La'Queena Gonzales has been doing hair for 20 years, but opening her salon came after a coincidental encounter at the carwash with her grandmother eight years ago.  "This man pulled up next to her that she knew and she said this is my granddaughter, she's a beautician," Gonzales said. "He was like, really? I have a building that used to be a salon that no one's in right now." In this episode of Commerce Street, a podcast from KENS 5, we talk to Gonzales about an innovative new idea to expand her business as well as being chosen to receive coaching, support and funding from the Maestro Center. We also spoke to the Executive Director of the Maestro Center on how a new program is helping the community and economy of San Antonio.

Commerce Street: A KENS 5 Podcast

Business program offers coaching & up to $20k to help SA businesses start or grow

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is the nation's oldest and largest organization of its kind, making its mark in the Alamo City by advocating for small businesses, fostering relationships, and spotlighting local successes. In a new episode of Commerce Street, an Eyewitness News Original podcast, KENS 5 spoke with Marina Gonzales, President and CEO of SAHCC and the owner of one of the chamber's client businesses, Mexico Lindo, a restaurant that opened during the pandemic.

‘Something unique to San Antonio‘ | How the nation‘s largest Hispanic Chamber says SA can support local businesses

Cynthia Watson's new role as CEO for the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind is bringing her career full circle -- and giving her the chance to amplify a mission she's incredibly passionate about. In this episode of Commerce Street, an Eyewitness News Original podcast, KENS 5 spoke with Watson about her personal and professional journey as well as an employee who is thriving under the Lighthouse's manufacturing department.

‘Dream the unimaginable‘ | New SA Lighthouse CEO on nonprofit‘s mission & her own full circle story

As a rise in severe COVID cases fills hospital beds across South Texas, emergency rooms are also being impacted both by an increase in patients and the wait times needed for those who must be transferred to longer term or specialized care. In an new episode of Commerce Street, an Eyewitness News Original podcast, KENS 5 spoke with the head of a major hospital's emergency department about the increase in both COVID patients and non COVID patients. KENS 5 also spoke with staff from freestanding ERs in the surrounding areas about how those businesses are filling the gap in patient care.

How freestanding ERs are filling the gap in patient care during COVID surge

"Are you in a situation to be able to compete in this market?"  That's the question that realtor Sarah Briseno Gerrish says every first-time homebuyer needs to ask themselves in a real estate market where homes have been getting harder to find for about the last two years. In this episode of Commerce Street, a KENS 5 original business podcast, experts talked about how the "seller's market" is affecting rent and mortgage assistance programs, how first-time home buyers can still get the house of their dreams and the benefits of buying a home right now. Full story here.

Buying or renting? Either way, the demand for homes is affecting your wallet

Education, trades and healthcare are just some of the huge industries in San Antonio that are hiring right now. The pandemic put a pause on services and hiring in many companies, but things are roaring back to life in 2021 and there are thousands of job openings. On Commerce Street, a podcast from KENS 5, a series of episodes is taking a closer look at some of the companies urgently in need of staff and some of the incentives or bonuses they are offering.

Jobs in healthcare, education and trades up for grabs in San Antonio

Hundreds of San Antonio employers are hiring and the job market is booming. For people who lost their jobs during the pandemic, or who started to consider a career change during the crisis, there are many opportunities out there with some interesting benefits and incentives. In a new episode of Commerce Street, a business podcast from KENS 5, we spoke with four companies about what they're looking for and the pay or benefits they're offering.

Help Wanted: Four SA businesses offering incentives and benefits to attract staff

could be eligible to receive income while completing free training programs through the City of San Antonio's Train for Jobs SA program.  KENS 5 spoke with participants in the commercial driver's license program; the credential helps with roles in a high-demand industry, as companies face a driver shortage. Train for Jobs SA offers a wide variety of career tracks, including roles in business, IT, manufacturing & logistics, and trade industries.

