma parte de la colección de la Biblioteca Pública de Nueva York, y muy raras veces ha salido de la biblioteca.


 Uno de los primeros libros impresos en México. "Doctrina Cristiana" por Pedro de Gante, impreso en 1553. Un préstamo de la Benson Library de la Universidad de Texas en Austin.


 Una versión interactiva del mapa más antiguo de la Ciudad de México (1550).


 Una pintura de la Virgen del siglo XVIII, que se cree tocó la imagen original de la Basílica. (Lo que incrementa la importancia de esta pintura).


 Expresiones de adoración moderna a la Virgen.


La Virgen De Guadalupe: Empress of the Americas se inaugura el 11 de diciembre del 2015 (un día antes de la celebración del Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe), y estará abierta hasta el 5 de septiembre del 2016. Para boletos e información adicional, visite www.hmns.org o llame al (713) 639-4629.


Commented [A2]: The exhibit title is a hybrid one. First part in Spanish. second part in English; separated by a colon.


El Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Houston— uno de los museos más visitados de los Estados Unidos — es la pieza central del Distrito de Museos de Houston. El museo tiene algo que ofrecer para visitantes de todas las edades, con cuatro pisos de áreas de exhibición permanente, la sala de proyecciones Wortham con pantalla gigante, el Centro de Entomología y Mariposario Cockrell, el Planetario Burke Baker y el Observatorio Astronómico George, así como exhibiciones especiales que cambian con frecuencia. Con muestras tan extraordinarias y diversas, una visita al Museo es siempre una aventura. El Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Houston está ubicado en el 5555 Hermann Park Drive, en el corazón del Distrito de Museos.


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JULY 8, 2015 - PEMEX WON'T TAKE PART ON ROUND ONE FIRST PHASE

MAY 22, 2015 - REPERCUSSION OF DECLINING OIL PRICES ON THE MEXICAN ECONOMY

MAY 11, 2015 - UNITED AND HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM BREAK GROUND ON NEW TERMINAL C NORTH AT IAH

NOVEMBER 4, 2014 - MEMORIAL HERMANN THE WOODLANDS ANNOUNCES 2014/2015 ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS

OCTOBER 23, 2014 - AIRLINES MEETING STRONGER DEMAND FOR ROUTES BETWEEN HOUSTON, LATIN AMERICA

HOUSTON CHRONICLE BUSINESS

Airlines meeting stronger demand for routes between Houston, Latin America
Carriers are adding service to south-of-the-border destinations

By Erin Mulvaney

October 23, 2014 | Updated: October 23, 2014 11:45pm

Several new air routes will make Mexico seem even closer to Houston for the millions who travel there each year for family, leisure or business reasons.

Interjet, a low-cost carrier based in Mexico City, launched a nonstop flight between Bush Intercontinental Airport and Monterrey, Mexico, on Thursday, and at least two other Mexican airlines will add routes there by year-end. A recent uptick in business and family travelers has filled planes on existing flights and added pressure for more routes to Mexico, already an important destination for Houston.Early Thursday morning, the Guerra family waited patiently before boarding the inaugural Interjet flight to Monterrey, where Corina Guerra grew up. She and her husband, Omar, now live in Spring with their two children, including a 1½-year-old daughter, Sofia. They have not been back to Monterrey for at least two years.

"Some of our family don't even know her yet," Omar Guerra said, pointing to Sofia as she played with her 3-year-old brother, Omar Jr., in the waiting area. "We will see the sights and take the opportunity to visit family."

The Guerras, who bought tickets for under $300 apiece, said they'd found fares more expensive in recent years for United Airlines flights to destinations in Mexico.

What effect the increased competition will have on travelers' pocketbooks remains to be seen. George Hobica, founder of AirFareWatchdog.com, said new routes may create some downward pressure on fares between Houston and Mexico, but international base taxes or ticket fees will remain steep.

