Member News

July 2026 Before we won the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Veteran-Owned Business of the Year award, we were already working hard. Like so many entrepreneurs, we were building, testing ideas, taking risks, and wondering if we were moving in the right direction. The award didn't suddenly make us successful. It gave others permission to see what we had already been building. For a small business, credibility is currency. Recognition opens doors that are often difficult to open alone. One introduction becomes another. One opportunity leads to another. Before long, you're no longer chasing work-you've positioned yourself to be trusted with it. That has certainly been true for us. Over the last year, The Colao Group has become more focused than ever. We refined our brand, clarified our direction, and aligned our work around the services where we create the greatest impact: economic development, cultural placemaking, strategic marketing, event production, community engagement, and destination experiences. Our new identity isn't simply a logo. It reflects who we've become as a company. That clarity has translated into opportunity. 

June 2026 Wild Pony Hat Bar, San Antonio's experiential custom hat brand is proud to announce the opening at its newest location inside the historic Basila Frocks building on the city's west side. The new storefront will officially welcome guests beginning June 27, 2026, brining together creativity, craftsmanship, and community in one of San Antonio's most meaningful revitalization projects. Founded by Casey Russell, Wild Pony Hat Bar was built on the belief that what we wear tells a story - and that the experiences we share while creating those pieces matter just as much as the finished product. After spending more than fifteen years in corporate leadership with companies including Nike and Boeing, Russell made the leap into entrepreneurship to build something rooted in human connection. What began as a mobile hat experience has grown into a thriving San Antonio business serving everyone from luxury resorts and corporate conferences to weddings, festivals, and neighborhood gatherings. Today, Wild Pony enters its next chapter. "Opening at Basila Frocks isn't just about expanding our business. It's about becoming part of something much bigger. The West side has rich history of resilience, creativity, entrepreneurship, and pride. We are honored to plant roots in a place that has always represented community and opportunity, and we are committed to serving the people who call this neighborhood home." - Casey Russell, Founder & CEO, Wild Pony Hat Bar Originally Built in 1929, Basila Frocks has been thoughtfully restored as mixed-use destination dedicated to preserving history while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs and community programming. The building's revival reflects the same values that have guided Wild Pony since its founding: authenticity, creativity, inclusion, and kindness. At the new location, guests will be invited to do more than simply purchase a hat. They will be welcomed into a space designed for gathering, storytelling, and self-expression. Visitors can customize cowboy hats and flat brims through hat shaping, branding, accessories, and personalized styling while participating in workshops, community events, family experiences, and celebrations that bring people together.

King’s Tavern hosts watch parties, a ticket giveaway courtesy of Michelob ULTRA, and special guest Marco Fabián throughout June and July

Why San Antonio is Winning the "Gold Mine" but Losing its Human Edge.

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce congratulates longtime community partners San Antonio Water System and The Eatery Culinary Group on the renewal of their food service partnership for an additional three-year term. This continued collaboration highlights the power of investing in local, woman-owned businesses and demonstrates how strong partnerships can create lasting impact across our community. Owned and operated by Denise and Mark Hernandez, The Eatery Culinary Group has become a trusted culinary partner for major institutions across Texas while remaining deeply rooted in San Antonio’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The renewed agreement with SAWS reflects a shared commitment to innovation, resilience, and supporting the local economy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the partnership evolved to meet the moment by transforming the on-site café into a micro market serving SAWS employees with essential household and food items during a time of uncertainty. The collaboration helped sustain operations and preserve jobs while continuing to serve the community. Today, The Eatery Culinary Group continues to grow its footprint with partnerships that include University Health, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio ISD, and Baylor University.  We applaud both organizations for demonstrating how local partnerships can strengthen workforce opportunities, support small business growth, and move San Antonio forward.

For years, many of our members have asked about closer regional alignment between SABOR and the Four Rivers Association of REALTORS®. The Boards of Directors for both SABOR and Four Rivers have formally approved and signed a strategic merger agreement to unify our associations, pending member approval and National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) ratification. This milestone follows thoughtful discussion, evaluation and strategic planning by leadership from both organizations. We believe this proposed merger represents a strong opportunity to enhance member value, expand our regional footprint and strengthen the REALTOR® voice across Central and South Texas.

