By Leslie A. Rodriguez, Contributing Writer

Chloe Velasquez began formulating a business plan for her company, Sabio Springs, Inc., in 1999. Velasquez’s primary motivation came from the vision of her late uncle Raymond Wofford, who had dreamed of utilizing the natural resources on his Vermont property to build a competitive bottled-water company.

The road to what has become both a thriving and lucrative business was a long and challenging one for Velasquez. At age 40, after a long standing struggle to find career opportunities with advancement as well as purpose, Velasquez suddenly found that she was unemployed and going through a divorce. She was looking to start her life in a new direction and began to entertain the idea of becoming an entrepreneur. After five years of researching the water industry and careful planning, Velasquez formulated what is now Sabio Springs.

As the President of Sabio Springs, Velasquez has enlisted the services of several organizations and institutions that focus on assisting small businesses with development and expansion. Specifically, she has utilized the resources offered by the Riverside Center for Innovation; Small Business Development centers at both Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh; Leadership Pittsburgh Inc.; CORO Women In Leadership; the African American Chamber of Commerce; and the Pittsburgh Regional Minority Purchasing Council.

Velasquez notes that despite the many resources available to entrepreneurs, women remain impeded in their efforts to start a business.

“Access to capital is a large issue.  The only way is to make headway is one business at a time.  Each woman that gets ahead needs to pull the next one along.  If we all committed to that personally, we could make a dent in that financial barrier.  Women on top or in decision making roles need to take more risks on other women,” said Velasquez.

According to Velasquez the journey to success has been one in which she has faced a solitary obstacle.

“Lasting over five years in a white male dominated field and without
proper funding,” she said.

As a single parent that began realizing her dream, with only a business loan and a business plan that had taken two years to write, Velasquez has quickly become among one of the most accomplished women in Pittsburgh. She has received countless awards and accolades from various organizations. She counts among her many honors in 2006: the Pittsburgh Regional Minority Purchasing Council as Minority Supplier of the Year, Spirit of PowerLink, and Women Driving the Material World. In early 2007, Velasquez was honored by Duquesne Light for its African-American Leadership Award.

Sabio Springs became fully operational in 2001 and underwent an expansion in 2004. Velasquez now services about 500 businesses, with only one retail outlet – Shop 'N Save.  She currently has five full-time employees and two that work part- time.

Ten years from now Velasquez has a vision for Sabio Springs to be known nationally as well as world wide. 

“Hopefully we will be doing business in Latin American countries.  We will be one of the top 100 minority businesses in the country.  And I will have a home in Barcelona,” she said.

February 2007