He said the smaller international airlines may not have the capacity to drive prices down significantly, but new service expected from Texas-based Southwest and from Spirit Airlines, which has been increasing its Houston presence, could make a noticeable difference.

"The question has been, historically, not enough airlines were flying from Houston," Hobica said. "With the new flights, it will not be the same."

Some of the new flights are set to begin by year's end.

Aeromexico will add routes from Bush to Monterrey next month, and Viva Aerobus will begin flying to Cancún in December.

United Airlines, which already dominates the market, has announced new nonstop service to Santiago, Chile, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. United dominates Mexico travel at Bush Intercontinental with 25 destinations in Mexico.

Spirit has received federal approval to fly to Cancun, Los Cabos and Mexico City through Bush Intercontinental, but no routes have been announced.

And across town at Hobby Airport, an international terminal under construction by Southwest Airlines will mark the beginning of flights to Mexico from there.

Molly Waits, director of air service development at the Houston Airport System, said adding routes between Houston and Latin America has been a priority. She said the forthcoming international terminal at Hobby has spurred some of the recent activity.

"Airlines were excited about the opportunity and added routes sooner than when it will be open," Waits said. "We are seeing a lot of growth in the Latin America and Mexico market."

International flights

More than half of the international passengers through Bush Intercontinental come from routes that include Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Through August, nearly 4.2 million passengers flew in and out of Bush to Latin American destinations, up 7.8 percent from a year earlier.

"Mexico is our bread and butter," Waits said.

The Interjet route launched Thursday with a ceremony at Terminal D, where officials trumpeted the connection between Houston and Mexico. The service will include two daily flights Monday through Friday and one daily flight on Saturdays and Sundays. Of the new activity to Latin America, Interjet is the only foreign carrier adding service in Houston for the first time.

The airline, which began operations to the U.S. in 2011 with a flight in San Antonio, noted that Houston is not only a major medical care center and Mexicans' main tourist destination in Texas but also the energy capital of the world. Monterrey is a business center.

"There are a lot of ties between these two cities, and this is only the beginning," said Pete Garcia, an aviation consultant and executive director of The Woodlands-Gulf Coast branch of the U.S. Mexican Chamber of Commerce. "It's a new era."

Garcia said fares between Houston and Mexico have been going up because of demand that he attributes to several factors.

Moving to Houston

First, he said, many people have moved to Houston from Mexico and want to go back to visit families. Plus, the city also has done a good job promoting tourism here. Garcia also noted that energy reforms in Mexico have opened up the oil and gas market, likely a major driver of demand for additional flights.

He said the new routes could ultimately be good for the consumer, but increasing demand could lead to even higher prices. He predicted more airlines will add Mexico routes in Houston.

"We are getting more planes coming from around the world to Houston, and Houston is not the only destination for people. Mexico is part of that strategy," Garcia said. "Logistically, any city in Mexico is just a 2½-hour flight from Houston. It's easy to get there."

Upcoming international activity between Houston and Latin America:

1 Interjet began nonstop service from Bush Intercontinental Airport to Monterrey on Thursday. The carrier will offer two daily flights Monday through Friday and a daily flight on weekends.

1 Aeroméxico will add nonstop service to Monterrey in November. It already offers service to Mexico City.

1 Viva Aerobus will add nonstop service to Cancún in December. It already offers service to Monterrey.

1 United Airlines, which already serves 25 cities in Mexico from its Houston hub, will add nonstop service to both Santiago, Chile, and Punta Canta, Dominican Republic, in December.

1 Spirit Airlines has received Department of Transportation approval to fly to Cancún, Los Cabos and Mexico City through here. No routes have been announced.

1 Southwest Airlines is building a $156 million international terminal at Hobby Airport that will be completed in 2015. The first announced flight will begin in 2015 between Houston and Aruba.

AUGUST 12, 2014 - HOUSTON CHRONICLE: MEDICAL TOURISTS

Arguments about government regulations stifling Houston businesses are a common refrain in oil and gas skyscrapers. But recently those charges are being leveled from corner offices in the Texas Medical Center - and, no, this has nothing to do with Obamacare.

