Income inequality in the RGV can be remediated. It’s just a matter of public and private sector leaders understanding how it affects all of us and coming together to make a change.

The Rio Grande Valley, home to a population of more than 1.3 million and growing, has undergone unprecedented and continuous economic growth and development over the last 10 years, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

According to a recent study by the Perryman Group, the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) composed of McAllen, Edinburg and Mission will lead the state in job creation over the next ten years at an annual rate of 2.19 percent, the equivalent of 31,800 jobs.

Output for the RGV is projected to grow by $3.8 billion over the next five years, and in 2018, the city of McAllen was included in Magnify Money’s list of top-Ten U.S. Cities for wage growth, with median earnings increasing by a whopping 18.4 percent between 2011 and 2016. When compared with most MSAs throughout the state, there is little doubt that the RGV has become a somewhat unexpected, but highly welcomed engine of economic growth and development.

With all of this good news, it’s no surprise that economists, investors, and local political figures are optimistic about current and future economic prospects for our region –

So, why do we keep hearing voices of dissent that seem intent on raining on our collective parade?

Since 2011, two years after the Great Recession officially ended, wages have increased, unemployment has fallen, and poverty levels have dropped. The problem is that underlying this undeniable economic progress is a level of income inequality that is not only unacceptable from a humanitarian perspective, but if left unaddressed will ultimately undermine the aforementioned long-term economic growth and development.

The science of economics is, by nature, replete with differing views and theories on just about everything. Nevertheless, you would be hard-pressed to find an economist who disputes the negative impact of prolonged systemic income inequality on long-term economic growth and development.

An economy based on concentrating wealth in the hands of a small percentage of the population can only work under very unique circumstances and for a relatively short period of time before reduced aggregate demand, insufficient human capital, and diminishing opportunities bring it to a standstill.

To this day, very little is being done in our area to correct rampant income inequality.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission and the Brownsville-Harlingen MSAs rank second and third respectively in the list of MSAs in the United States with the highest levels of income inequality. McAllen ranks 5^th overall among cities.

To make matters worse, this income inequality disproportionately affects children. Currently, 42.2 percent of children in McAllen, 37 percent in Laredo, and 39.2 percent in Brownsville-Harlingen live below the poverty line, and many of them live in a chronic state of food, health, and housing insecurity.

The ongoing prosperity of any region is dependent upon the living conditions and resources available to each new generation. When one-third to half of the youth population lives in poverty, with limited resources and educational opportunities, long-term economic growth and development is unlikely to occur.

There can be no doubt that the systemic income inequality in the RGV affects all of us. It reduces aggregate demand, restricts socio-economic mobility, suppresses investment (both internal and external sources), inefficiently allocates public sector funds, and hampers the development of human capital.

We have all the tools at our disposal in the public and private sectors to create a more equitable distribution of wealth and income. Updating wage and benefits structures, implementing tax incentives to promote small-scale investment, innovating apprenticeships and other employee training opportunities, making education more affordable and accessible, and providing more resources for households living below the poverty line are just a few examples of these tools.

If we don’t all take steps to seriously redress this problem, the much celebrated economic boom that our region is experiencing will eventually come to a screeching halt. It’s not a question of if, but of when.

Have you heard the complaint that we are not supposed to buy cheap imports from China? Believe it or not, this makes for an impossible assumption. It assumes we all have the exact same goals in life.

Think of some products that you need only once. Should you buy an expensive or inexpensive product? Obviously, no one but you can answer that question but consider this example.

I am an avid swimmer, and early on when it became an integral part of my workout routine, I went to buy some swimming gear. There in front of me, I had two options: gear made in China or gear made in Germany. I made the decision to spend anywhere between $5 to $10 less by buying the least expensive kit, but the gear itself became useless in less than two weeks because I was swimming every day. I thought to myself ‘How can anyone buy something so bad, independent of the price?’ And after some thought, the answer that came to my mind explained the importance of international trade itself.

Trade allows for a diversity of lifestyles.

Sure, someone swimming every day has every reason to buy high-end gear, but why should everyone else be made to spend a lot of money for something they might use only once a year? Someone who swims once a year or less will never find out that an inexpensive product falls to pieces if they only use it once, right?

We also value space. Buying high-end products that last a long time means we must also devote space in our homes that we can likely use for more important projects or items.

