10.18.24
Turning a Personal Setback into an Opportunity
Q & A with Irina Beltrán, Beltrán Group Servicios de Doumentación (Documentation Services)
Many small business owners discover their inner entrepreneur through personal adversity, and Irina Beltrán is no exception. After losing her job of 20 years, she began to look for ways to serve others. In the process, she discovered a new opportunity, and Beltrán Group Documentation Services was born.
Q: What is your business?
Beltrán Group Servicios de Documentación is a notary and documentation assistance business. We serve anyone, but our niche clients are immigrants needing help with everything from translating documents English-Spanish, notary services, and apostille services for their countries. 
Q: Where did you get the idea?
In 2020, I lost my job of 20 years. I had hoped to retire there, so the change was pretty devastating. I started volunteering to help with the depression I was experiencing, and then everything shut down because of COVID. In one of my Facebook groups, I saw that there was a need for notaries who speak Spanish. In my previous job, I had helped a lot of our Hispanic employees fill out various forms, read immigration papers, and communicate with their children’s schools. So, I became a Notary Public, registered my business, and began offering services.
Q: What was it like to launch it?
I didn’t really have to invest a lot of money to get started. You just need a computer and access to the Internet. I knew a lot of people from my previous employment, and from there it was just word of mouth. I also started a Facebook page promoting my business. I charge a reasonable rate, and the majority of people needing services come to us, because I’m well known in the community and I offer professional services and experience as well as services on weekends.
Q: What kind of success have you had so far?
Over the last couple of years, our area has seen a lot of immigration from Venezuela, Colombia, Nicaragua, and other Hispanic regions. When they leave their countries, they also leave their bank accounts, homes, properties, and businesses. They need help with documentation. Many of them don’t have a consulate in the area and have to travel to Chicago to get different documents. We can do those for them at a much cheaper price. At the moment, I do have a full-time job, so I’m just doing this part time to help people and have an extra income, but maybe someday this will generate enough income to support myself and could be a full-time business.
Q: How has your family/community supported you?
I am part of a large network of people through the Greater Fort Wayne Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which represents a wide range of businesses and services. Some of my good friends are volunteering at the Chamber and area nonprofits, and they send me referrals. We all work together and direct people in need to the right resource. 
Q: What challenges have you had to overcome?
When I lost my previous job, I lost my identity as well. I launched this business to have something in place in case anything happens in my current job. I’ve also found that you have to promote your services continuously and take advantage of social media to inform people. Notaries that speak Spanish are very new to many people in our community.
Q: What advice would you give to someone in your community who is considering becoming an entrepreneur?
One thing I’ve come to realize through meeting people through the Chamber and the NIIC is that a lot of people have great ideas, but they don’t believe in themselves, because they don’t speak English, they have an accent, and they feel that they don’t belong, and also because of their legal status.
They might be scared to launch out. They have the potential, but they need to believe in themselves and do the research and education needed to be successful. Always persevere. We have a lot of things against us, and it might feel like you are swimming against the current — but never give up on your dreams.
Be humble and never forget where you come from. Always be proud of your roots. I’m very proud to be Mexican and always represent my country wearing our traditional dresses and flag colors whenever I can. I never heard about the American dream until I came here. I have come from another country to prove that no matter the obstacles or how hard you have to work, when you have a purpose, ambition and put your heart and passion on everything you do, ¡Si se puede! Yes, you can!
Q: Tell us about your journey as an immigrant.
My name is Irina Beltrán Ramírez and I’m from the most beautiful city in Mexico: Monterrey, Nuevo León. I emigrated to United states in September of 1994. 30 years ago! I left my family, my friends, and my country to start a new life and following the American dream. I was 21 years old. I didn’t speak English. I was undocumented. I didn’t have any family or friends here, and I didn’t know anything about the customs or laws in this country.
I learned English by reading the closed captions on the TV while I worked as a housekeeper in a hotel, repeating everything they were saying, then looking up words on the dictionary. Back then there was no Internet or smart phones. I come from a broken family were the beatings were “the bread of each day” and there were no role models. I wanted to go to college, but my father said no. I was very shy and had low self-esteem. I had to mature at a very early age. I said to myself that I may not be the smartest girl, and if I wanted to have a better life, I needed to work hard and put my heart and passion on everything I do.
I continued learning English and found another job as a cashier at a donut shop and my English improved. Then I went to a manufacturing company and worked there for 20 years. I started as a recruiter where the majority of the employees were Hispanic. For years I had felt like I had no purpose, so being able to help employees by translating, listening and helping with personal needs made feel with a purpose. I started doing payroll and moved up to HR Generalist. I took HR courses, learned more about the company, took on plant projects, improved the onboarding process, and after many years of hard work and putting my heart and passion I became the HR Manager.
It has been a hell of a ride. I lived many years with uncertainty and fear about my future while I was undocumented and living with domestic violence. Can you imagine leaving your country, family, friends, your home and everything you know? Packing your dreams in a bag and crossing the border? Walking through the dessert, swimming through the river? Traveling by boat, a shipping container, or on the top of a train? Leaving your life behind, uncertain if you will ever see your loved ones again?
There is no time to grieve. I realized recently we don’t even acknowledge what we go through because we are in survival mode. And we go through it without taking the time to process. We don’t realize the courage it takes and how brave we are to do all that. If we were able to leave our country, cross the border, and start over, we can do anything we put our minds to.
So, whenever you hear someone that speaks with an accent, know that it’s a sign of bravery.
I’m currently the HR Generalist at Latham Pool Products, a manufacturing company, and a very proud board member of the Greater Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. I have a radio show to promote our members and inform our community at La Radio del Compadre, a local Hispanic online radio station. I coordinate workshops for our Hispanic entrepreneurs and volunteer with other organizations. I became a U.S. Citizen and now have my own business!
