.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;}
What brought you to the United States?

I came to get my M.B.A. at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Before that, I lived in Peru and worked in Central America. I helped a lot with the business development in the United States for a company (there), so I got to travel a lot to Houston, so I was familiar with the city and I liked the school, and so I decided to go there. I was there for two years and I met my husband there.

What brought you to Iowa?

Everybody asks me the same question. Since my first interview (at Coopera), and then everybody, “How do you end up in Iowa?” Well (my husband is) from here, so I met him (in Houston) and then we moved up here in January of this year.

How does your heritage help you at Coopera?

I think that I am in a very good position because I am not only from South America, but I’ve worked in almost all the countries in Latin America, and sometimes people might think that “Oh, Hispanics are similar,” but there are a lot of differences in culture, in preferences, even in banking systems. I know the difference between each of the countries, and that helps me have a better perspective of what the credit union can do in order to reach out to them. It’s fascinating how similar and how different the countries are.

What gave you your drive to continue your education?

I think it had a lot to do that I was taught that education is the most important tool that you can have. Meaning money comes and goes, but if you’re educated and you know how to work, you will do great in life.

What are you in charge of as director of client growth?

I am in charge of making the business grow. Coopera Consulting helps credit unions reach out to the Hispanic market, which is the market that is growing the fastest. There is a lot of potential there, not only (with) first-generation immigrants but second and even third. They have specific needs, and credit unions are in the position to serve this community in order to make the membership base grow.

How do you bring your heritage with you into your daily life in Iowa?

In my house, we have paintings or pottery from Peru and that helps me. I mean I feel at home here because Des Moines is a wonderful city, I love it, but you always want to have something from your country near you.

What is your favorite thing about Des Moines?

I love the fact that even though it is a small city, it is so rich in things to do, in culture, in nice places to go, but it still has the charm of a small city. It doesn’t have the traffic jams or the smog. It has the best of both worlds.

What is your favorite food?

I love all kinds of food. Peruvian, and all kind of Asian food: Chinese, Thai, Indian – well, all of them.

What do you like to do outside work?

Well, I just starting golfing, and I love it. My hobbies, well, I love cooking, I like going out and traveling when it’s not for work.

What hours do you work?

We start at 8 here and by 5 you can leave, but sometimes you have stuff to do so you stay for a little longer. But when you’re traveling, you’re working 24/7. So it’s a little bit more demanding than a 9-to-5 job, but it’s great because I get to apply what I have learned in school or what I know about the Hispanic community, and business development, so I don’t get bored.