The issue is medical tourism and a federal bureaucracy of fear that's hampering the growth of a once thriving industry in Houston. This isn't just a problem for global elites seeking plastic surgery here. People everywhere want the technical genius the world's largest medical complex provides, and the hurdles should not be insurmountable for international patients.

Before our world changed with the terrorist attacks of 9/11, about 40,000 patients from abroad - often paying with cash - would travel to physicians in the Medical Center. That level today has been cut in half. Post-9/11 changes enacted by a terrified Congress have led to stricter medical visa requirements. Potential visitors have faced Homeland Security detention and interrogations at Bush Intercontinental Airport and other points of entry.

"Homeland Security was created. It wasn't very friendly. It discouraged people from coming," Rosanna Moreno, a Houston attorney and partner of McMains & Moreno Global Consultants, told the Chronicle. Simultaneously, Germany, Thailand, Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico and other countries have upped the quality of their health care with a focus on attracting international clients and carving off a slice of our share.

One medical tourist told Chronicle reporter Lora Hines, "Health doesn't have a price" ("Pulling in overseas patients," Page A1, Sunday). And the numbers prove the point.

Globally, medical tourism generates a minimum of $38.5 billion annually, according to industry experts. Officials have only begun to study how much of that business comes to Houston. But each dollar a medical tourist spends on care and accommodations has at least a $2 effect on the local economy, according to Patrick Jankowski, economist at the Greater Houston Partnership.

Dr. Robert Robbins, president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center, wants to rebuild Houston's international patient base by securing a healthy percentage of those medical tourists for Houston. That goal is realistic, but it is difficult to accomplish when we are figuratively pulled out of line by the TSA.

Houston has advantages in any quest to become the world's premier medical destination. With 17 international airlines now flying here, the Medical Center is a convenient destination for patients too sick to wait for layovers.

The Medical Center's stellar reputation is further enhanced by affiliations many of the local hospitals have with foreign counterparts and medical schools. And then there's this thing called Texas hospitality, which makes it easy for a person speaking any language to make their way.

From the hospitals to the airports to the officials at Homeland Security, we should strive to make our medical tourists feel more welcome than any other place in the world. This effort will require coordination between the consular offices, the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston's Aviation Department and Homeland Security, among others.

But our elected officials in Washington need to understand that walls designed to keep out bad guys are keeping out patients as well. It is time for Texas' senators and a congressional delegation led by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, to work on behalf of this important part of Houston's economy.

"People with money come here," a medical tourist told the Chronicle. "I feel safe with the physicians ... I trust Houston." We need a higher level of mutual trust for our international guests.

AUGUST 11, 2014 - MEXICO OPENS GAS, OIL TO FOREIGN, PRIVATE FIRMS

MEXICO CITY (AP) — President Enrique Pena Nieto signed into law on Monday new rules governing a historic opening of Mexico's state-run oil, gas and electricity industries to foreign and private companies.

Pena Nieto said the government will let potential investors know by Wednesday which blocks of gas and oil fields will be open for them. The state-owned oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, has the right under the new rules to take first dibs and set aside some fields for itself. Pena Nieto said those set-asides will also be made public Wednesday.

The president also promised to start putting in place regulatory and oversight agencies to implement the new rules by the end of August.

Government control of the oil industry began with the 1938 nationalization of foreign oil companies, and it has long been a touchstone of Mexican nationalism. Energy Secretary Pedro Joaquin Coldwell acknowledged the new system has changed that.

"Today marks a watershed ... a change in the energy paradigm. It is a change in the way we relate our national identity to energy, to bring it up to date with realities of the 21st century," Coldwell said at the signing ceremony at Mexico's National Palace, where beloved late President Lazaro Cardenas announced the expropriation 76 years ago.

The realities include a constant decline in oil and gas production in recent years as Pemex proved unable to open up significant deep-water or shale-gas production, both areas where the government hopes private firms will bring in expertise and tens of billions in investment.