When we say that long-term planning is better than short-term planning, we do not mean that every single personal project must be a long-term project. It is also not the same to say that you should plan for long-term professional goals any more than the casual golfer who invests in high-end gear. Why? Because it is pointless to waste resources on expensive items that will not be used much. For that, we use much less expensive products. One of the most overlooked social functions of international trade is the diversity of goods for a diverse array of lifestyles.

This is a concept in economics we call time preference. We are constantly making decisions that involve using resources now or at some later time. John Doyle, from the Cardiff School of Business, says time preference “is an active area of research that straddles the boundaries of psychology, economics [and finance], marketing, decision analysis, and more recently neuroscience”

Our time preferences affect our decisions about swimming, eating, studying, dating, investing, and more. Since we do not all perform many activities for the same length of time, there is no reason to think we should all be using the same exact goods for those activities. Therefore, to maintain and promote diversity, international trade provides a large array of options that helps us better fulfill our goals in life.

This inversion is nothing more than subtracting two numbers from each other – the 10-year note from the two-year note.

Yield is not the same as a fix interest rate. It is based on the demand of the Treasury note when the U.S. Treasury auctions them, or when they are sold in secondary markets. What does this mean and who cares?

Yield is the net return on the money invested in financial instruments. In this case, a Treasury note. Let’s look at an example.

Imagine $1,000 invested in a U.S. Treasure-note that returns $80 a year, wishful thinking, and has a yield of 8 percent. When the yield on 10-year note falls below the yield of two-year note, investors become worried about the future because for a long time, this has been an indicator that a recession is looming. The last time the U.S. experienced a yield inversion was in 2007, so we know what happens next. Also, the yield inversion has predicted recessions for the last 50 years.

The money that you have today, if you invest it properly, should be worth more tomorrow or next year. Whenever you invest money for an extended time, there is a particular risk attached to this scenario; therefore, the investors expect higher yields. No one can predict what is going to happen in a year much less 10 years. So investors who are exposed to riskier assets expect higher yields for their investments. A high yield represents the economy is doing great and is expanding, and lower rates mean the opposite. Trade wars, national debt, and deflation are concerns for investors that should concern the rest of the nation.

When the future does not look too prosperous, investors begin to pull back from specific financial instruments and buy less risky ones instead. A 10-year Treasury note is exceptionally safe because it is back by the U.S. government. So inventors begin to pour their funds into this type of asset in a hurry, to the point of accepting a lower but more secure return. Lots of people will lose their employment as well as the value of their current investments if and when this recession becomes a reality.

Other issues that have investors on edge are economic slowdowns in Europe, Mexico, South America, and China.

Investors know that China is a capitalist system without a democracy that has discovered how to use credit. So imagine what happens when credit runs out for the two largest economies in the world? Investors are beginning to get spooked, and it is clear why they would be. Hence money is flowing into a 10-Year Treasury note that is being sold by other investors at a premium in a secondary market, and that is causing the 10-year Treasury note’s yield to dip below the two-year Treasury note.

The bottom line is investors are worried about the economy due to too many unknowns. They like stability in economic systems to make the best decisions on their investments. The current trade wars, the national debt ($22.5T), and the looming recession for some European and South American nations have the investor class concerned. We should heed this notice and fasten our seat belts because it is going to get bumpy.

Great companies around the world have always employed apprentices, and have on-the-job training programs to ensure their employees are successful.

In today’s ever-changing economy, the constant demand for better-educated and well-trained employees calls for industries, businesses, high schools, and colleges to take a more active role in order to have a collective impact in our workforce. Some individuals think that industry credentials are the answer, while others suggest that apprentices in a well-organized OJT program can solve the problem of lack of experience, which is a constant point of discussion.

A Registered Apprentice Program can solve the lack of qualified individuals in our workforce, but success in any job requires three things: job knowledge, proficiency training, and job experience.

To be successful in any career requires job knowledge. Giving employees the understanding they need to perform a task will bring out an awareness that will reverberate throughout the company.

Enlighted employees have critical thinking skills. They know how to use judgment, how to collaborate, and work in teams to solve problems. These skills can increase the bottom line for any operation, so providing the knowledge to an apprentice is the first step to having an excellent employee. Knowledge obtained by reading technical manuals, YouTube presentations, vocational courses or attending a college or university will further add to the well-being of any organization. Allowing employees the opportunity to gain additional knowledge is not an expense, but an investment that employers need to provide to everyone employed.

