When we meet talk about her life and her projects, Nina Vaca is, as usual, running. Arriving to her office from yet another client meeting just in time for our interview, Nina swiftly rushes by, settles at her dek, leans over, and with a smile as broad as daylight, she greets us if she´d been there all along. It is at that moment that we fully realize that we´re in the presence of a truly remarkable woman.
The daughter of entrepreneurial parents who migrated from Ecuador in the 1960’s Nina is the only one of five children who was actually born in Ecuador. “My parent came here very young literally with a suitcase and a dream,” says Nina.
After working in different jobs, Nina’s father started his own business, opening a travel agency in Los Angeles, California with money that he had saved over the years. His ultimate goal was to build five agencies, one for each of his children. His plans were cut short, however, when tragedy struck and he was murdered during a robbery at the agency shortly after Nina finished High School. Understandably so, Nina still struggles to discuss the devastating incident today.
Not accustomed to giving up, and Nina and her older sister Jessica began to run the business together. Shortly thereafter, in 1989, their mother decided to sell the agency and move away to a safer place called Katy, Texas.
Once there, Nina decided to attend the Texas State University at San Marcos, where she earned a degree in Speech Communications and Business Administration. Nina then accepted a job with an IT company in New York. “They say you make your opportunities, and I really did,” says Nina, and adds: “I had an interest in technology and the industry was booming, and I capitalized on that boom. I was fortunate enough to have a job in New York that afforded me the opportunity to really understand where the industry was going and how the business works.”
Almost a year later and armed with a wealth of knowledge and experience Nina returned to Texas. “I was young and single at the time, so I decided to start my own business. I ordered a computer, got a line of credit, and I started a company.”
After the 9/11 Tragedy in 2001, the IT industry, suffered a severe blow and Nina suddenly lost many clients. Times were stressful, and Nina prepared for the worst. “We started a liquidation plan. My partner and I had different focuses, and when you have different focuses it’s hard to figure out how to fulfill both interests. I’m really thankful to him, because he wanted the company to succeed, but he knew that in order for that to happen he needed to leave. He was kind enough to ask me for his part and I gave it to him. I’m very thankful for that moment, because in a lot of partnerships you can end up with a partner that could become really nasty, and in this case he wasn’t nasty at all.”
Aware that her old business model no longer had demand in the market, Nina re-invented the business altogether. “We knew that we had to diversify. I’m a very quick thinker and I realized that companies were now asking for per-project type work instead of ongoing contracts, so that’s what I went after.” Nina was fully aware that she was taking a dangerous chance. “ It was a risky proposition, but it was the right decision for us at the time.”
In no time, her new concept took off, and after landing large companies like Verizon and AT&T as clients the company’s revenues soared. In 2003, Pinnacle reported $10 million in revenues, and in 2005 it was listed as the fourth fastest growing private companies in the Dallas Metroplex area. This year, with a more diversified portfolio of services available, the company is expected to surpass $60 million in revenues.
Next in Nina’s plans is to start offering a full set of vendor management services, complete with a new, fully customizable support application called Provada, which was originally developed in-house by Pinnacle in order to manage the company’s fast growth.
With a thriving company that has now four different branches, four children to care for and one devoted husband, juggling it all can be more than a challenge. Asked about how she manages it all, Nina admits that mostly, it is her “alone” time that suffers. “You have to be willing to do without “me” time. I have a tremendous relationship with my husband, and we do not allow our time with the children suffer.”
Talking about her dedication to the business, Nina makes clear that her ultimate desire is to build a legacy for her children. She explains: “You’ve got to leave [them] that foundation. If not, then every generation is going to have to pick themselves up from their boots straps, just like my mom and dad. I can’t for a minute think that my father’s efforts went unappreciated.”
Nina agrees that, because of the cultural values and upbringing Latinas sometimes face bigger challenges in juggling careers and family. “There is no doubt in my mind. We always want to be everything for everybody, and you have to be there…and you think of yourself last. So yes, there is a lot of multitasking because we’re culturally very nurturing…and we also feel very guilty.”
No need to feel that way. As she walks us to the door and we exchange goodbyes, we leave with the certainty that her children will someday realize the sacrifices that she’s made, and that they too will be forever grateful to her for all her hard work that she’s done for them.