She's creating jobs against all odds!
“The StartBook course made me realize the gifts God has given me and what I'm capable of.”
It would be a big surprise to those who witnessed Dina Quintero’s childhood to see her being the first in her family to go to college, start a business, create innovative products, higher and retain employees, and now raise up new entrepreneurs through the Emprende program that she directs. Because her early family life was relationally and financially difficult, I was told “she is a walking miracle” by the one who hired her to direct the Emprende program. Cristian Melendez, CEO of Serve Hope International, continues with tears in his eyes:
“she has grown so much in confidence. I tried to pour as much as I could into her. She is special.”
Most who print on t-shirts and embroider golf shirts are content to buy ready-made shirts from suppliers. Not Dina.
She makes both types of shirts from rolls of fabric, providing a better profit margin for herself and steady jobs for this mother-daughter pair (pictured below) for over four years. This also created a job for her deaf sister who was unable to find work elsewhere.
Dina learns, then acts. She opened her StartBook to Lesson 2E: “Produce Efficiently” and explaiins: “a new product was born from this lesson. It said to not waste materials, but making shirts leaves many scraps that are too small to use. So, I took that wasted fabric and made pet clothes from them (pictured below).” With her growing boldness, she visited pet stores far and wide to see if they would sell these to the public. Ten stores in three cities now carry Dina's pet clothes!
In these stores, she noticed that the pet collars were lacking in quality. So now her husband and another employee create high-quality pet collars of many sizes, styles, and colors.
Speaking of her husband, Leonardo took me from room to room in their home and pointed out, with a knowing smile, that Dina's machines and inventory filled nearly every room. When passing 3-year-old Leonardo Jr's room, his dad joked that the toddler wouldn't know what to do with toys! Leonardo Sr. tends a beautiful flower garden to which he can retreat when the business seems all-consuming.
Because Dina is a devoted wife and mother as well as an ambitious entrepreneur, she plans to move the business out of their home. Having already paid off a machinery loan, she has one payment left on the acre of land (see below) next to their home in the peaceful countryside near Siguatepeque. She's bold, but doesn't try to grow too fast. Her step-by-step (“poco-a-poco” \in her native Spanish) development follows StartBook’s caution regarding excessive debt. Leonardo Sr jokes that “once her warehouse is built, she will need to buy a cot for it in case she forgets to come home!”
Regarding StartBook’s emphasis on using business to serve, her big plans include creating up to 20 more jobs for her rural neighbors within 10 years. She plans to produce school and sports uniforms and build stronger client loyalty. She wants to use some of her profits and influence to help improve the road to the neighborhood. In all of this, she wants her actions to reflect Jesus.
Dina has goals for the Emprende program too, including offering four StartBook courses per year with 50 participants in each class. She wants to make our business courses available to every current and potential entrepreneur in Siguatepeque. Why? “I love to inspire and raise up new entrepreneurs.”
Dina captured our curricula’s two-fold impact by saying: “since taking the StartBook course, my perspective has totally changed. Now that I teach StartBook, I tell my students that the contents of StartBook can transform your heart and the way you do business." Inner and outer. Confidence and know-how. Agency and processes. Character and skills. Identity and purpose.
INNER: “It helped improve my character. I'm now more patient and tolerant with my employees. I've even learned to be more kind to difficult clients that used to make me angry.” Identity is a key interior transformation that StartBook cultivates. Dina hints at her own story in saying: “I'd love to see how people learn to value themselves through this book. For example, Juanita who owns a pulperia (corner store) received strength from God while enduring a painful divorce.”
OUTER: While thumbing through her StartBook (see below), pointing out her notes and highlights, Dina told me of many business improvements she’s made as a result: “It changed how we serve our clients, vendors, employees, and community.”
She also pulled out the notebook (see below) that she filled with plans during the course, including goals for marketing, administration, legal, and production.
Picture below is the logo conceived after lesson.
I'm amazed all over again while writing these words. It is truly astounding what under-resourced and mistreated people can do when equipped with the message that they are “children of God with a gift to share.”
Thank you for helping Creating Jobs Inc and Serve Hope Intl to invest in people like Dina who are empowering many more to gain the confidence and skills to help their communities thrive!
Thank you for investing with us in “business for God's glory”!