Renee Rodriquez From Temp to the Top A six-month internship, and a chance
meeting with a local business owner, would lead to a lifetime of fulfillment for Renee Rodriquez.
Renee attended college at the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo and had just completed a six-month internship with the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce when she met Dionne Casey, the owner of the local Express Employment Professionals office. When Renee completed her six-month internship she decided to go straight to Express for a temporary job until she found permanent employment. Bill Casey, Dionne’s husband, interviewed Renee and had her complete a computer evaluation. “I had a message on my answering machine when I got home that Express had found an assignment for me. I thought that was pretty cool,” she said.
Renee’s temporary job with a manufacturing company lasted a couple of weeks. While she was on a one week assignment at an airplane brake company, Bill asked if Renee would like to work for them in their Express office. “I still was working part time at the chamber office and also at a TV station, so I had to give my two weeks’ notice. For a few weeks, I had several jobs. It was pretty hectic, but I could not believe my luck,” she said.
Right after Renee started working with the Caseys in their Express office, they became really busy. After five years of working together, the Caseys asked if Renee would like to become a partner. “I was raising my two sons as a single mom, so I didn’t see how that could be financially possible, but then they explained that my payments for the partnership would come out of my profit sharing checks. Obviously, I said yes! What a blessing the Caseys have been in my life! I don’t know what
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they saw in me or why, but I owe everything to them.”
About five years later, the Caseys decided they were ready to retire and wanted to sell their franchise. The new buyer wanted 100 percent of the company, but the Casey’s worked out a deal where Renee could continue to work for the new owner.
A few years later, when the new owner decided to move, Renee became majority partner of the Pueblo office with Eric Carson. Renee had met Eric eight years prior when she was awarded the Business Woman of the Year by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Eric believed in Renee and joined her as her partner in life and business.
“The people at Express have been so wonderful to me during these 25 years,” she said. “I’ve worked hard, and people have given me opportunities I never thought I’d have. I have three children who’ve all been involved in the business.” Renee’s older son, Derrick, and his wife, Diana, work with Renee, along with her youngest daughter, Taylor. Renee’s son, Kevin, has helped them on many occasions, making her business a family affair. “What a great thing that is to be able to do for your children. It has been wonderful to be able to help them with their dreams and to give them something to look forward to down the road,” Renee said.
Most of all, Renee loves the fact that she can have a career where she can help change people’s lives. “And here I am, a perfect example of that very concept,” she said. “I walked in here just to find a temporary job until I found something permanent, and look what happened.”
Renee and Eric now own both the Pueblo and Centennial, Colorado offices.
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