NASA marketing specialist offers advice on how best to promote the Rio Grande Valley

MISSION, Texas - How do Rio Grande Valley leaders best get the word out that SpaceX launches rockets from their region, not Florida. That was a question posed to Walt Ugalde, who is part of NASA’s technology transfer expansion program at the Johnson Space Center. Ugalde gave an in-depth presentation on the work of NASA at an event hosted by the Council for South Texas Economic Prosperity (COSTEP). The event was held at the Center for Education & Economic Development in Mission.In his presentation, Ugalde said he has specialized in the past in marketing. So, the Rio Grande Guardian thought it appropriate to ask him to address a conundrum private sector leaders like Joaquin Spamer have found in the past.Spamer has said he has gone abroad to promote the region and when he has told prospective investors that SpaceX is in the Valley, he has been shocked to find those prospective investors say no, SpaceX is in Florida.SpaceX is one NASA’s biggest private sector partners. It launches rockets from its facility at Boca Chica, near Brownsville, Texas.Here is an audio recording of Ugalde’s response to the Guardian’s question. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.