BIOGRAPHY OF AARON I. VELA

Aaron I. Vela attended the University of Texas, Pan American and obtained a Bachelors of Business Administration Degree in Accounting in 1989 and became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in 1991. After graduating from college, Aaron took full-time employment with the Rio Grande Valley's largest locally owned accounting firm, Long Chilton, LLP, where his duties included preparing financial statements, tax returns, audits of governmental, commercial, and banking institutions. In 1993, he entered St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio and graduated with honors in 1996.

Upon graduation from law school, Aaron went to work for the largest law firm in the Rio Grande Valley, Atlas & Hall, LLP, where he represented various clients including, insurance companies, banking and financial institutions, commercial establishments, land owners and developers, and many other various establishments, many of which were national companies. In 2000 Aaron started his own law practice, consisting primarily of personal injury and commercial litigation. Aaron is the former president of the Hidalgo County Bar Association, where he spent six years on the board. Aaron has also devoted a substantial amount of time over the last several years helping the youth of Hidalgo County. He has served as the President of Hidalgo County's youth livestock show, South Texas Agricultural Roundup (STAR) - a junior livestock show whose primary goal is to benefit the 4-H and FFA members of Hidalgo County. STAR has raised millions of dollars since it’s inception in 2003. In 2005, Aaron attended a 40 hour mediation training course at the University of Houston Law Center and has an active mediation practice integrated with his law practice. Over 95% of cases mediated by Aaron I. Vela have settled.

Aaron was born and raised in Edinburg, is married and has three children. The Vela family spends many of its weekends out at the family ranch with their herd of registered Simbrah cattle and its whitetail deer breeding program.