Dr. Frank Marquez - Salvadoran Success Story

Doctor Frank Marquez’s father did whatever he needed to do to ensure not only his family’s survival but his children’s success. For Gustavo Marquez that meant delivering pizzas, selling encyclopedias door-to-door and lately, driving an MTA bus. It’s been a humbling experience for the former sociology professor from El Salvador’s national university. But like many educated Salvadoran refugees who fled their country’s violence in the 1980’s, it was the only way to make a living. Frank says his father’s hard work and his commitment to his children’s education has paid off.

Frank is now a third-year medical student at USC. His brothers and sister all have or are working towards degrees from four-year universities. “My parent’s example have given me the work ethic I have now. As young people we don’t understand sacrifice. It takes strong parents to show you how to put yourself out there and ride it out.” (Note 1)

I had dinner with Frank the other day and I told him that we need more role models like him in our community. Frank is 31 years old and is focused on using his education/training for those less fortunate. He has been to the poorest areas in El Salvador helping heal our people.

Santiago Siliezar - Designer to the Stars

Santiago Siliezar is an exemplification of an entrepreneur. He allowed his instincts and his risk taking spirit to go against persistent advice to locate his business in the Pico-Union district rather than an area in the west side of Los Angeles. He could have chosen to offer his services in an area that was familiar to him, but instead he invested in a high rent location and opened the doors to his business to clientele that would yield higher profits.

His decision paid enormous dividends. He now operates a successful business in Brentwood, CA and services elite decision makers in the entertainment business, A list celebrities, and high powered executives.

Sitting with him this past week for drinks, we talked about the opportunities that this country has given us. He has become a very close friend of mine and I am very proud of the accomplishments/achievements that he has made.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome him our group that we have formed, Association of

Salvadoran American Professionals.

Jose Renato Cartagena- Principal Engineer Disneyland - A Salvadoran Success Story

Jose Renato Cartagena came to this country with a vision and determination not to be a statistic. He arrived like most of the immigrants of the 1980’s with

very few material possessions but with a strong desire to achieve the American dream.

He put himself through Cal State Long Beach eventually earning a Bachelors in Engineering and postgraduate stadies in Control Systems.

Renato has accomplished the following:

· Principal Engineer at Disneyland. Next time you take your kids …please remind

them that a Latino/Salvadoran had something to do with the new recently opened and existing attractions. He has been with Disney for over 20+ years and leads

the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the A&FE department at the Disneyland Resort.

· Registered Professional Engineer in the State of California.

· Certificate in Quality Management from Phoenix University

· Co-founder of the Theme Park Engineering Program at Cal State Long Beach, will be the only of program of it’s kind in the nation.

· Chairman, Advisory & Development Committee in the Electrical Department at Long Beach State University.

· Energy Conversion, LLC – Co-Founder, Solar Energy and Energy Efficiency Systems one of very few Latinos/Salvadorans in this field.

· CEO/Co-Founder – Espino Beach Resort, to be a Luxury Hotel in Jiquilisco Bay, El Salvador opening in 2008.

· In his spare time he has developed/built residential properties in Cerritos/Artesia,CA.

William Campos- Real Estate Developer/Designer/Builder/Investor - Luxury Estates/Mansions- A Salvadoran Success Story

William Campos was born in a small town in Usulutan, El Salvador. He came to the U.S. at the

age of 12 with an ambition to succeed and live the American dream. He moved to Downey, CA

in 1986 and put himself through school eventually graduating with a Marketing degree from

Cal State Long Beach.

He took a corporate sales job but quickly realized that he was born to be an Entrepreneur. He started

helping his father who had a small custom painting business. He quickly fell in love with the trade

and decided to get into stucco and other areas of construction. His passion for home building was

born and he decided to start building small homes in Orange County and then decided to bring

business expertise to Downey, CA. where he saw potential for his Craftsmanship.

As the years passed he had the skill and knowledge to pass all of the licensing as a General Contractor/

Builder. Four years ago he started building Estates in Downey and financing the projects himself.

Each Estate/Mansion is personally supervised by him and he spares no expense to make sure

that they are a work of perfection, beauty, and master craftsmanship.

I am including a link for the latest home that he has built…

http://www.bellacasallc.com/Charloma_html/index.html

William is 35 Years old, he is an Eligible Bachelor, he has never been married and does not have

any kids. In the near future he will venture to other Affluent areas of Los Angeles.