As the son of a U.S. Air Force officer, it's probably not surprising that Victor Palma began his career in the public service sector. While pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at Texas State University in San Marcos, Victor worked as a Biological Aid for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's federal fish hatchery and research station.

Veronica Edwards is the founder and CEO of InGenesis Medical Staffing. This San Antonio-based medical recruiting agency employs over 175 nurses, physicians and other allied health professionals working at military facilities and public institutions nationwide.

Foster CM Group (FCMG) is a Program/Construction Management firm founded in 1992. FCMG has successfully serviced and represented programs ranging from: Municipalities, Educational (K-12 and Higher Ed), Aviation, Transportation and Sports/Recreation with such entities as the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, the Alamo Community College District, the City of Dallas, San Antonio Water Systems, the San Antonio Housing Authority, Greater Kelly Development, Port Arthur ISD and the City of Jacksonville, FL by providing successful representation and/or program/construction management for over 15 years.

Frontera Concepts was founded in San Antonio in 2002 as a Texas Limited Liability Corporation by three partners with the desire to start a technology company to serve the emerging needs of a growing regional economy. First year sales were less than $100,000 and currently exceed $500,000.

Ana Maria Lecea is President and founder of one of San Antonio’s leading privately woman owned businesses, Professional Performance Development Group, Inc.

Ron Edinger is the owner of Liquid Capital of South Texas and a Principal of Liquid Capital of America.

Edinger moved to San Francisco after completing his military service as a combat unit commander followed by obtaining an MBA from Columbia University. He spent the next seven years working all over the world with the well known international consulting firm, McKinsey and Company. The high technology industry was just beginning to develop in “Silicon Valley” and Edinger left to take on several top management positions in technology companies. During this period he took some of these companies “public” and in 1981 he financed the biotechnology company, where he was CFO. with the largest initial public offering in the history of the stock market up to that time.

Joe Ramon Construction Company was founded by JOE RAMON, SR. in 1945. The initial company specialized in road construction and asphalt paving. Ramon Sr. recruited his two sons, Joe Jr. and Robert, into the firm in 1964 as a Project Foremen of asphalt paving projects. In preparation for World’s Fair held in San Antonio in 1968, Ramon branched into the demolition, dismantling and salvaging fields and in December of 1968 was incorporated under its present name J.R. (JOE) RAMON & SONS, INC. d.b.a. JR Ramon and Sons Inc. In the wake of the World’s Fair and the exponential economic growth experienced in Central and South Texas, the growing business developed a wealth of expertise in the demolition field.

Fernando Guerra joined the Small Business Administration in December 1983. He served as a loan officer from 1983 to 1989. On December of 1989, Mr. Guerra transferred to the Minority Enterprise Development division of the SBA as a Business Opportunity Specialist. From 1991 to 1993 Mr. Guerra was the Assistant District Director for Minority Enterprise Development in the Houston District Office. Currently, Mr. Guerra contracting officer and business development specialist for the 8(a) Program in San Antonio. Mr. Guerra is also serves as the veterans’ business development officer.

Owned and operated by a San Antonio Police Officer with over 15 years of experience, Blue Armor Security Services, Inc. is dedicated to provide the very best security through officer development, education and training. Blue Armor Security also sub-contracts with ArmorGroup Gulf Coast, LLC, a major international protective security service which provides crisis management and disaster response throughout the Gulf Coast.

Amstar, Inc. is a small women-owned minority and 8a General Contractor. Since their establishment in 1999 Amstar has completed numerous projects as general contractor in the areas of education, city, county, multi-family, HUD non-profit multi-family housing, residential and health. They have completed projects in south Texas including Lockhart, New Braunfels, Seguin, San Antonio, Kingsville, Corpus Christi, Edinburg, Harlingen and Brownsville. Amstar was also recently awarded a five year IDIQ contract with GSA, Zone 6. The company was started with 2 employees and today has over 15.

Adolfo Pesquera’s journalism career began while attending PanAmerican University in Edinburg, Texas. Beginning his sophomore year in 1980, he enrolled in a program for a Bachelor of Humanities, majoring in Mass Communications.

He soon after joined the college newspaper, The PanAmerican, as a reporter and columnist. Adolfo early on developed a strong interest in the plight of Salvadorans fleeing the civil war in El Salvador, many of whom were finding refuge through faith-based organizations in the Rio Grande Valley.