Developing Opportunities: José López Leads Entrepreneurs to Business Success
By Amy Rognlie | Photography by Justin Borja
The first thing you notice about José López is his wide and engaging smile. He is not your average entrepreneur—instead of focusing on a business of his own, he spends his days teaching others to realize their potential and own their own businesses. As a seasoned entrepreneur himself, he counsels clients at the Central Texas Business Resource Center in Killeen with enthusiasm and wisdom. “I want to be a guide to others. I love helping people start and manage their own small businesses,” he says.
José particularly enjoys making presentations to soldiers at Fort Hood as a part of the Soldiers for Life Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP), a re-entry program made possible through a collaboration between Fort Hood and The Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce. “The purpose is to guide soldiers who are transitioning out of the military and into the civilian world with entrepreneurship skills and local business resources. We connect with them by promoting entrepreneurship opportunities and networking.” He regularly participates in business conferences, symposiums and job fairs throughout Bell County, but the thing he enjoys most is connecting with an audience of would-be entrepreneurs. José talks with groups on topics like “Buying a Business” or “Bankrolling Your Business.” He says his personal favorite presentation is “Being Your Own Boss.”
José leans back in his chair and flashes that winning smile. “It’s so rewarding when people credit my guidance for changing their lives and helping them provide a new source of income for their families.”
He has a long history of building successful businesses in the culinary, professional services, retail and entertainment industries. As evidence of his entrepreneurial expertise, he successfully guided the creation of nearly 200 small-business enterprises in Puerto Rico, where he was born and raised, before going on to live and work in China, Japan and, most recently, the United States.
José’s love for travel began at a young age. “Watching airplanes and meeting pilots initiated a curiosity in me to discover more about the world. It sparked my dream of traveling and meeting new people from different cultures,” he says. “My master’s degree in international business management from Concordia University in Irvine, California, opened doors for me, offering me the opportunity to work and study abroad, traveling and teaching business and marketing courses to college students.”
After teaching marketing at a Chinese university, José moved to Japan, where he was the general manager of an international school in Tokyo, interacting with people from all over the world.
After fulfilling his dream to work, study and live abroad, José and his wife, Mari Perez, decided to settle in Central Texas or, as José says, “in the place where freedom grows.” His eyes light up as he describes his life in Killeen.
“We’ve felt truly welcomed in this community and it has become our home. Most of my immediate family lives in Puerto Rico, but my younger brother and my godson and his family live near us. I feel very blessed to have them around.”
He says his travels provided him the opportunity to learn how to prepare authentic regional dishes from many cultures, using their traditional cooking methods. “My friends and family come over to eat with us and they particularly enjoy a Chinese rice dish I make that’s mixed with a variety of meats.” Traditional Puerto Rican specialties, such as mofongo (a side dish made from green plantains and garlic), are often on the menu in his home kitchen as well. Besides cooking, José and his wife continue to pursue their passion for international travel, but also enjoy exploring the unique areas surrounding their new home in Texas.
Learn more
Central Texas Business Resource Center, CenTexBRC.com
Killeen Workforce Center, 300 Cheyenne Drive, 254-200-2001
José’s Top Tips for Start-Up Success
Assess your skills and life experience. Identify unique qualities and strengths that you would bring to your business. How can you use these strengths to help your business excel and stand out from other similar businesses?
Have an efficient goal-setting strategy. Your business will impact every other area of your life, so it’s critical to know how a new business would fit into your life. Would it help or hinder you in reaching your other life goals?
Decide when to start your new business. Many people are eager to start as soon as possible, but is now the right time for you? Do you have knowledge of your proposed field through either formal training or on-the-job experience?
Identify local resources. Who can help you narrow down the steps to take to achieve your goals? Who might be interested in mentoring you as you make your plan?
