91视频

Vicqui Guevara

President

Valley Growers Nursery & Landscape

Vicqui Guevara remembers watching her father work long hours while she was growing up in the Philippines. It was there that she began developing the work ethic that has helped make her Hubbard-based company, Valley Growers Nursery & Landscape, a business success story.

鈥淗ard work is in my blood,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here were nine in our family and (my father) made sure we were taken care of. For him, taking care of business meant taking care of his family.鈥�

Guevara migrated to the U.S. 30 years ago and as her own family grew, she felt compelled to explore the opportunities in the fertile Willamette Valley.

鈥淚 like seeing things grow,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 decided to start growing in greenhouses, and things expanded from there. I like to say that we create oxygen.鈥�

Guevara actively mentors within her business, working with clients to help them understand the potentials of their projects and how landscaping is an integral part of building design. She cited an example of how mentoring leads to opportunities.

鈥淭he man who handles my (Internet technology) had a son who was interested in my business, so he interned with me when he was in school, then went to college and came back,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 now my project estimator.鈥�

Guevara is a strong proponent of workplace diversity. Her 19 employees represent a range of races and cultures, and she is involved in several organizations that work toward increasing diversity. She was a board member for the National Association of Minority Contractors鈥� Oregon chapter. She currently is one of the leaders of the Professional Business Development Group, an advocacy group that helps minority-owned, women-owned and emerging small businesses connect with bid projects in Oregon. She also is a member of Associated General Contractors and several other trade organizations.

She recently graduated from the University of Washington Minority Business Executive Program and serves as a commissioner on the city of Portland鈥檚 Equitable Contracting and Purchasing Commission through 2017. She also is an active member of Bethany Church in Canby.

Guevara also is an active member of a group of women in the Portland area known as The Ladies in Red.

鈥淲e hold events and raise funds to provide support for victims of natural disasters all over the world,鈥� Guevara said. 鈥淲e all like to wear red, so it just seemed appropriate. It鈥檚 really a group of women who are reaching out to help others in need. We have all been blessed, so this is part of our way to give back.鈥