Minnie Rivera - Montrose West

Business Name: MONTROSE WEST
Business Address: 10505 Brookpark Rd, Cleveland Ohio  44130
Business Phone:  216.265.4152
Name/TITLE: Minnie Rivera, Wholesale Lot Sales Professional

Tell us a little bit about your company and/or your industry?
I have been serving the Latino community for approximately 18 years in the automotive industry.

How is your company or you personally reaching out to the Hispanic Community to help support this growing segment?
The Montrose Auto Group values the importance of the Hispanic Community and therefore reaches out and advertises within this community. I speak fluent Spanish, know the automotive industry and was brought on staff at Montrose West to help other Latinos feel comfortable in communicating their needs and wants when in comes to purchasing a vehicle.

In a corporate career, we have to work well with people and posses the ability to inspire and persuade large groups. As a successful Latina, what is one or more of your own accomplishments that you feel support this fact?
As far as I know, I was one of the first Latinas selling vehicles in the Cleveland market. Over my 18 years in the industry, I have influenced other Latinos in helping them to be comfortable enough to go into this field. I have also helped to inspire dealerships to open their eyes and see the importance of marketing and reaching out to Latinos as worthy consumers.

What, if any, is one of the obstacles that you feel you have had to overcome as a Latina within the business community? And how have you embraced it and turned it into a positive?
As a Latina trying to break into the business world, I have found that Corporate America doesn’t seem to take you too seriously. However over the years, I have used this as my driving force to work harder which has ultimately allowed me to achieve a level of success that I may not have achieved otherwise. I wanted to prove to other Latinos that despite obstacles in our way, we can overcome if we keep pushing forward toward our dreams.

What would you as a Latina like to see happen in the near future so other Latinos in the community can achieve the same level of success?
I would like to see the Latino people not be judged and labeled but rather be accepted and embraced and be recognized as a value within their companies as well as a valued as consumers.