About Us

RGVAN Paving the Path to Success

About Us: Welcome

RGVAN

RGVAN was founded in the summer of 2015 by local investors, educators and community leaders, who believed that early-stage investing could provide a meaningful return for investors while also spurring local economic growth. Under the direction of Dr. Mark Kroll, the then Dean of the College of Business at UT Brownsville and Laurie Simmons, former Director of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund’s Tropical Texas Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization, the idea was presented to community leaders. With ten founding members and some seed money from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, RGVAN was formed.

About Us: Text

Mission

The Rio Grande Valley Angel Network (RGVAN) will spark economic growth in the region by connecting investment ready startups with seed funding through our accredited angel investor network.

Vision

Through our efforts, we seek to be a key source for funding and educational resources for entrepreneurs and a platform of meaningful investment opportunities for our members.

Who We Are

RGVAN is an organization that provides a platform for entrepreneurs to access capital and for Angel Investors to invest in scalable enterprises. RGVAN strives to impact the economic prosperity of the Rio Grande Valley and develop an entrepreneurial culture in the region.

Management

RGVAN is an independent member-based organization. RGVAN has a part-time Executive Director, and a fully engaged volunteer Board of Directors and leadership committees whose time, effort, and involvement allow RGVAN to fulfill its mission for investors and entrepreneurs.

About Us: Services

Board of Directors

Investing in Entrepreneurship

John F. Martin

Chairman

John Martin is a familiar face in south Texas to anyone talking finance, conservation or education. John holds an MBA, has taught university finance and marketing and spent over 25 years as a financial consultant.

Carlos M. Marin, Ph.D., P.E. President and CEO

Treasurer

Dr. Marin has over twenty-five years of consulting experience in helping both private and public sector clients identify cost-effective strategies for infrastructure management and development.

William Bradley (Brad) Wolfe

Boardmember

William “Brad” Wolfe received a B.A. in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin in 1988, and immediately returned to Brownsville, joining the family business of NovaLink, Inc., as General Manager.

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About Us: Team Members

Dr. Mark Joseph Kroll

Boardmember

Mark Kroll is professor of entrepreneurship at UT Rio Grande Valley’s Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship. He previously served as Dean of the Vackar College of Business

Gregory S. Rowin, DO

Boardmember

Greg Rowin, D.O., of Harlingen, is an active otolaryngologist at Valley Ears, Nose and Throat incorporated. He has been there for the last 25 years and he is the past managing partner of this nine-physician, single specialty practice.

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Laurie Simmons

Executive Director

Laurie Simmons serves as the Director for the Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) at the College of Business and Entrepreneurship at UTRGV.

About Us: Team Members