Interviewee

Yolanda Diaz

Interviewer

Arlina Palacios

Project

Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project

Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee

Yolanda Diaz was born in El Paso, Texas in 1960. Yolanda’s mother raised her and her five siblings as a single mother. Yolanda attended Jefferson High school and she has a degree in accounting from The University of Texas at El Paso. Yolanda is the owner and founder of Mirador Enterprises, Inc. She has one son and currently lives in El Paso.

Summary of Interview

Yolanda recalls having a wonderful childhood being raised by her mother. While in high school Yolanda joined Vocational Office Education at Jefferson High school. This program helped Yolanda learn basic bookkeeping and accounting as well as provide opportunities for a job while in high school. Yolanda took advantage of the program and learned as much as she could. Yolanda also worked for the Veterans Affairs as an administrative assistant for the pharmacists. Yolanda would go on to work for Petro Shopping Centers, Jack Cardwell, Media Copy and Texas Gas Services in the accounting and bookkeeping aspects of those businesses. Yolanda worked for Texas Gas Services for seven years before leaving to concentrate on a small business she started up. Mirador is 8A certified, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certified, women-owned and minority-owned certified. Yolanda is active in the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Yolanda also works with her brother Joe Diaz who is the owner of MiraTech in El Paso Texas. Mirador and MiraTech often join forces to do team work in the city of El Paso. Yolanda acknowledges that her brother Joe has been a very good mentor. The advice Yolanda would offer entrepreneurs is to know that being a small business owner is not for everyone and to find someone else in the business to mentor you. In addition, Yolanda advices for people to work hard and diversify the business so if opportunities in one area dry up, your business has the ability to work in another area. Also, proper cash flow and making sure that you hire people who will help the business succeed, but it is also very important to take care of those employees.

Date of Interview

9-1-2010

Length of Interview

117 minutes

Tape Number

No. 1495

Transcript Number

No. 1495

Length of Transcript

46 pages

Transcriber

GMR Transcription Services

Interview Number

No. 1495

Terms of Use

Unrestricted

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