Her Story
About Ofelia
Ofelia DelaPaz serves as keyholder manager at her family's tire shop in Crosby, Texas. She began working there in 2000 after moving to Texas and has remained in that role, overseeing operations that include ordering tires and supplies, bookkeeping, changing and selling tires, and direct customer interactions. Prior to this, she earned a word processing degree from an 1988-1989 program and gained administrative experience running a janitorial service. Ofelia takes pride in ensuring customer safety through double and triple checks on all work and values family and faith as core personal priorities. She has successfully kept the business open through personal losses including the deaths of her parents and attributes her drive to supporting her family. In addition to her professional duties, she assists with rehoming pets through personal networks and social media.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ofelia
01What do you attribute your success to?
My biggest drive was making sure everybody had what they needed in my family, and that came through the shop. As long as we were doing good at the shop, I knew the family was taken care of.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be strong, because there's always gonna be a masculine entity around you that's gonna tell you you can't. As long as I've been in this business, I still have men that don't think I know what I'm talking about. But don't let nobody tell you otherwise. You have the wills, you have the power, you can do it.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges: keeping the business open during COVID after losing parents, personal loss made purpose weaker. Opportunities: technology like airless tires which could lead to higher sales but fewer repairs.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Professionally: always take care of the customer and ensure safety with tires by double and triple checking work. Personally: family and faith are the two key things that keep me going day to day.
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