The overhaul opens up production- and profit-sharing contracts for private companies that had been restricted to operating just as subcontractors for Pemex, without the ability to book reserves or gain a significant share in profits.

With drilling companies busy around the world, the first partial openings in the late 2000s proved unattractive. It's unclear how much interest there will be in the new round of bidding, which is expected to open in early 2015.

The revamping passed by ample margins in Congress, due to support from Pena Nieto's Institutional revolutionary Party, the PRI, and the conservative National Action Party, but many Mexicans still seem wary of the changes.

Seeking to reach average Mexicans, Pena Nieto promised they would feel the effects of the reforms in their pocketbooks, through lower power prices and more jobs.

Pena Nieto said that by passing the overhaul "we have overcome decades of immobility, and overturned barriers that prevented Mexico from growing." One of those barriers has been the high price of natural gas, much of it imported, and electricity rates that are higher than in many parts of the United States.

"With this reform we can extract oil from deep waters and take better advantage of our vast deposits of shale gas, to generate electricity at lower prices," Pena Nieto said.

It remains to be seen whether Mexico can assign complex contracts to private companies without the kind of kickbacks, favoritism and insider deals seen in the past. The law creates a national oil commission to take such decisions out of the hands of Pemex.

Mexico's oil and gas production peaked in 2004 at 3.4 million barrels a day, declining steadily to 2.5 million barrels. With the reform, the government hopes to increase output to 3 million barrels by 2018 and 3.5 million by 2025, by attracting private companies with the expertise and technology to exploit the country's vast shale and deep-water reserves.

(Photo: Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, center, is applauded by Senate leader Raul Cervantes Andrade, left, and House Speaker Jose Gonzalez Morfin at a ceremony to mark the signing of a historic energy reform bill, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Monday, Aug. 11, 2014.

To view more photos, visit htpps://bigstory.ap.org/article/mexico-enacts-gas-oil-opening

KELSEY-SEYBOLD IN THE NEWS: KELSEY-SEYBOLD DOCTOR INTERVIEWED AT UNIVISION

Leonardo Espitia, M.D., Family Medicine at The Woodlands Clinic, recorded a 30-minute interview on “Univision America” for radio broadcast 9:30-10 a.m., June 3 on KLAT 1010-AM; re-airing 9-9:30 a.m., June 15 on KOVE “Recuerdo” 106.5-FM.

Dr. Espitia discussed the disproportionate prevalence of Type 2 diabetes within the Hispanic community and offered advice to help avoid the disease. He reminded listeners that Kelsey-Seybold has Spanish-speaking physicians in many medical specialties. For appointments, listeners are directed to Kelsey-Seybold’s dedicated Spanish-language number: 713-442-VIVA713-442-VIVA (8482).

MAY 27, 2014 - HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL: NEW NUMBERS SHED LIGHT ON WHY MEXICO IS OPENING ITS OIL MARKET

New U.S. government numbers suggest why Mexico has moved so aggressively to open its domestic oil-and-gas market to foreign investment for the first time in modern history.

Last year, Mexico produced 2.9 million barrels per day (bpd) of petroleum liquids, a 25 percent decline from its 2004 high of 3.85 million bpd, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Energy Department’s statistical arm.

What’s more, the country’s estimated April crude oil — which accounts for an 85 percent of its liquids production — of 2.5 million bpd is its lowest monthly average since 1995, according to the EIA numbers released today.

Late last year, Mexico’s congress approved historic legislation that altered a decades-old ban on private sector participation in the country’s energy sector, potentially clearing U.S. companies to help unlock oil and gas from its shale plays. Operators active in the Eagle Ford — San Antonio's Lewis Energy among them — are widely expected to have an upper hand in winning that work.

Mexico’s energy reform ends the 75-year monopoly of state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), the world’s fifth-largest crude oil producer. Pemex’s output has dropped substantially in recent years and Mexican officials are hoping private players will help generate new production and a related growth in tax revenue.