Knowledge is power, and giving it to your employees will always put any operation on the leading edge.

Job proficiency is another key to a successful career. Well-organized companies that have OJT Programs have a master list of skills for each occupation that apprentices require. These occupations utilize task performance levels, task knowledge, and subject knowledge so apprentices build proficiencies by performing the tasks expected from other employees in the same profession. As the employees progress through the master task list, a master, mentor or trainer documents the proficiency of the employee then moves to the next task that is needed to fulfill the total requirements of the job. You cannot become proficient only by simulating things, so employees need to do tasks required in their occupation to help the company improve their bottom-line. Apprentices will make mistakes of course, but in a well-organized OJT Program, the trainer will always have a plan to minimize the risk and increase the proficiency and productivity of their employees.

Experience is the most common factor that determines whether someone is hired or not, and the only place one can gain experience is by working in the field. Business and industry are the best places to provide the experience they need for their employees. This is hard work because everybody is so busy, but what is the alternative? Does this mean waiting for someone else to provide the experience you need from your employees? Hiring an apprentice guarantees that an employee will acquire the required experience in the workplace, and if more companies did this, the experience gap that exists in the market place would shrink. Colleges and universities can provide the knowledge someone needs to perform their job, but an employee with the right mentor can achieve job proficiency and experience.

Apprentices are the key to a dynamic workforce where experience and skills will be a dominant factor for hiring new employees. Collectively, colleges and universities can provide the knowledge required to perform the job, but businesses should have well organized OJT Programs for apprentices to ensure the proficiency and experience needed for an expanding economy.

Attention

I am sure you have seen the blimps flying above someone’s business, the statue of liberty walking along a street and pointing towards to a tax preparer’s office or a mechanical device that wants you to notice a particular service that is being provided by an entrepreneur. You cannot sell anything until you get someone’s attention. Products or services will not be consumed until someone notices that you have something to offer. Therefore, this is where it gets tricky because you will have to focus all your energy on creating attention-getting steps before you move to the next step. What about you as an individual? You must be original and speak the language of your clients; also, you need to know their business. You need to play your role by being a professional and always greet someone with a firm handshake. If you are someone that prospects for new clients, this is a must.

Interest

So now that you have someone’s attention, what do you do? You need to build their interest in your product or service by answering all their questions or asking your customers all the right questions to provide them with the product or service that fits their needs. If the customers do not know what they want, you need to ask profound probing questions, several of them, to understand what they need. As a salesperson, you must know your product or services to reassure your client that you will satisfy what they are looking for. A customer will leave your premises if you do not have an understanding of your products or services. Customers want information, so you have to give it to them in writing through your website or by your sales presentation. People buy things for two reasons, to solve a problem or for pleasure, and you as a sales professional must recognize which one it is.

Desire

In the desire stage, you must understand your customer’s emotions and demonstrate how your product or service will help them solve their problem or provide the pleasure that they seek. In the interest phase, you discovered much about their needs, now is the time to make them realize that what you have will improve their lives. You can do this by ensuring your client understands what you are through continuous agreements. For example, if you are selling a loan, you can say something like ‘Now that I demonstrated how our loan provides you with significant savings, you can see how this will improve your bottom-line’. If this is true, the client should respond with a “yes” that will indicate there is an agreement to your statement. The key is to get at least three continuous agreements before you close the deal. It works, but you must understand this process.

Action

Once you have arrived at this point with your client, you need to seal the deal. It is yes or no time! If you have done everything right, it will be just a formality to sign the contract. However, you must propose the close by saying something like this ‘You and I have discussed how this loan will improve your bottom-line. When can we start the application process – today or tomorrow?’ You need to get a firm commitment to solidify the closing process. Sales make things happen for all companies, so understanding this final step is extremely important to your bottom-line.

Learning AIDA will help you understand the dynamics involved in the psychology of selling. Successful individuals will master the attention, interest, desire and action steps to understand what their clients need to solve their problems or to provide them with a great experience. It takes time and practice to master this fine art, and I am sure if you learn more about AIDA you too will become a silver tongued devil.

The creation of U.S. Cyber Command tells us that our information technology systems are at risk.

Students of all ages across America are preparing for a future in cybersecurity, and companies large and small continue to recruit these professionals because of a significant increase of cybersecurity jobs. Individuals who possess these talents are in hot demand.

