Joe Zubi > www.ZubiAd.com

Joe Zubi, CEO, Zubi Advetising.


What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Surround yourself with a group of people that are smarter than you.


What did inspire you to start your business?
My mother started the business and she is my daily inspiration


How did you finance it?
Originally, it was lent office space and two phone lines.


Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
There have been many times that I have had to overcome stereotypes and biases but I have turned the negatives in to positives by using my heritage and culture to convince non Hispanics to trust me when it comes to reaching our market.


In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I look at the pictures of my daughter and my son and I talk to my mom in heaven.


What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Navigating through the growth of the business without losing the family culture that the company was founded on.


If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
I would slow down the growth of technology, it’s damaging the strength of a face to face relationship.


What was your childhood ambition?
To be a litigator. I wanted to be like Perry Mason, to this day I still love the closing arguments on courtroom dramas.


Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Richard Branson, Jerry Perenchio and Rupert Murdoch


For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner but very selective. It’s the best way to really get to know someone other than on the golf course.


What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I would have liked to be at more recitals and plays for my daughter and more school trips with my son.


What is your favorite quote?
When all is said and done..there’s a lot more said than done.


Is it difficult to be unconventional?
It’s difficult to be unconventional and be right.


Biggest mistake made?
Those who know me can answer that.


Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Only in the aspect that I like to learn from other innovators and apply the techniques.


About the Company:
Founded in 1976 by Hispanic advertising pioneer Tere Zubizarreta, Zubi Advertising is one of the largest independent, privately-held and minority-owned advertising agencies in the country. Today it is the Hispanic agency of record for a number of prominent national blue chip companies that include: American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, Olive Garden, Chase, S.C. Johnson, The J.M. Smucker Company and Winn-Dixie, among others. With over 30 years serving the U.S. Hispanic market and with offices in Miami, Detroit, Los Angeles and Dallas, Zubi Advertising had projected billings of $175 million in 2009. Zubi prides itself on its philosophy of erasing stereotypes, which manifests itself in Zubi’s creative work and company culture. Zubi has grown organically throughout the years and currently employs 122 individuals who honor Tere Zubi’s legacy of enhancing the image of the Hispanic culture and the advertising profession through their actions and their work. For more information regarding Zubi Advertising, please visit http://www.zubiad.com/.

Armando J. Rositas > www.SwimmingBuddy.com

Armando J. Rositas, Creator, The Swimming Buddy.


What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Desire, Discipline, Patience, Focus; You cannot sit back expecting anything to come to you, the SWIMMING BUDDY is one of a kind, staying focused at all times is a must, and you making things happen, everything else falls into place; sometimes.


What did inspire you to start your business?
Nearly striking a young boy with my boat after he had been thrown into the water when a jet ski on which he was riding was involved in a collision with another inspired me. Out of fear that my Grandchildren were not visible enough while they were in the water.


How did you finance it?
For as long as I could I used my personal funds. Family and Friends have helped.


Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
I have to say that after I presented the SWIMMING BUDDY before Michigan Senator Valde Garcia, he arranged the presentation before the Michigan Senate Natural Resources Committee (7/15/2009). Hard workers; is the trait of the Hispanics; and I’m honored to carry that on my shoulders.


In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Turning a negative life experience into a positive one is an opportunity/challenge we should grasp with open arms. Had I not invented the SWIMMING BUDDY and did nothing, I would find it hard to forgive myself. To help reduce future USCG Boating/Accident Statistics will need the help of all who read this blog. Misfortune is not having a sister company in another state, I welcome your comments, or offer. I'm single, retired and will come and present the SWIMMING BUDDY to any company who may be looking for a solid one of a kind patent pending investment.
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What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Making contact with a resource to help Market/Advertise a brand new unique, simple water visibility product. I believe LatinVision will connect the SWIMMING BUDDY with reliable, dependable, corporations who see the product as I do.


If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Look harder for a Hispanic manufacturer of life vests; or sporting goods and bring opportunity for both parties.


What was your childhood ambition?
To work as hard as my Father did without complaining. A Combat Engineer (supervisor) in WWII with only a third grade education was always amazing to me.


Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Craig Harris owner of Turkeyman (small restaurant Lansing, Mi) I’ve watched this man sell his cooked turkey legs at the ballpark, he caters food he was doing it all….on one leg, astonishing.
Bill Gates what can you say about this man? He is who he is and gives back.
Magic Johnson an entrepreneur after his basketball career.


For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Breakfast; it’s great to start off running.


What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I lost personal contact with friends and relatives, I kept to only a handful of those who understood and saw my desires. Without desire motivation is lost.


What is your favorite quote?
Some men see things as they are and say “Why?” I dream things that never were and say “Why Not?” George Bernard Shaw


Is it difficult to be unconventional?
It takes some thought on how you want to be perceived. For me this is not a toy, not a floatation device but a visibility invention enhancing the visibility of those while in the water.


