Interviewee

Kelly Thomas Pacheco

Interviewer

Arlina Palacios

Project

Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project

Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee

Kelly Thomas Pacheco was born in El Paso Texas in July 1963. Kelly attended Zack White School and Coronado High School and has a degree in marketing from The University of Texas at El Paso. Her father, George Thomas was a builder and her mother Janet Vota Thomas was a decorator. Kelly is married with two children and is the founder and owner of Quality Craft Homes in El Paso, Texas.

Summary of Interview

Kelly gives her father, the late George Thomas the credit of having mentored and guided her through the residential building business and Kelly also recognizes she learned decorating from watching her mother who had a natural talent for decorating. Kelly began decorating model homes while in high school. After high school, Kelly ventured into her own business called Del Pueblo Furniture and she would purchase furniture in México and re-sell it in the United States. At the end of 1989, Kelly began working for her father in his business Carefree Homes. Kelly eventually branched out with her own business, Quality Craft Homes in the mid-late 1990’s. Kelly worked in the whole building aspect, from creative floor plans, to the decorating process. Kelly expresses her love for creativity and that creativity has flowed in her business. Though Kelly does not create custom homes, Quality Craft Homes offers affordable quality homes that can compete with custom made homes. Quality Craft Homes also build their homes with 100% Energy Star efficiency. Kelly is the recipient of the 2010 Energy Star Leadership in Housing Award. Kelly is a member of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce and the El Paso Association of Builders. The advice Kelly would offer entrepreneurs is keep focused on your goals, take one step at a time, learn to listen and listen to learn, build a team around you, take one step at a time and be flexible.

Date of Interview

9-29-2010

Length of Interview

84 minutes

Tape Number

No. 1498

Transcript Number

No. 1498

Length of Transcript

37 pages

Transcriber

GMR Transcription Services

Interview Number

No. 1498

Terms of Use

Unrestricted

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