“If Mexico hadn’t undergone this energy liberalization, it was foreseeable that it would need to start importing oil in a few years, which is just crazy to think about,” says Thomas Tunstall, research director for the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute for Economic Development.

Mexico’s energy reform program still requires finalization of rules that govern the contract terms under which private companies will operate. Experts expect those secondary laws to pass late this summer and investment to begin as early as mid-2015.

Sanford Nowlin
Reporter-
San Antonio Business Journal

PEMEX CEO: 'PERFECT STORM' PAVED WAY FOR LANDMARK ENERGY REFORM

CEO Of PEMEX speaks in Houston:

htpps://fuelfix.com/laredo/2014/03/04/pemex-ceo-perfect-storm-paved-way-for-landmark-energy-reform/

APRIL 28 - MAY 2, 2014 ~ MEDICAL WORLD AMERICA'S CONFERENCE

The United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce is proud to support the first annual event in Houston to promote world health, Medical World Americas Conference to be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center April 28-29, 2014.

USMCOC will also be hosting its own event immediately following the conference on May 1 and 2 with One-on-One meeting between the participating hospital administrators, physicians, government health officials from Latin America and our Health organizations in Houston and The Woodlands that attend this event. There will also be an opportunity for our visitors from Latin America to attend Technical Health Tours provided by our health institutions.

For more details please visit: htpps://medicalworldamericas.com/
For the USMCOC meetings please contact Pete Garcia, Executive Director, at petegarcia@usmcocgc.org

GOV. PERRY APPOINTS JOHNSON AS JUSTICE OF THE NINTH COURT OF APPEALS

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Leanne Johnson of Beaumont as justice of the Ninth Court of Appeals for a term to expire at the next general election.

Johnson is senior partner with Orgain, Bell and Tucker LLP. She is admitted to practice law in Texas and Arkansas, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District courts for the Eastern and Southern districts of Texas, and is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Arkansas Bar Association and the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, a life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. She is a member and past board member of the Jefferson County Bar Association, and a past member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel. She is also a board member of the Boy Scouts of America Three Rivers Council and the Julie Rogers Gift of Life Program, and a volunteer for the Beaumont Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.

Johnson received a bachelor's degree from Southern Arkansas University and a law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE - MORE COMPANIES COMING TO THE WOODLANDS

The Woodlands appears to be a hotbed of commercial, residential projects, bringing growth to area

By Lindsay Peyton | December 30, 2013

Officials forecast continued economic growth in The Woodlands for the new year.

Karen Hoylman, president and CEO of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, said commercial and residential real estate developers continue to show interest in the area. She added that new companies are moving to The Woodlands, while current businesses are expanding.
Karen Hoylman, president and CEO of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, said commercial and residential real estate developers continue to show interest in the area. She added that new companies are moving to The Woodlands, while current businesses are expanding.

"We plan to make these new companies feel welcome and to help our current businesses adjust to the 'new normal,'" Hoylman said.

"It is a very exciting time for our area and we are up to the challenge."

The chamber will host its 2014 Economic Outlook Conference in February at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

The event aims to inform members of recent trends in the area.

Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, said that ExxonMobil's new campus located in north Harris County has been a boom to the area.

Staley said an announcement was made in December of a tax abatement agreement with the company that will bring 1,400 jobs to The Woodlands.

"What a fabulous way to end 2013," Staley said. "And 2014 looks equally promising. There are a number of projects we're working on that could bring more employment to our community."

He believes that ExxonMobil has further raised awareness of The Woodlands.

"It's a great area to relocate your company," Staley said. "ExxonMobil has raised awareness of our community to amazing heights. We're very encouraged that 2014 will be a fabulous year for job growth in The Woodlands."

Pete Garcia, executive director of the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce The Woodlands- Gulf Coast Chapter, is convinced that the changes in the area will have a positive impact.