Filling a shortage of truck drivers with a free San Antonio training program

From the early years of the World Wide Web to the modern era of social media dominance, tech CEO Janie Gonzalez has been at the forefront of the tech industry in San Antonio for the last 27 years. In this episode of Commerce Street, an Eyewitness News Original business podcast, Gonzalez shares her story as one of the first Latina tech CEOs in Texas and a leader in SA's tech industry.

CEO of minority-owned tech company shares her story, hopes for a more diverse tech future

In this episode of Commerce Street, an Eyewitness News Original podcast, KENS 5 speaks with Sebastian Garzon, executive director of Alamo Angels, andy Randy Hartig, CEO OF Velocity TX, about how Alamo Angels connects startups with angel investors and how its mission aligns with local economic development organization Texas Research and Technology Foundation (TRTF). Read full article here.

SA's own version of Shark Tank: Alamo Angels matches angel investors with start-up companies to spur great ideas

Globally, eSports competition, culture and commerce are booming. In San Antonio, some schools, businesses and innovators are taking note. Some San Antonio gamers say they've been craving more opportunities to connect and compete for decades- and in recent years, business has begun to grow and investments have started to sprout. KENS 5 Eyewitness News took a look at some local developments.

San Antonio gamers embrace boom in eSports competitions and opportunities

Spurs Sports and Entertainment is scouting talent, but not just for what happens on the court. The organization is launching a new talent academy to help college students and postgraduates get a glimpse of professional sports business and operations. The program will allow them to get not only get job experience, but also help from seasoned professionals all the way up to the CEO! In this episode of Commerce Street, a business podcast from KENS 5, we wanted to get a closer look at the program, what they are looking for in all of their employees and how to get noticed.  

Spurs looking for 'next shining stars' in operations with new talent academy

Record low supply, dozens of offers on a single home, people moving to Texas from out of state, and investors paying all cash to snap up house are all factors leading to a hot and competitive real estate market in San Antonio. In this episode of Commerce Street, a business podcast from KENS 5, we hear from real estate professionals about the market for buyers, sellers, and people who might want to buy a home some day. Full story: https://www.kens5.com/article/syndication/podcasts/commerce-street/record-low-supply-of-homes-and-rising-prices-in-hot-sa-real-estate-market-podcast/273-7f9e9ee8-5451-4129-ba30-e8e0f3164cdf  

Housing battleground in San Antonio as home supply plummets and prices surge

The Lone Star Brewery site is one of fascination for San Antonians, and several owners have taken a show at redeveloping the space since it closed years ago. Now, new owners and developers believe they have the right timing, mission and vision to make it stick. Plans are underway to develop the historic buildings and massive 32-acre property near Lone Star and Probandt into a mixed-use development packed with apartments, shops, restaurants, art and culture, with input from the community helping to shape options and events at the site. In this episode of Commerce Street, KENS 5 speaks with Peter French, director of development for San Antonio-based GrayStreet Partners, which is working with Houston-based Midway on the project. Read full article here.

Lone Star Brewery: Inside the ambitious project to transform Lone Star into a trendy, mixed-use development

The weather may be warming up, but the winter storm in Texas just weeks ago won't be easily forgotten, especially by Texans who suffered through the cold weather without power, paid up to fix damage and replace spoiled food in just days. We learned how unprepared our state was for days of record low temperatures and the toll they took on our power grid. The costs are tallying up and could be passed on in some ways to taxpayers. In this episode of Commerce Street, a business podcast from KENS 5, we're taking a look at the overall economic impact of the winter storm power crisis. KENS 5 spoke with Dr. Taylor Collins, an assistant professor of economics at the University of the Incarnate Word, and Dr. Thomas Tunstall, the senior research director for the UTSA Institute for Economic Development.

Power crisis from Texas winter storm could lead to years of economic impact

San Antonio is a tech-savvy city on the rise with a rich history.

hubhopper

Commerce Street: A KENS 5 Podcast

hubhopper