Biggest mistake made?
The biggest was not following up a small lead that cost me a lot of extra time and effort to make up.


Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I believe innovation starts from a dream of a never seen before invention that will not let you sleep at night, constantly motivating, driving you, had I not felt the need, I would not have been compelled to design the “SWIMMING BUDDY”; yes I consider myself an innovator.


About the Company:
The SWIMMING BUDDY has the challenge to bring a water visibility product to the public. Enhancing the visibility of those in the water to watercraft operators to help in lowering the annual UNITED STATES COAST GUARD RECREATIONAL BOATING/ACCIDENT STATISTICS.
www.swimmingbuddy.com

Guillermo Kopp > www.guauco.com

Guillermo Kopp, Founder, Guau Corporation.


What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Courage, commitment, creative vision, and the unwavering pursuit of our passion.


What did inspire you to start your business?
Feedback from friends, colleagues and clients. People would tell me: "Wow, your insights are fantastic. You opened my mind to new opportunities!" So it turns out that "wow" in Spanish means "GUAU," an expression of delight, so we registered GUAU® as our service mark.


How did you finance it?
By realizing that small business loans are hard to get, then taking a long breath, and funding it initially with my own sweat.


Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes, as a Hispanic, I continually run into multiple challenges as well as unique opportunities. Our culture is very rich in fundamental values. Such values stimulate our creativity for genuine and productive purposes. We strive to overcome parochialism and bring our best qualities to the benefit of our host, home, and cultural roots.


In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
As a start up, always interpret a hesitant or negative response to mean “not yet.” And when the dogs bark at us, we take it a signal that we are riding along…


What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Being born as a business. Labor works proceed naturally, but pushing the business through all the formalities to bring it to life is quite painful.


If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Reach globally. We already think and act globally, but our engagements are initially bound to selected markets.


What was your childhood ambition?
Science. To discover new elements and horizons in our universe.


Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Christopher Columbus, for leading the way to America; Henry Ford, for manufacturing good cars for everybody; and Galileo Galilei, for driving innovation in science and technology.


For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch, most definitely. Take some time to whet our appetites, then savor the interactions, and finally digest all the food for thought that we got.


What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Free time for leisure. Initially, it flows in droplets.


What is your favorite quote?
Life is short, and information endless (…and widely spread!) Fortunately, smart technologies to harness multiple forms and sources of information will continue to advance relentlessly.


Is it difficult to be unconventional?
By no means! Conventionalism appears to be much more inconvenient to me.


Biggest mistake made?
Believing in a corporate future rather than creating the corporations of the future.


Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Of course! That happens when people ask me to keep my creative energy under control... On an innovation scale from 1 to 10, (with 10 being a most daring idea) my creativity gets close to a level of 20. In a conversation with me, people will take away 2 new and practical ideas.


About the Company:
GUAU® Corporation helps savvy Boards of Directors and C-Suite executives adapt to global shifts. We influence leaders to see business risks holistically and find profitable and sound courses of action. Our strategic management consulting approach helps companies turn risks into opportunities. Web site: http://www.guauco.com/

Chuck Lundy > www.MexInsurance.com

Chuck Lundy, Founder, MexInsurance.com


What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Passion, Drive, and Thick Skin


What did inspire you to start your business?
I saw an opportunity in the Mexico Insurance business to provide a quality product at better rates using technology and the internet while still making a profit.


How did you finance it?
Personal credit cards and lots of sweat


Being Hispanic.Does it have any influence on your business?
I am not hispanic, but I being raised in a hispanic environment I learned how to value people in business


In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I don't know any other way


What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Last year we were hit with the swine flue, passport rules, massive recession, violent crime media reports and rising gas prices which put a halt to tourism to Mexico.


If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
You will see with the next release of our website


What was your childhood ambition?
To be a Super Dad


Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Arte Moreno, self-made Viet Nam vet who worked his way up to ownership of MLB team (Angels), Sol Price, local San Diego entreprenuer who create Price Club (CostCo), Wayne Huizenga (From rags to riches, created Waste Management)


For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch


What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to
become a business success?
I don't get to take a lot of fun trips with my neighbors, friends and colleagues especially during the first few years of startup. I missed out on a lot of fun but I think I'll make up for it.


What is your favorite quote?
"Losing makes me puke" - Arte Moreno, owner Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim


Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No, it's natural


Biggest mistake made?
All the mistakes have turned into assets. In the beginning we spent too much on "spray and pray" marketing


Do you consider yourself an innovator?
Yes. Because every time we do something new, all our competition copies us.


About the Company:
We provide a quality tourist auto insurance program on the internet at http://www.mexinsurance.com/. In eliminating the middle-man agency we save consumers 30-40% off their insurance for day trips, semi-annual or annual coverage policies for their tourist vehicle in Mexico.