What happened: Teresa Rodriguez parted ways this past September as former Senior Marketing & Communications Manager after spending a year with the City of South Padre Island.

Rodriguez’s starting pay was $75,000, and according to her evaluations held a 2.823, which is a rating that exceeds expectations.

Why it matters: Rodriguez worked mostly under former CVB Director Ed Caum until he resigned earlier this year. Two CVB employee resignations followed, leaving Special Events Manager April Brown left as the only employee in that department.

Rodriguez also facilitated the new tourism certification program for island business. Many businesses are still interested in getting their employees certified during this time period that is the off season for island business.

Since 2019 Island Matters has recorded the resignations or terminations of seven city employees.

Resignations:

Ms. Ashley Bowen (Former Fire Inspector)

Mr. David Travis (Former Building Official)

Mr. Aaron Hanley (Former Planning Director)

Ms. Alexana Torres (Former Fire Inspector) Pending litigation

Mrs. Belinda Tarver (Former Building Official)

Mark Shellard (Former IT Director)

Ed Caum (Former CVB Director)

What now: The City of South Padre Island recently hired Former Kentucky General Manager of the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Blake Henry, as the new CVB Director.

In Sept., the Conventions and Visitors Advisory Board approved two new director-level positions that Henry says, “needed to come back from being eliminated in the past.”

“These are industry standards,” said Henry.