Duncan Wood to speak at this year’s MxLAN International Economic Summit

MCALLEN, Texas – Dr. Duncan Wood, an expert on supply chain policy, critical minerals geopolitics, and U.S.-Mexican political relations, is coming back to the Rio Grande Valley to give a keynote presentation.

Wood is currently a senior advisor to the Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute. However, in July he takes over as president and chief executive of The Pacific Council on International Policy, a membership-based organization based in Los Angeles that focuses on global issues.

As he did in 2023, Wood will give a keynote presentation at this year’s MxLAN International Economic Summit, hosted by the City of McAllen.

The summit will explore key economic insights from top international advisors and leaders from the U.S. and Mexico. It takes place at the McAllen Convention Center on May 3.

The other keynote presentations will be given by Dr. Belinda Román, associate professor of economics at St. Mary’s University, and Erika Martínez Mott, director general at Mexico City-based Grupo Estrategia Politica.

The MxLAN International Economic Summit will run from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on May 3.

The summit will start with a panel of higher education leaders – Dr. Guy Bailey, president of UT-Rio Grande Valley, Dr. Rodney H. Rodriguez, vice president for institutional advancement and economic development at South Texas College, and Many Vela, associate vice president and COO for Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen. The title of the panel is “Investing in Educated Human Capital.” The moderator is Julian Alvarez, vice president and director of community relations for Lone Star National Bank.

“I’m excited to be participating with a panel of experts in higher ed. We’re going to talk a little bit about some of the new innovative things that are underway in higher education and some of the future expansions that are taking place,” Alvarez told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.

Following the higher education panel will a discussion among bank leaders in the region. The title of the panel is “Future of Banking.” The panel will consist of Larry C. Gonzalez, Upper Valley president for Plains Capital Bank, Adrian Villarreal, president and CEO of IBC Bank McAllen, Victor ‘Seby’ Haddad, executive vice president and chief lending officer for Lone Star National Bank, and R. Rene Avila, executive vice president and COO of Texas Regional Bank. This panel will be moderated by Ron Garza, associate vice president for workforce and economic development at UTRGB.

Next up will be the keynote economic presentations from Román, Martínez Mott, and Wood.

The summit will conclude with a luncheon, during which Román, Martínez Mott, and Wood will discuss the regional economic future. This discussion is titled “An insightful discussion on economic trends, geopolitical aspects, & U.S.-Mexico relations.”

Lone Star National Bank’s Alvarez said he is impressed with the lineup for the summit.

“My hat’s off to the City of McAllen, to the Chamber of Commerce, and all the event organizers. They have pulled in great speakers from the financial world, higher ed, and international relations. People are hungry for information, and there will be great information provided at this summit.”

Editor’s Note: Click here for more information about the MxLAN International Economic Summit. Or call: (956) 681-1001.

The post Duncan Wood to speak at this year’s MxLAN International Economic Summit appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.