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Swedish man: McAllen Needs 3 Things

Friday, September 4th, 2009


Finn Johnsson and George Ramon

ANECDOTE

 

By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez

A few years ago I had the unique opportunity to interview an interesting businessman who visited our area in May 2007. He is one who makes appointments six months in advance and has extensive work experience as President and CEO for multinational companies.

When I met him he was the Chairman of Volvo AB, a holding company of Volvo Aero Corporation since February 3, 2004, and still is today.

The man I am referring to is Finn Johnsson, who came to McAllen/Reynosa for two days and was gracious enough to accept a request to be interviewed by Texas Border Business (TBB) and Mega Metropolis (MM).

His trip had a purpose and that was to check on his investment, UNOMEDICAL, which has a Maquila in Reynosa and a parent company on South Ware Rd. in McAllen. He was familiar with Texas and had visited the state years ago when he was an honorary guest of the late Ann Richards former governor of Texas.

Johnsson is easy to spot; he is tall man, about 6.4”, discrete and down to earth, perhaps a base ingredient of his global success.

A bridge, more air connections, and a superhighway

 

When I meet someone of Johnsson’s caliber, I always ask their point of view about our area and what are we missing. Johnsson saw a unique city in McAllen, with an economic boom that is obvious to all visitors. However, he felt that the city needed more air connections, and major roads to connect to a superhighway. In his opinion, one major problem is the border crossing. “It takes a lot of time and emotions out of people in just crossing the bridge either way,” he said.

His first comment was about the awful lines on the bridge, back then, when he visited, the SENTRI program was only a project and not yet in service. Johnsson had no chance to use it. He would be satisfied to know the SENTRI line is now in service; unfortunately not everyone can use it, so we have only partial benefits.

However, he would be very happy to know that in this year, if nothing changes, we will be inaugurating the new Anzalduas Bridge in November, as reported to Texas Border Business by George Ramon, Bridge Director.

So with the new bridge and the SENTRI program, we have accomplished one of his three observations. Now we need to work on more air connections and that’s something that the City of McAllen is working on.

A City survey was posted at www.mcallenairport.com in June of 2008, which asked travelers which airlines and travel destinations they'd like to see added to McAllen-Miller International Airport. The survey was to collect data on flyers' travel patterns to share with prospective airlines who may be considering setting up service here, this according to Mathew Van Valkenburgh, Deputy Director of the Department of Aviation. At the start of the project, airport officials hoped that at least 700 people would take the survey. The survey ended around the middle of August and was sent for interpretation of the results.

Johnsson’s third observation is for us to be able to connect our roads to a superhighway, and that is coming too. I must add that the connections to a superhighway will take a little longer to accomplish, but state and federal legislators and cities are working diligently to get it done.

Oh! I almost forgot, he said that the range of different manufacturers that have been attracted to the cities of McAllen/Reynosa impressed him. In addition, he commended the quality of the workforce, adding that it is educated, loyal and committed, “and with a huge drive to move upwards.” TBB

The Anecdote column is an original creation of Publisher Roberto Hugo Gonzalez and the space is also available for readers use. You mcan reach him at robertohgonzalez@sbcglobal.net

 

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