The Business Plan Competition, sponsored by CoBA, required that students develop and present a business plan. Three finalists were selected by a panel of three judges on April 25. Zebra Finch Advertising, a company that would create a business networking website for the Valley, won the grand prize of $1500 to start their new business. Bikram Yoga, took second place and the audience choice award for a prize of $500.

The biggest factor in the judges' selection of winners was passion and experience, said Martinez. As Martinez said of the winning group presentation, "Their business plan might need some work...but I do foresee that they are going to be really successful because they have a passion. They really believe in what they are going to be doing."

Careers of all types are available to students in the insurance industry, according to speakers at this year's Insurance Symposium held in CoBA on April 15. The event features speakers from New York Life, AFLAC, State Farm, United Fire and the Texas Department of Insurance.

Breakout sessions during the lunch hour informed students of the diversity of career opportunities available in the insurance industry--it's not just about sales. Opportunities include claims adjustment, underwriting and actuary, according to speakers, and, of course, sales.

The insurance industry will be badly in need of employees in the next decade, noted guest speaker, Joe Johnson. He said that a large number of employees in the insurance industry are baby boomers who will be retiring in coming years. This translates into numerous career opportunities in the industry.

Steven Lovell, a CoBA lecturer on economics and finance, helped orchestrate the event after speaking with John Baldibia, a student and head of the student organization Insurance and Financial Planning Association (IFPA). IFPA students were responsible for organizing the symposium.

AFLAC provided pizza and soft drinks during the lunch breakout sessions and New York Life sponsored the 5 pm networking social.

The symposium concluded with a panel discussion on current insurance issues. The even was open to the public.

Proyecto Azteca is an organization that helps impoverished families build their own home. Javeria Farooqi, president of the MBAA, helped organize the dinner in an attempt to help the social foundations of all causes.

"If our foundation is not built properly then we can't just be treating the symptoms, we want to treat the cause," explained Farooqi as to why they decided to help PA.

Proyecto Azteca was founded in 1991 in response to the colonia housing crisis in Hidalgo County. The organization is located in San Juan, but receives little help from local institutions.

"They were very surprised. They said they had been wondering why people from the Valley have not been very involved with them," said Jesus Solis, MBAA director of public relations.

Solis continued to say that while other universities, such as the University of Massachusetts, have let a helping hand, no university in the Valley had ever physically contacted them until now.

The event, Fostering Dedication One Home at a Time, will be held at the UTPA Wellness & Recreational Sports Complex on April 30 at 7 pm. For more information, visit http://www.mymbaa.com/dinner.php

Sustainability and Corporate Accountability was the theme of the 2nd Annual Business Symposium held during HESTEC week.  CoBA welcomed four speakers to the event, all of whom are well-recognized for their efforts in sustainability.  The speakers were:

• Eric Jimenez, Green and Sustainability Initiative of Verizon
• Marianella Franklin, Director for Sustainability Programs of UTPA
• Joel L. Reyes, Training and Lean/Six Sigma Coordinator at Motorola
• Manny Vela, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Valley Baptist Health System.