Hispanic HeritagePuerto Rican
City: Marco Island, Florida
Profession
Small Business Owner
Tell us what you do for a living and how you got into it.
Yvette: My husband and I own a full-service landscaping company that serves the Naples-Marco Island Area. I have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, so the plan was to use those skills to help the business grow. Little did I know that God had other plans for us. In 2009 My husband was diagnosed with Stage Four Colon Cancer, and I had to run the business on my own while he was going through surgeries and chemotherapy treatments.
I decided to go back to school to take courses so that I could learn the trade and run the business successfully. I am certified in the fields of Horticulture, Arboriculture, Pest Control and Landscape Design. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would end up owning a landscaping business but here I am today, and I love it. We have 45 employees, serve over 500 customers, and make over $3.5 million in annual sales.
In your industry, what would you say separates you from your competition?
In my industry, what separates me from my competition is our focus on family, community service and providing exceptional customer service. In our business we take care of our employees and customers like family. As an Air Force Veteran and Rotarian my oath of service to my community and country has no expiration date so we make sure we support local nonprofits financially and/or by volunteering. Providing exceptional customer service by being responsive to inquiries and maintaining clear communication with our customers have helped us build strong customer loyalty and positive word of mouth referrals.
Why do you feel you were nominated?
I feel I was nominated because of my integrity, passion, dedication, servant heart and the impact and contributions I have made in my community. I have led hurricane relief efforts and food drives to help SW Florida community during Hurricane Irma and most recently Hurricane Ian, but I have also led efforts to help the people in the Bahamas and Puerto Rico. I have always been front and center in helping others in times of need. This year the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International named me a Paul Harris Fellow in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world and Congressman Mario Diaz Balart entered my name into the Congressional Record in honor of Women’s History Month and recognizing my lifelong dedication toward serving my country and my community which has had a significant impact on Southwest Florida. Community service is my passion and even though I do it from the heart it feels good when someone recognizes it. It is truly an honor to be nominated for this award.
During Covid 19, tell us about your Biggest Challenge/obstacle and how you overcame it/or are overcoming it?
The biggest challenge/obstacle during Covid 19 was to be able to keep business open, employees healthy and our customers at ease while having to home school my two sons. I was able to successfully run my business and homeschool my sons during Covid 19 by staying organized, reenforcing health/safety procedures in the business and continuing to communicate effectively with our customers. I consider myself a strong and independent woman so in my opinion that has helped me overcome challenges throughout my life. I have always looked at challenges as learning experiences that have helped build my character and have made me the strong woman that I am today.
Tell us about your biggest achievement, and how you achieved it.
I moved to Florida 20 years ago from Puerto Rico. I came here with just a suitcase filled with hopes and dreams. Today I can say I am living my American Dream. Only in this country you can come with nothing and make something out of yourself if you are willing to work for it. My faith in God, my family and my strong work ethics have helped get to where I am today. I hope I can inspire others to never give up on their dreams. Dreams will come true if you believe and work towards them. From working two jobs to survive to being a successful business owner, I am proud to say that I made it!
What is next for you? What can people expect to see from you?
I am excited to announce that I am running for the Florida House of Representatives in District 81. I have been a grassroots and community leader for many years, and I am now ready to take my fight to the Florida House. As an American of Hispanic heritage, I see the challenges our community is facing, as a mom I see the challenges our children are facing, as an Air Force Veteran I see the challenges our veterans are facing and as a business owner I see the challenges our small businesses are facing so I am running to give them all a voice in the Florida House. People can expect me to continue to serve and fight for my community, my state, and my country.
What does being a U.S. Citizen mean to you?
I consider my American Citizenship a blessing. I am proud to be an American of Hispanic heritage and will serve and fight for this country until the day I take my last breath. As a Puerto Rican I know how blessed we are to be American Citizens by birth. As an Air Force Veteran, I know my oath of service has no expiration date. The United States of America with all its imperfections it still the greatest country in the world.
What is your opinion of the state of affairs in our nation? And what role do you see Hispanics/Latinos playing in the future of our nation.
The direction our country is taking goes against the principles our country was founded on. We need more God and less Government because our life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are at stake. I see Hispanics/Latinos playing a crucial role in the future of our nation. As the fastest growing minority group in the United States, Hispanics/Latinos will continue to decide elections. It is important for Hispanics/Latinos to get involved in the political process, go out and vote and become leaders in the political and civic arenas. We need to have a bigger voice and in order to do that we need to make sure our community gets involved in the political process. Since 2018 I have been doing Hispanic/Latino Community Outreach throughout the state, educating Hispanics/Latinos about the political process and the importance of getting involved. During the 2022 Election I was part of the team that helped Governor DeSantis get record numbers of the Hispanic/Latino Vote. As someone of Puerto Rican heritage I am proud of the work we did with the Puerto Rican community that resulted in 53% of the vote to re-elect Governor DeSantis. I believe is about people and their issues and not about politics and self-serving politicians.
What is the best lesson that you have learned in leadership and how has it helped your career?
The best lesson I have learned in leadership is the importance of leading by example. When a leader sets a positive example through their actions, behaviors, and work ethic, it can have a profound impact on their team and organizational culture. Leading by example involves demonstrating the values, principles, and work standards that you expect from your team members. This has helped me earn the respect and trust of my team, inspire, and motivate others, build a positive culture, and mentor and develop future leaders. Overall, leading by example is a powerful leadership approach that has made a significant difference in my career, success of the team and in my life.
Is there anything I did not ask that you would like to share?
As an American of Hispanic Heritage, Air Force Veteran, Mom, Small Business Owner, Rotarian, Community Leader, and Candidate for the Florida House it is an honor to be nominated for this award. I appreciate all the work you do to recognize Latino Leaders in our community because with your help we are able to highlight the great work we do and the important role we play in our communities.
What is your comida Latina favorita?
My comida Latina favorita is Asopao de langosta con Mofongo.