Angela Velez left Colombia for Minnesota to attend college on a scholarship, primed to seize new opportunities in the United States. She knew that if she stayed in her native country and was able to graduate from college, it would be tough to find a decent and well-paying job. Ten years later, Velez has made the most of these opportunities and firmly rooted herself in this country.
Velez works as a project manager for Open Systems International, which makes software and hardware for the utility industry, and she spends much of her free time volunteering. For the past two years Velez has served as a Big Sister to a 12-year-old girl from Maple Lake, and she has mentored other children through a Boys and Girls Club and the public schools.
Her commitment to helping others stems from her childhood in Colombia, where she witnessed abject poverty and hunger. “I realized I was very fortunate, and I need to give back. You can do that with time or money, and I don’t have money,” says Velez. “I don’t know how else to live unless I’m helping people.”
Velez earned degrees in computer science and international management from the College of St. Scholastica, and she continued on for a Master’s in Management. She excels at her small company where she can touch many areas of the business such as marketing, customer relations, and sales development in Latin America.
Camping, canoeing, and rock climbing fill much of Velez’s free time. When the weather doesn’t cooperate she taps into her creative side to sew, bake, and make homemade candles and soap. She feels fortunate that she came to the United States alone and made it through her own initiative. “Not in a million years could I own a house in Colombia, and I bought a townhouse two years ago,” says Velez. “America gave me so many opportunities, and I took them.”
