Erika Castro
Erika Castro is a dynamic corporate officer and legal professional with extensive experience spanning law, business management, and advocacy. As a key leader at Castro Contracting Corp., a family-owned millwork and contracting business established in 2001, she oversees office operations, client relations, vendor negotiations, HR, contracts, and business expansion. Her hands-on approach ensures smooth operational execution and strategic growth, supporting projects both locally in New York and in Miami, while maintaining a focus on ethical leadership and community values.
Before joining the family business, Erika built a strong foundation in law, earning her Juris Doctor from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and focusing on immigration law and youth advocacy. She has held roles as a senior law clerk and legal intern, including with The Legal Aid Society and local courts, where she advocated for juveniles and children in Family Court. Her legal expertise continues to inform her business management, particularly in contracts and regulatory compliance, and underpins her broader advocacy work within the community.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Erika is a certified health and life coach and the author of Redefining Strength: Breaking the Silence, Building a Legacy, a semi-autobiographical work published in 2024. The book reflects her commitment to empowering others to overcome challenges, while her advocacy work often focuses on youth, the immigrant experience, and inspiring individuals to reach their full potential. Across law, business, coaching, and writing, Erika’s career is defined by leadership, resilience, and a dedication to making a meaningful impact in both professional and community spheres.
• Certified Health & Life Coach
• Hunter College - B.A.
• Hon. George Pratt Judicial Fellowship (2014)
• Long Island Hispanic Bar Association
• Immigration Law Society
• Touro Student Ambassador
• Latin American Law Students Association
• Suffolk Service League
• Girls Inc.
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the challenges I’ve faced, which have shaped my resilience and perspective. Each obstacle taught me to keep moving forward and inspired my advocacy work. My experiences have molded me into the person I am today, guiding both my values and the work I do.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
To stay open to change and be willing to learn from people who have more experience. Erika believes humility and curiosity are essential for growth, especially when navigating multiple industries and career paths.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to embrace change. Careers don’t always follow a straight path, and being open to new opportunities—even if it means taking on extra work or learning new skills—can lead to incredible growth.
For those in the millwork industry, it’s important to gain a solid understanding of different types of millwork, wood species, and drafting, including reading blueprints. From a business perspective, apply what you already know, stay open to feedback, and learn from those with experience. Success comes from working smarter, not just harder, and continuously seeking ways to grow and improve.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is definitely the uncertainty of the economy right now. Tariffs definitely have impacted our pricing on a lot of materials. I see it from both sides, as a customer and also as a business owner. From the business side, you have all these factors that tie into the pricing. I think also, the lack of employees with skills, or just people with skills - we're losing a lot of these hand skills that people used to possess, and it's really hard to find a carpenter who is skilled. It's so difficult to find someone, even though they'll have the degree. If I have all this overhead and cost that I have to invest as a business owner, I don't have the time to teach someone and allow them to make mistakes that can be very costly. You want to teach new people because it's going to be beneficial to you as well, but you can't afford for that person to make so many mistakes. On the opportunity side, definitely if you have a skill, it's in high demand, which comes with competitive salaries and benefits. Literally, it's a war game right now to find a skilled carpenter. For me personally, it's really just knowing the ins and outs of a business - I know I can take the experience that I've learned on running a business to really run any business. Just knowing how a business runs is a skill that you never think about, how effective it is in just everyday life and how you can use those skills in really anything you do.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me in both my work and personal life are honesty, strength, advocacy, and a deep appreciation for culture. I believe in speaking the truth, even when it’s difficult, because transparency fosters trust and understanding. I take pride in my resilience and strive to use my voice to advocate for others.
Culture has always been important to me—early on, I started Multicultural Week in high school to celebrate diverse backgrounds through food, stories, and traditions. These values shape who I am, the decisions I make, and how I engage with the world around me.