The job crisis in cybersecurity is not going to wane anytime soon. The massive gap of qualified professionals has given them the ability to essentially write their own ticket if they have the skills needed to succeed in a very competitive environment. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median annual wage for information security analysts was $95,510 in May 2017, which is significantly above the $59K median income in the U.S.

Cyberseek.org, which is an online tool that provides detailed, actionable data about supply and demand in the cybersecurity job market shows that just in Texas alone there are more than 24,000 vacancies in cybersecurity. The same source says that there are more than 300,000 job openings in cybersecurity all across the nation. The demand to fulfill these jobs is very high but the supply is very low. It is our responsibility to help fill those gaps.

Cybersecurity professionals protect information systems and data that is stored in the same way security personnel safeguard physical assets. Every organization should have a plan that protects the information that is stored in their computer systems. Cybersecurity professionals ensure that those who enter a computer system are permitted to be there.

You need to have a strong desire to be in cybersecurity. The curriculum is not a walk in the park, but with a lot of hard work and perseverance, you can achieve your academic goals. If you are interested in computer system forensics, Fundamentals of Information Security, and Linux installation and configuration to name a few, then wait no more! Find the college of your choice to begin the journey that will reward you with incredible benefits. However, remember that companies are looking for skills, not theory, so whatever you do, find a school that has the state-of-the-art equipment and qualified faculty that can guide you to learn the skills needed by industry.

Every journey you take requires a plan and a first step. Once you decide that this is what you want, follow the pathway that will get you there. Colleges throughout America offer occupational skills awards, certificates, associates of applied science, associates of science, and bachelors degrees in cybersecurity. Visit or call your local college or university admissions office to get started on this rewarding career field today.

An IoT device is embedded hardware that connects to other devices using internet transfer protocols for the analysis of its data. These smart IoT devices are equipped for inputting, processing and outputting data to the web. The IoT devices are comprised of a processor, sensors, and hardware that allows for the collection of data to be processed and analyzed for self-use or collected on the cloud.

Similar to a computer system sitting in most home or office, an IoT device encompasses a processor. The data process is handled with either a microcontroller or microprocessor unit depending on the function or the role the IoT system will need to perform. Microcontroller units differ from a microprocessor unit in the technology and use of these microchips. Systems that have predefined programming such as microwaves, coffee makers and vending machines would use a microcontroller due to its low cost and lack of processing power needed to get the task done. Microprocessor units, on the other hand, are the artificial intelligence that is more closely identified as the human brain of these systems.

Sensors detect and measure environment changes, then takes the data collected and outputs information for self-use or uploads it to a temporary storage location in the cloud for further analysis. These sensors range from thermometers, pressure, light, accelerometers, gyroscopes, motion, gas sensor and many more. IoT sensors are diverse as they can be packaged as active or passive, mechanical or automated, analog or digital. Size, power consumption, and type are precisely calibrated to the requirements and use of a desired system and data processing required.

Open source prototyping hardware platforms such as the Arduino and Raspberry Pi are ideal for a beginner to explore these type of IoT builds. The Arduino UNO is a micro controller board based on the ATmega328P chip. The Raspberry Pi 3+ applies microcontroller design by using a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor as well as a Broadcom system on a chip which gives the hardware simulated artificial intelligence for projects that need data manipulation.

IoT devices are growing in popularity for both business and homes. Businesses are incorporating IoT devices onto IoT micro-technologies which are used for reporting, monitoring, and warning of transports and machine operations. There are self-driving vehicles in development that will deliver a payload with very little human interaction. Recently Domino’s pizza and Ford Motors have teamed up in delivering hot, ready-to-eat pizzas directly to customer’s homes without delivery personnel. Today, homes are being outfitted with security doorbells from Ring, an Amazon company, that can stream live video to the owner’s smartphone when someone rings the doorbell or if the embedded camera detects nearby motion. With consumers accepting a high-pace technology life, self-driving vehicles and smart doorbells are becoming a part of the modern technology landscape.

For more information on IoT integration and computer systems contact Mr. Gustavo Garza at 956-872-6160 or ggarza@southtexascollege.edu. If you would like information on pursuing a degree in the Computer and Advanced Technologies Program, contact Meliton Hinojosa at 956-872-6128, via email at meliton@southtexascollege.edu or visit us on the web at http://bt.southtexascollege.edu/cat.