Meet Karina Vergara | Director of Finance and Administration

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karina Vergara and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karina, what role has risk played in your life or career?

Risk is made up of three parts: The probability of something going wrong, the negative consequences if it does, or everything turning out just right! Risk can be hard to spot, however, when an opportunity presents itself, I find myself going towards the things that have facts, data, and documentation that could reassure that the risk is worth it, but above all, that the outcome will be positive. Most of the time if you’re hit by a consequence that most of us hadn’t planned for, costs, time, and reputations could be on the line. Similarly, overestimating or overreacting to risks can create panic, and do more harm than good.

I think of risk, and I start going towards facts and security. As a young entrepreneur, I am no stranger to risk, I took risks throughout my life, and in doing so, I’ve learned to place things on a scale and measure the good (things I could) and the bad (things I could lose). I’ve had my share of losses, but that doesn’t stop me, it just made me stronger, determined, careful, and analytical when taking risks.

One of my favorite sayings is “You always gain something even when you lose.” My life is filled with memories, experiences, and knowledge I acquired from misjudgments, mistakes, and the outcome of good decisions. “No one likes losing” That is why I do risk analysis for the company; it helps me identify and understand the risks that we could face. In turn, this helps the company to manage these risks, and minimize their impact if the outcome is bad.

I took a risk when I decided to be a part of the corporation we created, but after my analysis, the good things weighed more, that’s why I am here as an integral part of the Modern Pavers & More team!

What should our readers know about your business?

Modern Pavers and More is a family.
The corporation is owned by my brother-in-law, his wife, my husband, and me.
The idea first came as we realized the need for a company where one can place trust and not feel taken advantage of. Geovannie understood that the love and passion that he and his brother (my husband) had for the creation and designing of outdoor areas came so naturally, that he decided to create a concept where Lawn Care, hardscape, and designing could be offered all at once . The idea was brought to us and here we are!

Starting a business on a matter that I was not familiar with was not easy, both Geovannie and Jose (my husband) as well as my sister-in-law (Esther) had been working with pavers and landscape areas for years, they knew the business better than I did.

I now oversee the Finance Department. In the beginning, the position was challenging, as my major and degree involved only one math class and no accounting. I am proud to say I took the challenge, and I am learning continuously. We now have an accountant and a system in place that helps our process run smoothly.

Modern Pavers and More Corp. is different from other companies because our focus is to make our clients feel at ease during and after a project.
We listen to their needs and help them create the vision they had for a particular space.
Because we are a one-stop-shop, we pride ourselves in what we do. You will see us with a smile on our face from the time we visit a client for an estimate to when the final inspection takes place. We want to make sure your expectations are met.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spot in the city is “Blue sushi” located in Downtown Fort Myers, I love going there. Another place I love to go to is “El Patio Restaurant” it is a small Peruvian restaurant that in my personal opinion has the best food in town. If you ever find yourself in the SWFL area, try it! you will not regret it. If you are into nature as much as we are, we love our national parks. To list some, Koreshean Park, Lovers Key national Park. We love Sanibel Island, Bowmans Beach, and many more.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

In the story of my life, there is not one but a group of people that deserve the praise and recognition as much as I do. These people played an important role in my career and development as a woman. I will start by mentioning my mother, who has been there for me every day, always cheering me up and telling me I could do anything I set my mind to do. I will continue with my brother and sister who also support me and encourage me. They are both independent individuals to whom my admiration goes out every day! They inspire me so much! I hope they know.

Finally, my husband, I want to also thank him for all his love and support through the years. We have been married around 26 years and have two amazing kids. He has given me his full support; he has cared for our son during the years I was attending college and has always given me love. We had a goal in common and it was to get my degree. I could not ask for a better partner, he supports all of my decisions.

I remember the times where my son wanted to spend time with me, but couldn’t because I had to study, he had to stay with dad. I had to sacrifice so much time away from family to obtain what we had set out for the family; I truly hope my children know I did it all for them. Our son is an adult now and remembers that part of our life as a necessary thing. Our daughter who was born years after is another blessing and a motivation for us to continue improving and learning. She is always watching what I do and how I do it, she is the hardest critic anyone could have (at 9 years old). Our daughter is another reason to stay motivated and to be better. I speak candidly about my family as we went through difficult times, which we overcame together and as a unit

All my family deserves a shoutout. Even though they are far away, they always make me feel they are close.

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Image Credits
Modern Pavers & More Corp.