UTSA Senior Associate Vice President for Economic Development Robert McKinley
(June 30, 2017) -- The UTSA SBDC International Trade Center (ITC), which leads the SBDC Global Program, has been recognized for its collaborative work with the Mexican Association of SBDCs to grow businesses and create jobs in Mexico.
Since 2003, UTSA and its partners in the SBDC Global Program have built a network of 120 Mexican universities providing extension services to grow businesses and jobs.
UTSA Senior Associate Vice President for Economic Development Robert McKinley; International Trade Center Director Cliff Paredes and Senior International Business Advisor Julio Garcia de las Mestas traveled to Guadalajara, Jalisco for the 18th annual Mexican Association of SBDCs / Asociación Mexicana de Centros para el Desarrollo de la Pequena Empresa (AMCDPE) Conference.
The AMCDPE is Mexico’s version of the U.S. Association of Small Business Development Centers, which works with various organizations and agencies to strengthen Mexico’s economy.
This year, the AMCDPE recognized McKinley during a gala with a brief ceremony, award presentation and video tribute, honoring his work and commitment to the AMCDPE and the positive economic growth that Mexico has seen as a result of UTSA’s work.
McKinley has played an instrumental leadership role in facilitating the ITC’s SBDC Global Program, leading the expansion of SBDCs across 22 countries in the Western Hemisphere, including Mexico. In 2016, the foreign SBDC networks grew to 150 centers, which served more than 50,000 small businesses across Latin America and the Caribbean.
"Texas and Mexico are neighbors forever, and economically have a shared destiny, so we are very committed to partnering with Mexican universities in education, research, and community engagement," said McKinley.
Since 2003, the Institute’s SBDC International Trade Center has been a key partner for the AMCDPE, and other Mexican governmental organizations, to help develop the now extensive network of SBDCs throughout the country.
The SBDC International Trade Center at UTSA is one of the largest and most successful trade assistance organizations in Texas. Hosted by the Institute for Economic Development, it helps companies become globally competitive through technical trade consulting, customized market research and innovative training programs.
View the AMCDPE Tribute video.
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