When it comes to establishing a legacy and being remembered for years to come, one must have a positive impact on their communities, benefiting everyone. I currently work in the grocery industry, serving as the Senior Vice President of International Outsourcing. In this capacity, I am responsible for sourcing new products and identifying companies to collaborate with to supply grocery stores across the United States. I have established numerous connections with influential figures in the grocery sector, some of whom have expressed interest in purchasing from me if I were to establish my own brokerage or distribution company. This feedback has motivated me to initiate my own food distribution enterprise. My objective extends beyond merely supplying grocery stores nationwide; it also encompasses serving the communities they represent. Presently, I travel to countries in Latin America and Asia, predominantly engaging with those demographic groups. My experiences in Latin America, coupled with my observations of Hispanic communities in Southern California, have illuminated significant opportunities that remain unaddressed, as well as a lack of access to products from their homelands that are not currently available here. Observing the local grocery stores in Southern California and recognizing that the majority of the population is of Hispanic descent, whether first- or fourth-generation, has led me to realize that the available food products are quite limited and primarily generic, featuring items such as Goya that are exclusive to this region. The lack of variety in their offerings, combined with my observation that the merchandisers do not see the need to stock nostalgic items from Latin America—such as Casa Luker, Colombina, or Lattenda coffee—has motivated me to address this gap for local Hispanic communities. I am currently developing a business in partnership with an individual with over 30 years of experience in the grocery and logistics industries. This enterprise is a food distribution company that supplies all ethnic and specialty items typically available only in their countries of origin. I am developing this food distribution enterprise in partnership with my associates, driven by the desire to address a gap within the grocery industry and to broaden the range of ethnic cuisines accessible to local communities across the United States, from Latin America and Asia. My firsthand observations within Hispanic communities reveal that individuals from these regions are dissatisfied with the limited product selection typically available at local grocery outlets and seek greater diversity reminiscent of their native countries. On one occasion, I approached an unfamiliar family at a modest family-owned market that offered a few Colombian goods and inquired, "Why does your family shop here?" instead of at the major supermarkets throughout the city. Their response was, "We dislike shopping at those grocery stores because they do not offer what we traditionally eat in Colombia. Additionally, the products labeled as Colombian are unfamiliar to us and do not meet our flavor expectations." Their feedback served as a catalyst, motivating me to intensify my vision. Consequently, I am pleased to launch my food distribution company at this juncture, aiming to serve diverse local communities nationwide by reintroducing authentic products from their home countries into grocery outlets nationwide. Currently, I am engaging with retail chains such as Gelson's Market, Walmart, HGG, Hmart, and H-E-B to expand my professional relationships and ultimately establish consistent supply agreements.

Regarding leadership and management styles, I believe that the most effective approach is adopting a transformational leadership model. Nonetheless, I recognize the importance of incorporating a directive leadership component, particularly because leaders must develop a clear strategy for their teams to implement. In my professional experience, directive leadership yields positive results when there is minimal continuous oversight; however, I have found that being inspired by a leader significantly enhances productivity within my team. At my organization, my mentor/boss conducts monthly meetings with various internal teams, including Merchandising, Marketing, Legal, and others, during which he shares strategic plans for the upcoming quarter. He provides detailed instructions on the necessary actions to ensure the success of our projects. A recent example involved onboarding HGG; during this session, we discussed strategies to support this multibillion-dollar grocery enterprise in expanding its product range and demographic reach. The meeting facilitated collaboration among different divisions, allowing us to strategize on joint efforts. Throughout the discussion, my mentor/boss elaborated on how each team would collaborate and assist one another to improve the likelihood of achieving our goals. He emphasizes that collaborating with HGG as a partner is fundamental to advancing to the next stage of growth. Partnering with a major grocery enterprise significantly enhances our prospects of supplying products to prominent companies such as Walmart, Amazon, Gelson's Markets, Bristol Farms, H-E-B, The Fresh Markets, Chedraui USA, Kroger, and others. This realization has inspired us all, as it demonstrates the considerable potential we can achieve, and we are collectively committed to reaching that next level of success. I frequently recall a quote from my mentor/boss that informs my approach to leadership and to professional life more broadly: “Partnership is what makes you and me great, and if you want to succeed and be the next whale in this or any industry, you must adapt quickly and be ruthless when needed.” His words have stayed with me because succeeding in the corporate world often requires the ability to be appropriately firm and decisive, while also inspiring those around you. Ever since hearing this quote from my mentor, it has inspired me to change my approach in business and to know when to exert my power and when to inspire. I'm always grateful to my mentors, and I make sure they know it. However, ever since then, I've made it my priority to inspire my colleagues around me and to ensure that they all elevate to the next level, because if they see and feel that they can be elevated to the next level like me, they will aspire to be great in their fields as well.

Growing up in a low-income family taught me responsibility and caring for others, especially family. With my single mother and twin sisters, I learned to lead with compassion, strength, and virtue. These lessons guide me to give back to my community and support my sisters. My career focuses on sharing nostalgic foods from Latin America and Asia, which help bring families together. I currently supply these foods to grocery stores across the U.S., driven by my motto, "God and Family is First." This passion began in high school when I started a food distribution business selling chips, cookies, and burritos I made before school, inspired by my mother as a single parent. Watching my mother, the only adult in my childhood, really inspired me to support my family. I couldn’t bear to see her struggle and work long hours to provide for my sisters and me, so I decided to make a difference and pursue my career in 2021. My passion for food distribution deepened during my internship at Heritage Grocer Group, where I learned about the grocery industry. My first exciting opportunity came when Heritage asked me to assist a merchandiser in Bogota, Colombia, as she attended the AmCham Trade Show. That experience opened my eyes to the vastness and significance of the grocery sector and the importance of helping these companies enter the U.S. market. I spent nearly two weeks in Colombia, talking with over 40 manufacturers specializing in products such as coffee, candy, salty snacks, and frozen foods. Being there allowed me to see firsthand how impactful Colombian products can be and how communities respond to them. The feedback I received deepened my understanding of the importance of bringing these wonderful products to the U.S. and supporting local Hispanic communities here. I work as an international outsourcer for BK Korea in South Korea, helping find nostalgic items for local communities to remember their home countries. Most customers at a Southern California grocery store are immigrants unfamiliar with local items but familiar with those from home. I visit stores like Cardenas Markets to identify what consumers want and miss. Then, I coordinate with my company to bring those items here and serve these communities. I do this out of passion and to understand community needs by supporting local nonprofits like Homeboy Industries, which focuses on Hispanic and Asian communities in Southern California. My goal is to connect Latin America, Asia, and the U.S. by bringing home-country foods to local stores, helping communities feel at home. The Thomas Griffin Wilson Memorial Scholarship isn't just financial support; it's a gateway to serve communities as Thomas did. Serving others is my purpose, and I aim to use my gifts to help, as Thomas did for his half-sister. The scholarship will ease my financial burdens and enable me to live like Thomas—impactful, compassionate, loving, adventurous. I want to advance my education and be the best for those around me.