Alumni Entrepreneurs Honored with UTEP’s Miner Business Impact Awards
Awards celebrate fastest-growing businesses, extraordinary partners
EL PASO, Texas (May 29, 2026) – From a welding company that manufactures parts for spaceships and satellites to a culinary institute that enrolls hundreds of students nationwide, graduates of The JAVÃûÅ®ÓÅ¹Ý of Texas at El Paso have gone on to build some remarkable businesses.
For the second year in a row, UTEP recognized the fastest-growing alumni businesses and leading corporate and organization partners that have made a significant impact on the economy and JAVÃûÅ®ÓŹÝ. Recipients were celebrated at St. Roger’s Depot on Thursday evening during the Miner Business Impact Awards ceremony.
"The Miner Business Impact Awards highlight the best of UTEP — our alumni entrepreneurs and business leaders who are driving economic growth and creating jobs,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “The trailblazers we are honoring generated nearly $2 billion in revenue over the last three years.”
This year, 15 honorees received the Miner Business Trailblazer Award for having the fastest-growing businesses. Awardees represent a wide range of UTEP degrees and programs, reflecting alumni success across industries like energy, healthcare, law, engineering and entertainment. Collectively, these alumni-led businesses employ more than 2,100 individuals and have generated over $1.8 billion in revenue in the last three years.
UTEP also recognized outstanding corporate partners with the Partner in Prosperity Award and Presidential Gold Bar Award, which are presented to organizations that have furthered the JAVÃûÅ®ÓŹݒs mission and positively impacted the community. The Partner in Prosperity Award honors corporate partners that advance UTEP’s mission by supporting student success, investing philanthropically and strengthening the health, culture and economy of the El Paso region. The 2026 Partner in Prosperity Award was presented to JAVÃûÅ®ÓÅ¹Ý Medical Center of El Paso (UMC).
“For decades, UMC and UTEP have shared a common purpose: to serve people of El Paso through education, innovation and compassion,” said Jacob Cintron, president and CEO of El Paso County Hospital District and a UTEP alumnus. “By creating a stronger healthcare pipeline in partnership with UTEP, we are investing in the long-term health of our region. We want to ensure students who begin their healthcare journey at UTEP can build meaningful careers in their own community without having to leave the city.”
The Presidential Gold Bar Award, UTEP’s highest distinction for organizations or individuals, honors those who have made a transformative and lasting impact on the UTEP community and the El Paso region at large. The 2026 Presidential Gold Bar was presented to the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration (SME).
“Receiving the Presidential Gold Bar Award is a tremendous honor, and it means all the more given the context in which it is being presented,” said Mary Korpi, president of SME. “What makes the UTEP partnership so special is the convergence of so many things SME cares about: honoring the history of mining education in this country, expanding access to the profession and responding urgently to a real workforce crisis facing our industry."
SME was recognized for its extraordinary support of the re-launch of UTEP’s mining engineering program.
This year’s Miner Business Impact Awards are made possible through the generosity and support of GECU, El Paso Inc., El Paso Electric, ADP and KPMG.
MINER BUSINESS TRAILBLAZER AWARD RECIPIENTS
Airport Printing Service
Alumni: Mike McCorgary, President, BBA in Finance ’93
About: Airport Printing Service offers digital and offset printing to businesses, handling everything from large-scale commercial printing projects to direct mail, custom packaging and more.
All That Music and Video
Alumni: George Reynoso, President/Owner Operator, B.A. in Broadcasting ’77
About: What started as a small neighborhood shop with 500 used records and a love for music has transformed into a thriving location at the Fountains at Farah that is keeping the demand for physical media alive and well in the El Paso region.
CEA Group
Alumni: Ruben Chavez, Principal/Co-Founder, B.S. in Civil Engineering ’95, 2025 Gold Nugget Recipient; Ulises Estrada, Principal/Co-Founder, B.S. in Civil Engineering ’95; Frank Corral, Principal, B.S. in Civil Engineering ’01; Jorge Grajeda, Principal, B.S. in Civil Engineering ’09
About: Specializing in planning, design and construction management, CEA Group is a leading civil engineering firm with 56 employees. The firm offers public and private sector design services in transportation, water and land development throughout the Southwest.
Commercial Screenprinting, Inc.
