Success was the message Pedro Salazar, executive director of the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, gave to guests at this year's second annual VIP Stars Award Ceremony on April 23.

Salazar, executive director of the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, was the keynote speaker for banquet and focused his presentation on three key points vital to success. First is opportunity and the ability to seize it. Second is readiness and the difference between what is inherent and what is practiced for. The final key to success according to Salazar is effort. Be prepared, said Salazar. Aggressively seek out the opportunity that others sit and wait for.

Salazar spent 13 years in economic and small business development with UTPA before moving on to banking. He then became a banker for Lone Star National Bank and then an account executive with First Franklin, a division of Merril Lynch Bank & Trust, where he was consistently one of the top 25 performing account executives in the country.

The VIP awards banquet was created to recognize CoBA student accomplishments, especially those related to Values, Initiative and Professionalism (VIP).