Gregorio Gutierrez Thanks Pachyderm Club for Award

On Wednesday, Jan. 15 Gregorio Gutierrez, owner of Conexion Hispana, dropped by the office of Drew Darby to thank him for an award.

The award presented was a gavel signifying Gutierrez’s success as an entrepreneur, given to him by the Pachyderm Club via endorsement by Darby.

“He’s a wonderful part of the community,” said Darby. “You’ve been a blessing not only to me, but to San Angelo.”

Darby sat Gutierrez down in his chair behind his desk for photos, ensuring that he honored the local news man. Gutierrez proudly held the ornate gavel as he thanked the Pachyderm Club and Darby profusely.

“I am very blessed,” stated Gutierrez. “San Angelo is my home and Conexion is part of my dreams.”

Fred Contreras, the new president of the Pachyderm Club, felt that Gutierrez was a perfect recipient of the Entrepreneurship award that they club gave out.

“You (Gutierrez) took a big risk and succeeded,” Contreras said, to which Darby added, “You saw a need and you sacrificed to fill it.”

Both men praised Gutierrez for pursuing his business even when it was just a simple operation run out of the Gutierrez family’s home.

“It’s a big privilege to me, this honoring,” Gutierrez humbly spoke. “San Angelo is not only one race; Hispanic, Chinese or White.”

Darby interjected that he likes to call them ‘Texans’ and reiterated that the values are what make people important, not race.

Contreras once again congratulated Gutierrez, and asked, with tongue in cheek, “Must be good to be on the front page of your own paper.”

Gutierrez just laughed, shook his head and exclaimed, “That wasn’t me! That was my staff’s idea!”

After the laughter died down, Darby and Contreras thanked Gutierrez once again for his efforts, to which Gutierrez replied, “Thank you for supporting my family and San Angelo.”