"The ExxonMobil campus is expected to be complete in 2015 and is going to generate quite a bit of interest in living nearby," he said.

While some families will settle in Spring and other nearby neighborhoods, The Woodlands is still a hot spot for real estate, Garcia added.

Families from Mexico are also moving to the area, Garcia said. He said ties between U.S. and Mexican businesses have expanded recently- and he believes it will continue to do so as energy reforms in Mexico will bring more opportunities for international business.

"It will be a game changer," he said. "Shale continues across Mexico to the Gulf. It's an untapped resource. We see it as bringing a tremendous amount of opportunities in South Texas."

Garcia said that to meet the demand, more engineers will need to move to Texas.

"We'll have to build more homes," he said. "We're going to have to have more infrastructure."

The Grand Parkway will help improve mobility in the area, Garcia added.

Garcia said The Woodlands has a strong business culture - and is open to the international scene.

"The Woodlands is not trying to compete with Houston," he said. "It's trying to offer an additional source for business."

The United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce The Woodlands- Gulf Coast Chapter facilitates business conversations on both sides of the border.

"It's all about building relationships," Garcia said.

"Who's going to help Mexico tap into expanding its economy?" Garcia said.

"Nobody is in a better position than we are in South Texas."

Staley said The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership will also continue to recruit companies from out of state to relocate to the area.

"Even in the best of times, it's not a time to let up," Staley said.

"We need to continue to be active and not sit back on our laurels."

He added that the Economic Development Partnership looks for ways to foster the success of companies already located in the area.

Staley said that challenges facing The Woodlands in 2014 will include transportation and supplying adequate resources for residents.

"Any time you have rapid growth, you have to keep up with infrastructure," he said. "We're fortunate that we have elected officials in place who are looking at infrastructure proactively, instead of reactively."

Staley credits The Woodland's continued success with its founder, George P. Mitchell, who died last July.

"His legacy is still alive," Staley said.

"And I think it will continue."

UNITED STATES-MEXICO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ALLIANCE MAGAZINE ISSUE 20 JAN 2014

htpps://issuu.com/alliancemagazine/docs/alliance_20

BAKER INSTITUTE EVENT INVITATION: THE PUENTES CONSORTIUM - RESPONDING TO SHARED PROBLEMS: PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER REGION

AL ZAPANTA CEO OF USMCOC SPEAKER AT FORUM DISCUSSING ENERGY REFORMS IN MEXICO

READER'S CHOICE AWARDS LIST UNUSUAL TOP 25 CITIES IN THE WORLD

Reader's Choice Awards list unusual Top 25 Cities in the World

If a client asked where to go on vacation, you probably would not suggest San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Yet the sophisticated readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted the sleepy Mexican town The World's Best City this the Reader's Choice Awards, citing its "great atmosphere, excellent restaurants, culture and ambiance galore."

"The lack of street lights and billboards makes the region romantically and historically beautiful," the magazine says, "and the city itself offers a traditional feeling of a small town in the heart of Mexico."

San Miguel was just one of the surprising and out-of-the-ordinary destinations that travelers loved - a bucket list travel agents might want to visit and recommend.

How many of these cities have you ever visited?

Top Cities in the World

1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2 & 3 (tie). Budapest, Hungary, and Florence, Italy
4. Salzburg, Austria
5 & 6 (tie). Charleston, South Carolina, and San Sebastin, Spain
7. Vienna, Austria
8. Rome, Italy
9. Siena, Italy
10. Québec City, Canada
11 & 12 (tie). Cape Town, South Africa, and Bruges, Belgium
13. Vancouver, Canada
14. Kyoto, Japan
15 & 16 (tie). Prague, Czech Republic, and Kraków, Poland
17, 18 and 19 (tie).Victoria, Canada; Sydney, Australia; and Santa Fe, New Mexico 20 & 21 (tie).Seville, Spain, and Beirut, Lebanon
22 & 23 (tie). Paris, France, and Melbourne, Australia
24 & 25 (tie). Venice, Italy, and Barcelona, Spain
Top Cities in the United States
1. Charleston, South Carolina 2. Sante Fe, New Mexico
3. San Francisco
4. Honolulu
5. Chicago

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF HOUSTON LUNCHEON ON SEPTEMBER 19

Pete and former president of Mexico Felipe Calderon who spoke at World Affairs Council of Houston luncheon on Sept 19 at the Hilton Americas hotel. USMCoC was a sponsor of the luncheon and joined the key members of the Advisory Council.

