Rockford Hispanic organization launches business magazine for new entrepreneurs

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Rockford Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (RRHCC) created a business magazine to attract and assist entrepreneurs in the community.

The organization launched the online magazine Monday night.

It provides resources, connections and tips from other business owners in the area.

Two businesses spotlighted are Smart Home Realty and Dropout Media.

Jeanette Solis helped bring Smart Home to the Rockford region. As an assistant agent as a previous company, Solis said she wanted to be out on her own helping the community find homes.

“Getting my name out there, being part of the community, being able to get to that point where people now recognize me is what it’s about,” Solis said. “About 80% of my clients are all Spanish speaking, so it just fulfills me in helping them get to that goal.”

At 21, Fernando Perez said he didn’t expect to be at this point in his life.

He changed career paths and founded Dropout Media two years ago.

“I was working in construction and going to school and going to the gym and hanging out with my girlfriend,” Perez said. “It just became an overload. I quit with not knowing [anyone] or knowing what I was going to do. I just knew how to edit, and I knew how to film.”

Both Perez and Solis are featured in the “Empresarial,” the first issue of RRHCC‘s monthly magazine.

“Having this at your fingertips virtually or in hand is going to help everyone a lot,” Solis said. “Just to access the information that they need. It’s truly an honor to be part of that magazine.”

Perez said he wants other Hispanic men to be inspired by his story.

“There’s more to life than going to work out in the sun, especially if you’re second generation, third generation,” Perez said. “You can go to school, become a doctor, become a lawyer, whatever you put your mind to, you can become.”