 We are proud to celebrate a major achievement within our leadership community. Our Board Member, Jennifer Delgado , has been recognized as the 8(a) Graduate of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration San Antonio District. This honor is awarded to a business leader who has successfully completed the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program and demonstrated exceptional growth, resilience, and impact along the way. Jennifer’s recognition reflects not only her strategic leadership and business success, but also her commitment to creating opportunities, building capacity, and contributing to the broader economic landscape. Jennifer will be recognized as part of National Small Business Week (May 4–10, 2026), a nationwide celebration that highlights the critical role small businesses play in driving innovation, job creation, and economic growth across the country. The U.S. Small Business Administration San Antonio District will host its local awards celebration on May 7, honoring outstanding entrepreneurs and business leaders who are making a meaningful impact in our region. As a member of our Board, Jennifer brings insight, leadership, and a strong commitment to supporting business growth and community advancement. Her recognition is a reflection of the values we champion—leadership, impact, and continued investment in the success of our business community. We extend our congratulations to Jennifer on this well-deserved honor and look forward to celebrating her continued success.

By Laura Flores Simmons, Wells Fargo Commercial Banking, Texas Division Sales Executive As we enter 2026, U.S. middle market companies are doing more than turning the page on last year—they are repositioning for growth. According to the National Center for the Middle Market’s Q4 2025 Middle Market Indicator , the sector closed the year with renewed momentum, posting year-over-year revenue growth of 11.7% and seeing 85% of companies report higher revenues for the year. That rebound, combined with renewed willingness to invest, sets the stage for a year defined less by recovery and more by opportunity. While employment growth remained muted at 7.8%, below post-pandemic averages, the gap between revenue growth and hiring highlights a possible characteristic for 2026: innovation led growth. Middle market leaders are leaning into technology, capital discipline, and talent development to do more with existing resources. The question for business leaders is no longer whether change is coming—it is how to lead confidently through it. Three priorities stand out as Texas based companies prepare for the year ahead. First, financial readiness has become a strategic advantage. The NCMM data shows that companies are once again more inclined to invest incremental dollars back into the business rather than hold excess cash, signaling confidence in growth opportunities. In this environment, stress-testing balance sheets, modeling best- and worst-case scenarios, and ensuring credit structures can flex with demand are no longer defensive exercises—they are essential tools for strategic decision-making. Businesses that understand their liquidity position and financing options will be better positioned to move quickly when opportunities arise. Second, innovation is shifting from experimentation to execution. Artificial intelligence has emerged as the leading destination for investment dollars in the middle market, with 53% of companies planning near-term investments in intelligence tools—up sharply from mid-year. Digital transformation has also climbed the list of top strategic priorities as companies look to improve productivity and save time. In 2026, success could be determined by a company’s ability to innovate with intention: integrating AI and automation into core workflows, aligning technology investments with measurable returns, and strengthening cybersecurity as digital exposure expands. Third, talent remains the linchpin of successful transformation. Although companies report less difficulty finding qualified workers than in prior years, the need for upskilling has never been greater. As AI and automation reshape roles, investing in employee development is critical to sustaining productivity and engagement. Organizations with formal training programs consistently outperform peers, generating higher income per employee and stronger profit margins. In 2026, empowering employees with the skills to adopt new tools may be just as important as the tools themselves. Taken together, the NCMM’s Q4 2025 findings paint a clear picture of the year ahead. Despite uncertainty, the middle market is leaning into technology and focusing on strategic growth. Companies that strengthen financial readiness, innovate purposefully, and invest in their people should be well positioned to lead with confidence in 2026.

