Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs honor their roots and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in America every year from September 15 to October 15. It is a time to honor the vibrant cultures, deep traditions, and significant contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the resilience, perseverance, and success of Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs who are making an impact across industries.

From auto repair shops to TV shows, cabinet manufacturers to legal translation services, these inspiring business owners have built successful companies while overcoming challenges, breaking barriers, and staying true to their roots. Their stories not only inspire the next generation of Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs but also reflect the strength and unity that Hispanic Heritage Month embodies.

S&A Auto Center

Founded in 2013, S&A Auto Center is the culmination of a dream shared by husband-and-wife owners Jose Masache and Hilda Mera. Located in Newark and Kearny, NJ for Jose and Hilda, owning a repair shop goes beyond fixing cars-it means working ethically, improving employee quality of life, creating sustainable jobs, and positively impacting the communities they serve.

Hilda said, "My husband and I have always wanted to own a business. When the opportunity arose, we seized it. We aim to set an example and create a lasting legacy for our kids. We want to show them that with diligence, dedication, perseverance, and faith, anything is possible."

Hispanic Heritage Month is especially meaningful to the married entrepreneurs, who faced many challenges while building their business, including access to capital-a challenge shared by many Hispanic and Latino business owners.

"Hispanic Heritage Month signifies unity to me," said Hilda. "It represents the preservation of our values and traditions and, most importantly, our resilience and perseverance."

Que Pasa NJ with Carlos Medina

Carlos Medina celebrates his Hispanic roots every day with his PBS television show, Que Pasa NJ. Currently on its fifth season, the show features stories from diverse role models and their allies and provides representation and inspiration for its Hispanic and Latino viewers.

Carlos was inspired to create Que Pasa NJ when he noticed a lack of diverse storytelling and voices on TV. "Although Hispanics make up over 20% of the economy," Carlos said, "they do not show up on 20% of TV programming or roles."

No stranger to overcoming challenges-Carlos met with PBS four years in a row to convince them of the importance and viability of Que Pasa-he is on a mission to show his viewers how they too can achieve great things.

Carlos is currently working on a one-hour special celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with David Cruz from NJPBS which will air this October.

Insignia Cabinets, Inc.

Insignia Cabinets, Inc. is an Alabama-based bathroom and kitchen cabinet manufacturer that embodies the spirit of owner and found Edgar Diaz's Hispanic heritage through its unwavering persistence and dedication to excellence. Edgar tells aspiring Hispanic and Latino business owners, "Don't be afraid to pursue your dreams."

Insignia focuses on efficiency, reducing time and costs for its customers. While Edgar said that getting his business up and running was a challenge, once his customers see the quality of his cabinets, they are truly impressed.

"We are family-owned and operated, and we have already built a customer base that appreciates what we do," said Edgar. "As a Hispanic, I would like our community to know that we are focused on doing our jobs well. We are part of the community and are looking forward to a bright future."

Horizon Legal Solutions, Inc.

Horizon Legal Solutions, Inc. provides interpreting and translation services nationwide in over 175 languages and cost-effective staffing solutions for businesses throughout the United States. Founded by Karina I. De La Cruz over 18 years ago, Horizon Legal Solutions showcases its Hispanic heritage through Karina's passion, dedication, and genuine love of helping people communicate across linguistic borders.

It wasn't easy to get started. "Earning people's respect and trust was a challenge," Karina said. "I would walk into a room for a presentation, and I would be the only one with an accent. Equally as challenging was being a woman in a male-dominated field."

Still, she overcame those obstacles and today, Horizon Legal Solutions is the only language company endorsed by The Florida Bar Association, an achievement that fills her with both pride and gratitude.

Katrina said, "I heard Mark Cuban say: One of the great lies of life is 'follow your passions.' Everybody tells you, 'Do what you love', but that's not the right way to go about it. The truth is, if you work hard at something, you'll get good at it, and if you get good at it, you'll start to enjoy it, and then you'll start to love it. I would encourage people to work hard to excel at what they do. If you become great at what you do, you'll love what you do."

Valley is here to help small businesses grow and thrive. Visit Valley.com or contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you on your journey to success.

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