There is little more fulfilling to Rodolfo Trujillo than when he assists a family to realize their dream of home ownership. “When I can help a family move from an apartment to a house—that is a great moment in my life.” There are a lot of those great moments now that Trujillo owns his own 22-agent brokerage.
Trujillo opened Re/Max Casas–Homes Realty, Inc., in 2004, making it the first Hispanic-owned and operated franchise in the company’s north central region. Business took off immediately, and by 2005 Trujillo earned the company’s Broker of the Year award.
All from a man who entered the field of real estate reluctantly. Trujillo was a practicing architect in Mexico, moved to Minnesota with his American wife, and had trouble landing a job in architecture. Eventually he was hired as a designer by Target Corporation, but advancements came slowly and he started looking for other opportunities. A friend suggested real estate, noting that there weren’t enough Spanish-speaking agents and Trujillo earned his license.
As a real estate agent, entrepreneur, and new father, Trujillo still makes time for the community. He mentors children through La Opportunidad, works with the Neighborhood Development Alliance and Habitat for Humanity, and serves as vice president of the Cooperative Mercado Central, an organization that helps Latinos develop small businesses.
In everything he does, Trujillo seeks to follow his father’s advice: “Live your life like you will die tomorrow, but study and learn like you will live forever.”