JUDGE ED EMMETT ON FORBES NAMING HOUSTON "AMERICA'S NEXT GREAT GLOBAL CITY"

Judge Ed Emmett Clip Shares with Generation Park from Ryan McCord on Vimeo.

LONE STAR STATE ECONOMIC REPORT

Texas
Texas’s unemployment rate stands at 6.5%, nearly a full percentage point below the national average.
However, the Texas unemployment rate has been declining relatively slowly, due to increased labor force growth and a high labor force participation rate.
Real GDP grew 4.8% in Texas in 2012, which is 2.3% higher than the nation.
Keys to Texas’s successful recovery lie with the resurgent oil and gas industry, as well as a thriving technology sector.
Health care and industrial development are also key drivers for the state.
Texas ranked first in terms of business climate, and was the national leader in new and expanded facilities in 2012 and 2013.
Texas is the nation’s largest exporter, with petroleum products, natural gas, and chemicals accounting for the bulk of the state’s trade.
The housing market remains healthy, as Texas housing prices are just 4.3% from their prerecession peak; national home prices remain 17.6% below their prerecession highs.

Austin
Employment growth outpaces the nation and the state, helping drive down the unemployment rate to 5.4% in Austin.
Austin’s tech sector is booming; Apple and National Instruments plan to add 3,600 and 1,000 jobs, respectively.
Demand for housing is strong, with year-to-date sales of existing homes up 9.6% year-over-year (y/y) and median home prices up 7.6% y/y.

Dallas-Fort Worth
Job growth is up 3.7% y/y in the Dallas metropolitan division and up 3.8% y/y in the Fort Worth-Arlington area.
Large employers, such as Amazon, AT&T;, Humana, and Kohl’s, continue to expand in the area.
House prices jumped above their prerecession levels in July, along with multifamily housing permits.

Houston
Employment is up 3.6% in Houston, with nine out of 10 major industry categories posting payroll gains.
The energy boom is driving growth in virtually every part of Houston’s economy.
Memorial Herman Health System, the area’s largest employer, is continuing to expand its footprint with a “convenient care center” opening this year and another hospital planned for 2015.
Home prices rose 11% y/y and multifamily permits jumped 46% y/y, reflecting strong demand for apartments.

San Antonio
San Antonio’s unemployment rate is 6.3%, which is below the national average of 7.3%.
The city’s large military presence is cause for concern amid tightening defense budgets, but increased oil and gas exploration remains a strong offset.
Housing prices are 3.2% below their prerecession peak, far better than the nation as a whole, which are 17.6% lower.

MEXICO'S ENERGY REFORM, A CLOSER LOOK

The energy reform measure as filed is generating a fair amount of conversation both here in Mexico and across the U.S., as investors and observers consider the full extent and implications of the proposed constitutional changes..read more at htpps://e2.ma/message/284hc/2sww1c

MEXICAN ENERGY REFORM COULD MEAN BIG MONEY FOR HOUSTON OIL AND GAS COMPANIES

There’s a revolution going on south of the border, and it may bring millions of dollars to Houston energy companies looking for exploration and production opportunities close to home.

Mexico appears to be on the brink of a major reform that would allow foreign investment and profit in its oil and gas industry, busting the Mexican government’s monopoly on its energy industry. President Enrique Peña Nieto, a member of the political party that nationalized the industry in the first place, has proposed an amendment to the constitution that would allow Mexico’s Congress to regulate the industry instead of the state-owned.

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