Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

​

​I’ve always been very artistic and naturally gravitated towards the arts. When I was little my favorite class was plastic arts, where I drew and made different types of manual pieces such as pillows, place mats, napkins, among others. All these were embroidered by hand and even though I was always more enthusiastic about the outcome than the process. I had some help from my nannies and my mother who is also an artist. I studied Interior Design at FIU (Florida International University), and the major trained me on how to design all kinds of spaces and surfaces. While in school, I helped my husband in his woodshop and got fascinated in furniture design and made this my main focus. As an intern, I learned how to build a wood custom furniture, and about the wood types, paint/stain finishes and a variety of other mediums. After college, I built a career off of that major — and it has allowed me to work with some really incredible companies. Looking at my partnership with Caoba Carpentry & Design now, it’s really a pinch-me moment. We’re leaders in materials — not only design, but in our manufacturing process, which produces beautiful custom kitchens, dining and coffee tables, wall/ tv entertainment units with custom color and collections. We are also a commercial company that has both manufacturing and full distribution capabilities.

​

​We all need a little help along the journey.​

​​

Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

​​

While I’ve looked up to iconic trailblazers like Frank Gehry, an architect and furniture designer; those that have taught me the most are the closest to me. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from both my father and my mother as well as my husband. At my first internship, one with my husband at Caoba, I was originally put on tasks like sanding the wood doors. While I was overjoyed to even step foot in that building in Hialeah and had already felt like I had made it in securing the role — my husband knew I had more to offer and could get more out of the experience. So, he sat me down and had me call our vendors to find the best quote as well as their new trends in materials so that I could expand my knowledge. So I said: “I don’t mind doing the scut work but I’m here to learn.” And after advocating for myself and showing my eagerness to expand, I was able to excel, and now I'm his "right hand". This follows the idea of “if you don’t ask, you don’t get” — and while the answer might be no, you at least have to advocate for yourself. I thank my husband immensely for pushing me in such a way. I definitely learned my hard work ethic and gratitude from him as well as from my parents.​

​​

Love Story.

​

We are "High school sweethearts". We embarked together in our love story when we got pregnant before graduation. However, we went in different career paths. My husband, is now the president and project manager here at Caoba. He made a career working in different wood shops. He then became interested in learning the trade in a bedroom sets manufacture woodshop, a job he took great pride in — because he was an immigrant with no status then, he ended up having to take different types of jobs— he would make every endeavor that made him feel a proud provider, often saying: “I came to this country to have and give a better life to my family” as he referred to having us as his "motor". Together we have two beautiful daughters. (All these happened in the midst of our school years). The eldest, she has a bachelor degree in graphic design and studying to be a TV producer. She is now married with no children, as yet.  And the baby, she has a bachelor degree in Biomedical Science, and keeps expanding her medical field knowledge. She is now FL. State licensed Laboratory Technician. She is single but has a boyfriend. They celebrate 13 years anniversary in 2025. 

As much as we would love to have them take part in the family business; they are happy away from us. But we hope that they will take over one day. They truly have made us the persons that we are now, and are our beautiful love fruits and anchors. 

​

​