Success Story: E. Vasquez & Associates

E. Vasquez & Associates Grows and Gives Back in Grand Terrace

Location: Southern California | San Bernardino County | Grand Terrace

Business Type: Tax and Financial Services

Small Business Center: Asociación de Emprendedor@s

Assistance Received: Business advising, training, and access to capital

Visit E. Vasquez & Associates online

Esmeralda Borrayo Vasquez, Founder and CEO, has always had a passion for numbers and helping people. Her career began at a credit union, where she worked as a senior teller. Through her dedication to meeting client needs, Esmeralda gained the experience necessary to become an executive accountant and, later, a loan officer.

She was building her career, but Esmeralda and her family faced a devastating loss with the passing of the father of her children, and the loss of two jobs within a few months. However, her career took a new turn when she began working at a tax office.

Encouraged by her husband, Esmeralda opened her own office in a 500 square-foot space in Grand Terrace, California. Despite the growing number of customers, things were not working out as planned due to her lack of mentorship and the wrong business partners.

She had been seeking business training in English, but then she learned about the crucial guidance one of her client’s received through the Emprendedor@s Program which is offered in Spanish. She enrolled in the Emprendedor@s Program in Corona, led by Monica Robles, Founder and President of Asociación de Emprendedor@s and an internationally certified JMT Coach.

“I feel more self-confident, and Monica encouraged me to use my Spanish more. She opened my eyes to see things in different ways,” Esmeralda said.
During one the Emprendedor@s Program sessions, where participants were asked to write down three goals related to their business, incorporating the six characteristics they had previously learned. Two of these characteristics were “In Writing” and “Dated”. Esmeralda wrote, “Have a bigger office” and set the date for December 1st, 2024.

Thanks to the networking and mentoring received during the free 8-week business program, taught entirely in Spanish, Esmeralda was able to secure a loan for the first time. With the financial support from Accessity, a Community Development Financial Institution, Esmeralda was able to realize her dream of opening a larger office in Grand Terrace –850 square feet—allowing her and her team to better serve her customers and continue empowering others through financial education.

“When I signed the lease for my new office and saw that the date was December 1st, 2024, I started crying and thanking Jesus. Writing my dream on paper was the first step”, said Esmeralda, visibly emotional. E. Vasquez & Associates celebrated the official grand opening of their second location in Grand Terrace.
Following her great experience with Monica and the Emprendedor@s Program, Esmeralda has since partnered with Chase Bank to host community events aimed at teaching financial education to other small business owners.

For more information, visit E. Vasquez & Associates online. And if you are a small business in Southern California and looking for resources and programs in Spanish, connect with Asociación de Emprendedor@s

Updated: 3/20/2025