Alumni: Crystal Bocanegra, Vice President of Operations/Co-Owner, BMS in Multidisciplinary Studies ’09; Dawn Maniates, Director of Sales, BBA in Management ’99
About: Family-owned and founded in El Paso in 1987, Commercial Screenprinting Inc. provides screen printing, embroidery, print and promotional products to clients locally and nationwide.
Culinary Institute, Inc.
Alumni: Arturo Cervantes, DBA, President, B.A. in Spanish ’76
About: This Houston-based institution provides degrees, certifications and diploma programs in culinary arts, hospitality and restaurant management, serving students and U.S. veterans nationwide so that graduates can have successful careers in the culinary world.
Dynamic Fabrication, Inc.
Alumni: Andrew Crook, President, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering ’00; Olga Garcia Crook, Controller/Operations, B.A. in English & American Literature ’96
About: Dynamic Fabrication Inc. is a certified aerospace welder and custom metal manufacturer that makes high-quality parts for planes, satellites, rockets and more for national aerospace and defense clients like Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and SpaceX.
El Paso Del Norte Advisors
Alumni: Felix Holguin, Co-Founder, BBA in Finance ’01; Victor De La Rosa, Co-Founder, BBA in Computer Information Systems ’01
About: El Paso Del Norte Advisors serves the El Paso community by helping individuals and families navigate health insurance options through education and guidance — at no cost to the client.
Keystone GC, LLC
Alumni: Francisco Guillen, President, B.S. in Civil Engineering ’97
About: Keystone Contractors and Engineers has 48 employees and specializes in federal, commercial and residential construction with experience in schools, municipal projects like road construction and sidewalks, multi-family developments and industrial facilities.
Pinkie’s, Inc.
Alumni: Austin Keith, President/Owner, BSED in Physical Education ’77
About: Purchased by UTEP alumnus Austin Keith in 1998, Pinkie’s Inc. is a chain of liquor stores with 180 employees. Pinkie’s has remained a trusted regional brand serving West Texas for over 90 years with locations in Abilene, Lubbock, Amarillo, San Angelo and beyond.
Spectrum Therapy Consultants
Alumni: Sandra Terrazas, Founder/Director of Operations, M.S. in Kinesiology ’05
About: Spectrum Therapy Consultants offers pediatric, speech and occupational therapy, as well as rehab services in El Paso, Horizon and Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo. It comprises 65 employees and eight outpatient clinics, with two additional clinics scheduled to open in El Paso’s Eastside in 2026.
Square Communications, LLC
Alumni: Marisol Trevino, Founder/CEO, BBA in Marketing ’08, BBA in Accounting ’14, 2025 Miner Business Trailblazer Honoree
About: A full-service marketing agency known for its excellence, transparency and creativity, Square Communications specializes in reaching Hispanic audiences. This is the second year the company is named a Miner Business Trailblazer Award recipient.
The Intelligent Office
Alumni: Alice Hughes, Founder, BFA in Studio Art Sculpture ’98; Dax Hughes, Co-Owner, MBA ’07; Bradley Hughes, Co-Owner, BBA in Management ’89
About: The Intelligent Office provides virtual office solutions and professional business services like phone answering, appointment scheduling and providing secure offices to entrepreneurs and small businesses—helping clients maintain a polished presence while adapting to the needs of a growing operation.
Valenzuela Law Firm
Alumni: Felix Valenzuela, Founding Attorney, B.A. in Political Science ’03
About: Valenzuela Law Firm is a criminal defense firm specializing in complex state and federal matters, putting forth a strong defense when the stakes are high. The law firm has a strong portfolio of cases that have garnered national media attention.
Windstar LPG, Inc.
Alumni: Marco Zaragoza, CEO, BBA in Finance ’05
About: Windstar LPG Inc. is an established energy company specializing in trade, storage, transportation and distribution of propane and refined fuels between the U.S. and Mexico. With more than 20 years of experience and 1,500 employees, Windstar combines wholesale and retail distribution expertise with strong international trade capabilities and maintains a significant share of Mexico’s fuel import market.
Yagel Therapy Services
Alumni: Claudia Yagel, CEO, MOT in Occupational Therapy ’11
About: Yagel Therapy Services is a woman-owned pediatric therapy provider specializing in occupational, speech and physical therapy for children and families throughout the El Paso community.
Last Updated on May 29, 2026 at 12:00 AM | Originally published May 29, 2026
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
