1. The Bazaar
Need
Even though Laredo is a mid-size city, it
does not have an open market where artists
can showcase and/or sell their pieces of art,
build clientele, and get noticed.
Our community lacks an artistic identity
and local businesses do not have a motive to
support neighboring artists.
Objectives
SIFE-TAMIU partnered with local
businesses and started a new movement
called “The Bazaar” in order to build
opportunities for local artists and host
businesses. “Vamp Ultra Lounge &
Restaurant” and “Scholar’s Café” were
the first ones to join the new movement
and offered their installations to create this
open market.
Here local artists are able to get
exposure, network and acquire basic
business skills to adapt to Laredo’s artistic
demand.
Results
In our first three Bazaars, we were able
to gather a total of 20 local artists who
raised $1,694 by selling 86 pieces of art.
245 people attended the first three open
markets and 70 of them acquired a piece
of art.
The response of the community
increased after each event. Host
businesses also benefited from these
events because they were able to increase
their name recognition in our community,
not only as entrepreneurs but also as art
initiators as well.
By Rene Rodriguez
SIFE TAMIU
PhotoByRogerHinojosaSIFETAMIU
SIFE TAMIU2010-2011
Factors Addressed 1,2,3 Students Involved 6 People Impacted 584 Hours Contributed 761 Audience Scholar’s Café, Vamp Ultra Lounge and Restaurant,
Our Community in Laredo Outcome Sales of 1694.00 from 86 pieces of art made by 20 local artists
People in Laredo gathering
around the arts at The Bazaar at
Vamp Ultra Lounge and
Restaurant.
Volunteers Serving The Need
By Javier Mendoza
SIFE TAMIU
Need
There are 27,500 veterans in Webb
County and 2,800 are in financial need
according to the Department of Veterans,
many of them being homeless.
Volunteers Serving The Need (VSTN) is a
new non-profit organization in Laredo
that supports Veterans and Surviving
Spouses with groceries and non-
perishable goods.
Objectives
This year SIFE-TAMIU competed for the
first time in the “Let’s Can Hunger
Challenge” sponsored by Campbell’s
Soup in order to collect and donate cans
of food to VSTN. The program manages
a thrift store in Laredo’s Downtown area
in order to cover its operational expenses.
However, the program was not
efficient at the beginning. SIFE-TAMIU
increased the number of families assisted,
enhance productivity and efficiency,
developed an accounting system, and
created a new program to raise funds
called “Adopt a Veteran.”
Results
Ms. Ramos, founder and general manager
of VSTN was able to reduce her work
schedule from 75 hours to 45 hours per
week after the implementation of the new
systems. In addition, we partnered with
five local schools to raise 5,570 cans and
220 lbs of non-perishable goods which
was donated to the program. This
represents about $700 in groceries, or
17% of the program’s monthly income.
Finally, since our partnership with the
program began, the number of families
assisted increased by 124%.
Factors Addressed 1,2,3 Students Involved 15 People Impacted 893 Veterans and their dependents, and 4,500 customers of the VSTN Thrift Store
Hours Contributed 417 Audience Veterans and Surviving Spouses Outcome Increase of 124% in average in families assisted per month, 5,570 cans
and 220lbs of non-perishable goods donated to VSTN
Need
SIFE-TAMIU surveyed 100 customers
and employees from on their knowledge of
green practices and only 15% of them
reported to have some kind of energy
practices. Furthermore the owners from
“El Mercado Meat Market” and “Charlie
Corona”, the businesses selected to be
assisted with this project stated that any of
them had made renovations for their
businesses for years.
Objectives
I-Transgreen helped empower business
owners, their employees and customers to
take initiative on implementing waste
controls and energy consumption practices.
These practices were proved to be not only
environmental friendly but created
financial savings as well. After the
observation of these results, the owners
from both businesses started to research in
ways to continue reducing their expenses
by other practices.
Results
In “El Mercado Meat Market” we
replaced 187 light bulbs with energy
efficient ones. By switching from the
original 40 watts bulbs to 34 watts bulbs,
the businesses will be able to save 1,122
watts every month. At “Charlie Corona”
the installation of electric thermostats,
motion sensor light switches, and the
change from electric company produced
wonderful results.
After the implementations of our
suggestions both businesses were able to
significantly reduce their electricity bills,
“El Mercado Meat Market” by 28.13% and
“Charlie Corona” by 54.10% in the six
month period that we worked with them.
By Alejandro Ramirez
SIFE TAMIU
I-Transgreen
Factors Addressed 1,2,3 Students Involved 7 People Impacted 180,000 customers, 67 employees Hours Contributed 322 Audience El Mercado Meat
Market and Charlie’s Corona Outcome Monthly savings of 1,122 watts or 28.13% savings in electric bill at El Mercado Meat Market, and
54.1% savings in Electric Bill in Charlie’s Corona
PhotoByHectorMartinezSIFETAMIU
Linda Mercado and Javier Mendoza putting light
bulbs at Charlie’s Corona.
Need
According to the
Bureau of Labor
Statistics in 2009,
T h e N a t i o n a l
unemployment rate
for people with
disabilities was
14.3% compared to
9.5% for people
without disabilities.
