Carlos Vasquez of Vasqo Technologies stands outside his El Centro office. (JOSELITO VILLERO PHOTO / May 15, 2011) |
Carlos Vasquez, Vasqo Technologies
419 S. 4th St., El Centro, CA 92243
760-352-0708
www.vasqo.com
Tell us how you ended up in this line of work.
As a kid I always loved business and technology. I wanted to embrace technology to enhance business processes. I went to IVC for two years and took some programming classes and really liked it. I then transferred to Cal Poly Pomona. At Cal Poly my major was business administration with an emphasis in computer information systems. All my technical projects were dealing with some type of business need and I loved doing the programming to facilitate it.
Growing up, I always wanted to leave the Valley and get my experience but I also wanted to come back. I remember driving from Pomona to the Valley and as I approached Holtville I would roll down my car windows and smell the freshly cut alfalfa and cow manure from the cattle feed lots off Highway 115. That smell was the smell of money and I knew there would be career opportunities for me here. It is also a good place to raise a family.
What are memories from your career that stick out with you the most?
When I graduated Cal Poly Pomona I got hired at IBM. I was in a room with a lot of college hires from Stanford, UCLA and USC. My impression was that these people were a lot smarter than me, but as time progressed, my confidence level rose after I was promoted to technical lead for projects I was working on. I realized I was as well-prepared as my colleagues but I had an advantage over them because I worked as a consultant while in college.
What do you most like and least like about your work?
I like that fact that things are always changing and there is something new to learn. This is a career where one can take different career paths and there are many options. The only thing is, all this technology requires a major time investment. As I take on more responsibilities, managing business and family time commitments has become a critical part of my day-to-day planning and success.
What makes your business unique?
What makes our business unique is that the entire staff working at Vasqo Technologies has college degrees. My expertise in software and business development has given me a competitive edge while working with my customers’ technical needs. With my expertise, I apply the correct technology to facilitate their personal or business needs in a cost-effective manner.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to open a business?
My advice is to get an education and prepare yourself to be a small business owner. You wear a lot of hats, and the better prepared you are to run a business will dictate the success of your business.
How do you give back to the local community?
I give back to the community by donating to different fundraisers. For example, recently I donated to the El Centro Elementary School District for a silent auction they were having. One of my biggest contributions was to a migrant program in which I donated a computer so students in the program could raise money with a raffle. With the proceeds from the raffle, they were able to take a trip to San Francisco. My giving to the community has been focused on youth.
More about Vasquez
AGE: 35
YEARS IN BUSINESS: 7
HOMETOWN: Holtville
FAMILY: 2-year-old daughter
HOBBIES: Learning about new technology trends
Introduce yourself
Would you or someone you know like to be profiled? If so, contact rbrown@ivpressonline.com or call 760-337-3453.
419 S. 4th St., El Centro, CA 92243
760-352-0708
www.vasqo.com
Tell us how you ended up in this line of work.
As a kid I always loved business and technology. I wanted to embrace technology to enhance business processes. I went to IVC for two years and took some programming classes and really liked it. I then transferred to Cal Poly Pomona. At Cal Poly my major was business administration with an emphasis in computer information systems. All my technical projects were dealing with some type of business need and I loved doing the programming to facilitate it.
Growing up, I always wanted to leave the Valley and get my experience but I also wanted to come back. I remember driving from Pomona to the Valley and as I approached Holtville I would roll down my car windows and smell the freshly cut alfalfa and cow manure from the cattle feed lots off Highway 115. That smell was the smell of money and I knew there would be career opportunities for me here. It is also a good place to raise a family.
What are memories from your career that stick out with you the most?
When I graduated Cal Poly Pomona I got hired at IBM. I was in a room with a lot of college hires from Stanford, UCLA and USC. My impression was that these people were a lot smarter than me, but as time progressed, my confidence level rose after I was promoted to technical lead for projects I was working on. I realized I was as well-prepared as my colleagues but I had an advantage over them because I worked as a consultant while in college.
What do you most like and least like about your work?
I like that fact that things are always changing and there is something new to learn. This is a career where one can take different career paths and there are many options. The only thing is, all this technology requires a major time investment. As I take on more responsibilities, managing business and family time commitments has become a critical part of my day-to-day planning and success.
What makes your business unique?
What makes our business unique is that the entire staff working at Vasqo Technologies has college degrees. My expertise in software and business development has given me a competitive edge while working with my customers’ technical needs. With my expertise, I apply the correct technology to facilitate their personal or business needs in a cost-effective manner.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to open a business?
My advice is to get an education and prepare yourself to be a small business owner. You wear a lot of hats, and the better prepared you are to run a business will dictate the success of your business.
How do you give back to the local community?
I give back to the community by donating to different fundraisers. For example, recently I donated to the El Centro Elementary School District for a silent auction they were having. One of my biggest contributions was to a migrant program in which I donated a computer so students in the program could raise money with a raffle. With the proceeds from the raffle, they were able to take a trip to San Francisco. My giving to the community has been focused on youth.
More about Vasquez
AGE: 35
YEARS IN BUSINESS: 7
HOMETOWN: Holtville
FAMILY: 2-year-old daughter
HOBBIES: Learning about new technology trends
Introduce yourself
Would you or someone you know like to be profiled? If so, contact rbrown@ivpressonline.com or call 760-337-3453.
