Spamer: Keith Patridge is the rock star. The rest of us are just groupies.

MCALLEN, Texas – CIL Group founder and CEO Joaquin Spamer says he learned everything about economic development from Keith Patridge.

Patridge, the longtime president of McAllen Economic Development Corporation, recently announced his retirement. A retirement party is being held for him at the MEDC offices on June 20, starting at 4:00 p.m.

Spamer gave his views on Patridge in a podcast with the Rio Grande Guardian. Asked by anchor Mark Hanna what Patridge’s legacy would be, Spamer said:

“I started working with Keith when I became an advisory board member of McAllen EDC about 14 years ago. And I can say that everything I know about economic development was basically taught to me by Keith Patridge.

“I say Keith is the rock star and we all are the groupies. No, I like him a lot. He has been extremely helpful for my business. A lot of the things we do is basically follow his vision. He has been great for the City of McAllen, great for Hidalgo County and great for the Rio Grande Valley. I hope he keeps visiting us here in the Valley and I wish the very best for him.”

Hanna pointed out to Spamer that another leader in the McAllen community is also retiring. Namely, McAllen City Manager Roel ‘Roy’ Rodriguez.

“That’s another big loss for the city,” Spamer said. “Roy Rodriguez, he is great. I mean, he’s a great city manager, probably a great person. A very hard-working individual. Every time that I have had the pleasure of working with him, he has been… the outcome has been extremely positive. I hope the city can find someone as big as him to replace him in his position.”

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