With approximately
30,000 citizens
c o p i n g w i t h
disabilities in Laredo,
SIFE-TAMIU is
determined to clear
out the stigma that
has been created
a g a i n s t t h e s e
particular individuals.
This is the second
year that the project
is being conducted.
PhotoByHectorMartinezSIFETAMIU
Objectives
UDS is a project developed to
improve the life of individuals
with disabilities and business
owners by introducing potential
employees that tend to be ignored.
This is the second phase for the
project and SIFE-TAMIU wanted
to focus on helping people with
disabilities by giving them the
skills to have a successful
college experience and obtain a
job. Some of the topics covered in
the workshop were: resume
building, interviewing skills,
networking skills, special
accommodations available for
them, among others.
Results
In total there were 15
participants that directly benefit
from the workshop. Participants
rated the workshop as 4.75 in a
scale from 1 to 5, 5 being the
highest as to their likelihood of
participating again and the benefits
they received from it.
By Erik Villa
SIFE TAMIU
Understanding Disability Success
Factors Addressed 2 Students Involved 3 People Impacted 15 College Students Hours Contributed 132 Audience TAMIU Students Outcome Workshop
Rated as 4.75 in a scale from 1-5, 5 being the highest
SIFE TAMIU2010-2011
David Chapa and Miguel Chavez working with Gigi
Ramos at her thrift store.
PhotobyNohemiBasurtoSIFETAMIU

2. Texas A&M International University
Students In Free Enterprise
History
7th
Edition
C h a n g i n g t h e W O R L D o n e p r o j e c t a t a t i m e .C h a n g i n g t h e W O R L D o n e p r o j e c t a t a t i m e .C h a n g i n g t h e W O R L D o n e p r o j e c t a t a t i m e .
Founded in 1970 and added to
The Texas A&M University System
in 1989, Texas A&M International
University has been preparing its
students to meet the challenges of
an increasingly complex and
culturally diverse world.
The largest in-land port of the
United States is home to an
institution ahead of educating a
large percentage of international
students.
TAMIU Students In Free
Enterprise (SIFE) recognizes the
needs and challenges in Laredo,
the surrounding communities,
and the world.
2010—2011 Annual Report
Truly ―International‖
By Carla Solis
SIFE TAMIU
SIFE-TAMIU was
founded in 2004 with
only 7 members.
Seven years later, in
2011 our team has
grown to 34 members
from 10 field majors
and 3 countries.
Throughout the
years, SIFE-TAMIU
has prepared its
members for leadership
positions through the
p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n
equality programs.
SIFE–TAMIU makes
use of Laredo’s border
location to create
innovative projects that
empower, educate and
enhance the quality of
life of our culturally
diverse community.
Education
Sky-Rocketed Since 2004
By Rene Rodriquez
SIFE TAMIU
Photo By Daniel E. Tijerina SIFE TAMIU
SIFE TAMIU members at their first Business Advisory Board Meeting of the year.
“For the resolute and determined there is always time and
opportunity.”
By Ralph W. Emerson
T h i s Ye a r I n R e v i e wT h i s Ye a r I n R e v i e wT h i s Ye a r I n R e v i e w
Project Summary
Criteria
Project
Economic Community Environment
UDS
I-Transgreen
The Bazaar
VSTN
Media
(as of March 15, 2011)
Magazines 5,000
Radio Stations 27,000
Television 30,000
Websites 6,691
Presentations 1,266
Total Media Hits
69,957
Financial Statement
2010-2011 Income
Balance Forward
From 2009-2010 $ 3,552.38
Prizes from
Competition
$ 4,000.00
Grants
$ 1,250.00
Donations $ 3,473.98
Total Income $ 12,276.36
2010-2011 Expenses
Project Expenses
$ 1,410.47
Travel Expenses $ 5,419.38
Supplies
Expenses $ 6.40
Miscellaneous
Expenses $ 572.30
Total Expenses $ 2,698.65
Balance Forward
to 2011-2012 $ 9,577.71
Dr. Stephen Sears
Dean, TAMIU A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of
Business
Dr. Andres Rivas
Sam Walton Fellow
Edwin I. Martinez
President, SIFE-TAMIU
2010-2011 In Summary
Total Number of Members 34
Total Number of Projects 4
Total Hours Involved 1,632
People Impacted 185,537
Business Advisory Board
Pablo Arenaz
Texas A&M International University
Denise Bazan
Vamp Ultra Lounge & Café
Alicia Carrillo
United Independent School District
Larry Chavana
JC Penney
Miguel Conchas
Laredo Chamber of Commerce
Judith Garcia
United Independent School District
Gerardo Gonzalez
Amparts International
Jorge Gonzalez
Falcon Bank Insurance Agency
Candy Hein
Texas A&M International University
Juan Hinojosa
Sam’s Club
Ray Keck
Texas A&M International University
Javier Moctezuma
Laredo Federal Credit Union
Clema Owens
Embassy Suites
Minita Ramirez
Texas A&M International University
Stephen Sears
Texas A&M International University
Marty Speer
Chick-Fil-A
“Considering the relevant economic, social, and environmental factors,
which SIFE team most effectively empowered people in need by applying
business and economic concepts and an entrepreneurial approach to