Some of the youngest, next-generation business owners got their start the old-fashioned way: their parents were business owners. These young hotshots decided to form their own companies, too. A few as youngsters became intrigued with the idea of running their own business, while others as young adults wanted greater control of their income. From retail to real estate, computer apps to computers systems, an energetic cohort of under-40 individuals have followed their dreams to independence.
When Monique Ramirez was in the seventh grade, her mother, who works in economic development, brought home business plan forms and instructions. Intrigued, Monique filled out the forms with her idea for a pet store. Last fall, the senior at McAllen High School tweaked her original business plan and opened Monique’s General Pet Store & Feed Supply in downtown Edinburg. “My parents helped me get started, but it’s my business,” said the slender 18-year-old, jeans-and-boots wearing girl. Monique gladly loads 50 pound bags of deer corn, bird seed and pet food for customers and admits she loves dealing with animals and people as well as the planning and organizing side.
“I love the business part of it. You get to meet a lot of people from ranches and find out what they want,” she said. Her school contacts brought in droves of FFA and 4H members for livestock feed, accessories and bunnies. Monique arrives at her store at 2 p.m. on school days and keeps the business open on Saturdays and Sundays. “On Sundays we get the most business, when everyone else is closed.” She expects to major in business management at UTPA this coming fall. Her plans are to stay in the pet and feed business for the long haul and expand it.
On the other hand, Chris Tagle, 39, has just launched his second business, RGVEvents, an offshoot of TagleRock Technologies which he opened in 2001. His first company, which provides outsourced IT outsourced services for 2,000 local small business clients, evolved from his job as UTPA computer lab supervisor and his desire to combat the perception that the Valley had no good computer technicians. While Tagle had managed Popeye stores in his 20s, he found running his own computer services company quite different.
“What helped me was that businesses knew who I was from giving seminars and fielding their calls for help. There were hiccups in beginning. It was a trial by fire. We learned from our mistakes,” he said. Selling the idea of outsourcing IT was TagleRock’s biggest obstacle. “The hurdle was to educate business owners that they save money by outsourcing to us. It has not been easy.”
Five years ago, TagleRock built a registration website for a client’s three-day event and included tracking and follow-up functions. “It was like a light bulb over my head,” Tagle said. “The Valley is 50 small cities but there is no central source of information on what’s going on in every place.” RGVEvents, an event management platform that also provides registration, ticketing and tracking, now has 6,500 users who want to find out what’s going on in the whole valley. “Everybody loves the idea. It’s so easy to use and cheaper than any other.”
“Managing two businesses business is hard. I have to put one hat on and then the other one,” said Tagle who clocks up 70- hour work weeks. “Luckily I have a good group that run TagleRock, so I have time to develop RGV Events.”
Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar, 32, developed the mobile app called Kinex that is designed to increase a family’s participation and communication with their children’s schools. “The smart phone is the most affordable device for people with limited resources,” said the founder of eJucomm. “It’s about bringing in families we hadn’t been able to reach because they didn’t have internet access.”
School districts in the Valley, California and Colorado have purchased the app which is then provided free to parents as a tool to connect them to school information about events, homework assignments, due dates and athletics schedules. “The most important function for me is that the teacher and family communicate,” said the educator, who is currently working from home to be with her young children. “When families participate, it makes a world of difference to the success of child.” She is also involved in the Encore program and teaching mid-Valley middle school students how to develop their own apps.
Family footsteps
Roland Villarreal, 29, owns Villarreal Builders and Villarreal Investors with his brother Roman, 26 . Their grandfather started a Farmers Insurance agency 30 years ago, and Villarreal grew up in the insurance biz. While getting a UTPA Finance degree, he sold insurance in school. Taking the risk of a non-salaried insurance job was a big but essential career step. “That’s why I’m comfortable dealing with seven figure numbers now. You don’t get paid to sit in a chair. I realized I wanted to do my own thing.”
When the economy tanked, Villarreal bought a construction company and spent the first year in bidding wars until he tried a different tack. “Instead of being out there bidding, I’m building relationships,” said Villarreal who has the only south Texas Rigid (metal building) franchise. He formed an informal partnership with realtor Nick Cantu, 28, whose family has been in property development. Together, they are creating turnkey real estate investments. They count on their families’ experience to provide them with guidance, support and contacts. “Without them, it would be difficult to succeed. But things are not just handed to us. We work hard. They make us stronger,” Villarreal said. “We are in this for the long run, not for a quick buck. Reputation is everything.”
Three years ago, Claudia Chanin opened her design studio NOMA. “I couldn’t be where I wanted to be working for someone else,” said Chanin, 34, who has a Mexican architectural license. “Now I can choose clients based on the freedom to design, to do what I like to do.” Currently on maternity leave, Chanin as owner is able to work half-days at the NOMA office and half days at home. “It means more working hours being your own boss, but it’s challenging.” Her husband Miguel, 34 is a structural engineer and has his own business as well, Chanin Engineering LLC.
Strong retail
After 10 years of managing a nutrition store, Sam Alvarez realized he needed to be his own boss. His parents suggested a franchise, encouraging him to do what he loved. Alvarez, 34, opened his Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Store in 2008, and it ranks among the 10 top selling Max Muscle stores in the nation.
“The freedom to staff and run it the way I want has been great. It has been profitable each year. But it was scary at first,” Alvarez said. “I can remember days during my first three months when no one came in.” So Alvarez handed out sample bags to introduce people to the dietary supplements. “We have very good customer retention and loyalty. Customers become friends and employees. It’s a lifestyle for them. They believe in the products.” Now Alvarez has five employees and intends to expand in the near future, remaining a hands-on owner.
Shannon Fetters, 32, is among the many micro- business owners who sell through home shows. As the mother of three little children, the independent director for the Thirty-one line of totes and gifts admitted she was “ready to get out of the house a little bit. I missed contributing to the household income. Thirty-one is a way to make money. It has really taken off.” The faith-based company is all about celebrating and encouraging women through online and catalog sales, she said.
Young entrepreneurs like Fetters, Ramirez, Chanin, Alvarez, Tagle and others are shaping the future of the Valley as they go into business for themselves.
Contact info:
Monique’s 318 N. Closner Blvd. Edinburg 956-386-9151
Max Muscle 3937 SW. McColl Edinburg 956-972-1400
eJucomm.com 512-787-2516
Shannon Fetters 956-358-0895 mythirtyone.com/sfetters
Villarreal Investors 956-457-8376
RGVEvents.net and TagleRock Technologies 1-888-618-5170
NOMA Design Studio 956-843-9595
January cover story by Eileen Mattei