On Thursday, March 3, around 7 p.m. real estate broker Melissa Macias shared her thoughts on her two businesses in an interview. The interview was held at Macias office, which is also her home located Far East, El Paso, Texas. Macias is currently the owner of two companies, the first being Thrive Realty and the second being her real estate firm. Macias says her real estate company is in the business of both residential and commercial properties representing both buyers and sellers looking to own or rent.  
The start of her company came from humble beginnings and the help of a close friend. “The real estate firm, which is my company, I have had my real estate license for about 27 years. And that was just mine. Thrive Realty, I opened it up with a colleague, realtor slash builder about two years ago. And we have about 10 agents under my broker's license in that company,” Macias said. However, the inspiration for her start is at the heart of every Hispanic community.
The spark came out of necessity when her old job was requiring Macias to get a real estate license. It started out as something she did on the side but was quickly discovering the money and time she was getting with this new opportunity. For Macias family means everything and so she quickly decided to put her all her energy into this field full-time to spend more time with her two girls. As a single mom this gave her all she needed, a good living and time with her kids says Macias.  
It is Macias core values that shows she knows how to do business the right way. Whether it is hiring more female agents as a broker or making peoples dreams come true who never thought they could buy a home. Macias defines the success of her company on the memories of happy families. “After so many years, the people that I've sold homes to that, I clearly remember are not the homes I've made more money out of, but truly the people that were just always struggled. Never thought they could own a home and they end up you know, the happiest people owning, like just a small home just something that they could call their own,” said Macias. 
Macias company is more than just looking to make the quick buck. What TR is all about starts with their culture from Macias down to her agents. Macias is a strong woman who puts her family first, so she makes sure her agents do the same for the families they are trying to get into a home. Macias said she makes sure her agents are always doing what is right in guiding their clients through the purchasing process to make sure they never lose their homes. Macias has a steadily growing business, and it is because she is in the business of people. So, if there is anyone out there is looking for rewarding work and has the desire to be friendly and social, she is hiring. 
For business inquires contact Melissa Macias at (915) 630-4171 and for more information visit the company website thriveelpaso. 

Saturday, March 12, The Dallas Cowboys shocked The NFL world by trading away their star wide receiver 27-year-old Amari Cooper to The Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round draft pick. On the surface this is a good move for Dallas. They are over cap space and Cooper is a $20 million cap casualty for the upcoming season. Trading Cooper and his contract to Cleveland paves the way for Dallas to re-sign another young wide receiver Michael Gallup for a lot less. This allows Dallas to retain a potential star with Gallup and creates cap space. However, just below the surface is the downfall of franchise quarterback Dak Prescott in the upcoming 2022-23 season.  

Let's hop in the DeLorean and go back in time for a minute. The year is 2018, it is late Sunday night, Oct. 21, Dallas has just come off another heartbreaking loss to then Washington Redskins falling to a record of 3-4. Dallas's hopes of a playoff birth are in jeopardy and no one is getting more blame for the struggles of the team and offense than quarterback Dak Prescott. After another poor performance against Washington on Sunday, doubters are starting to question whether the Mississippi State gunslinger can lead this franchise. The water is only getting hotter for Prescott after a disappointing campaign the year prior in the 2017 season in which he had a career high, 16 turnovers. The once promising young quarterback began to crack and seemed like a far cry away from a former 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. ​

On Oct. 22, the following morning, Dallas gained hope as they traded their 2019 first-round draft pick to the then Oakland Raiders for Cooper. Dallas led by Prescott quickly turned the season around, finished 10-6 and even won a playoff game. More importantly, the Cooper trade pivoted Prescott’s career making him one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since. Cooper’s presence and production in Dallas saved Prescott’s career. Now let's, take a deeper look into the numbers that matter most, wins.
  
Outside of Prescott’s phenomenal rookie season he has a horrendous record of 12-13 without Cooper in his career but posts a robust 28-16 record with Cooper. The biggest reason for this dramatic shift in Prescott’s record with and without Cooper is the extra 5.4 points per game Dallas scored when Cooper was on the field. It will be hard for Prescott to return to an elite level as his passing yards per game, touchdown to interception ratio, and passer rating are projected to decline without Cooper again.  ​

One year into his four year $160 million contract (the third highest paid quarterback in the NFL) he broke the single season passing record for a Dallas franchise quarterback. That record was broken with Cooper on the field this year. Without Cooper, Prescott is unlikely to repeat his regular season performance. Simply put, trading Cooper was an awful move for Dallas as the team appears to be falling apart.  
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This upcoming season Dallas will showcase a football team with a waning offensive line, an aging running back, a wide receiver returning after a torn ACL and a young wide receiver who only managed one catch in the playoffs. It looks like Prescott may have just lost the only crutch he had. With his seventh career season approaching, Prescott is under immense pressure to deliver. If Prescott stumbles after his recent success, Cooper’s departure from Dallas will be more than just a coincidental excuse for the team’s lack of performance. Is Prescott the agent of success for this franchise? His perceived proficiency will be tested with Cooper’s departure and will answer whether he is a stand-alone elite quarterback.  ​