Teatro Audaz Executive and Artistic Director Laura T. Garza is pretty sure she'll be at least a little bit teary when she announces the troupe's lineup for its 10th season at a gala this weekend. She usually gets emotional on evenings like that. But this time, she's likely to shed a few happy tears because she'll be making the announcement in the company's first home. The troupe is settling into new digs at SAY Sí, where it will be based for the next year. The company has office and rehearsal space of its own, which it has never had before. And it will share the youth arts company's black box theater, which is home to the ALAS Youth Theatre Company. "This is such a huge step," said Garza, who co-founded and also acts and directs for the company. "Basically, it's like we were renting before, and right now it feels like a home. Which is nice." She and her company mates will show it off to the public for the first time at the Jan. 10 gala at SAY Sí, 1310 S. Brazos. In addition to the season announcement, the fundraiser will include live entertainment, food and drink. Tickets range from $25 to $50 at teatroaudaz.com. Being on the West Side squares with the company's focus on Latino and other underrepresented voices. FLASHBACK: Teatro Audaz aims to tell Latino stories "It really makes sense because of the the patrons that we serve and the demographic that we serve, the community that we serve," Garza said. Teatro Audaz' space is right off the main entrance to the sprawling campus. The company's roomy new home includes a desk for Company Manager Angie Flores and a small office for Garza. A lounge area will serve as a green room during productions, and there also is a large area perfect for rehearsals. It opens into the theater, a versatile space that can be configured in a variety of ways. The partnership is slated to last for a year, but Garza is hopeful that things go well enough to extend it at least a few years beyond that. She also hopes that being in one place will allow the company to have the bandwidth for a capital campaign to eventually land a space that is all theirs. "Being here gives us that much more stability to be able to to to focus our strengths and our energy into the programming, into helping artists with resources and all those things that that I know that they need but we couldn't do before," she said. Amalia Ortiz, SAY Sí's theatre arts studio director, is excited that students will get an up-close look at how Teatro Audaz works, which aligns with the program's mission. "We are rooted in the West Side. The majority of our students are Mexican American, so a part of our curriculum has always been rooted in teaching students the history of Mexican American theater," Ortiz said. "Many of our students are getting a lot of the idea of mainstream American theater. I'm super excited to have a theater that is going to be also showing them other possibilities." Ortiz is also hoping that the company will help bring some needed exposure to SAY Sí's relatively new home. The program moved to the West Side in 2021. "I feel like there were people more familiar with our old space," she said. "It was in that busy area where we would have First Friday foot traffic. We're missing that here on the West Side. "I'm excited that a theater that has its own reputation of excellent theater is going to be bringing in new audiences into our space and that their talent is going to be available here to the West Side communities." FLASHBACK: SAY Sí preps for move to the West Side Teatro Audaz has been a nomadic company since it launched in 2016. Its first full production was a memorable staging of the contemporary nativity play "La Pastorela" at the San Antonio Mennonite Church. From there, the troupe has tackled a diverse range of shows - full plays, one-acts, 10-minute plays, festivals, sketch comedy, works-in-progress, a musical and a serial - in spaces all over town. They've played at San Antonio College, the University of Texas at San Antonio Arts Cube, the Carver Community Cultural Center, Woodlawn Pointe, the Overtime Theater, the downstairs space at The Public Theater of San Antonio (now the San Pedro Playhouse), the Bang Bang Bar and the Rah! Rah! Room. All of that moving around has been difficult. But there were positive aspects to it, too. It gave the company's leadership insight into how a lot of different kinds of companies operate. That gave them ideas on potential approaches that they might want to duplicate. "While it has been challenging for us to move around, we've also been lucky to move around," said Garza, who also teaches in the theater department at San Antonio College. "They pick my brain, I pick theirs. It's been really great." She expects being in one place to be better. They no longer have to spend money on storage spaces, since they now have room for merchandise, props, lumber and other production supplies. And they'll be able to stage fundraisers and other events in their own place. They also will be able to rehearse and perform under the same roof, something they haven't been able to do before.  ."We've always been official, but it feels like we're officially official now," said Garza, welling up. "We have a home. It's almost surreal that we've been an establishment for 10 years now. "Usually, I feel like it went by so fast. And we still have so much to do. I'm looking forward to the next 10 years and the next 10 years."