Today we’d like to introduce you to Javier Quezadacavazos.
Hi Javier, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
At a young age, I had always curious about how to make money on my own, in Monterrey Mexico where I was born and raised until the age of 19, I always look for opportunities.
Place of birth: Monterrey N.L. Mexico
Place of residence: Houston Texas United States.
I was born and raised in Monterrey Mexico for eighteen years when we had the opportunity to get our legal residence in the United States. On August 3, 1996, for the first time as residents my family and I, crossed over the border to start a new life and to chase the opportunity to grow.
In 1997 I got married, and start my own family; in 1999 at the age of 22 years old I decided to join the Arm Forces and went off to US Marines boot camp in San Diego California where I spent a little over 5 months because I got injured in one of the training exercises and had to spend more time than a regular Marine. After that, I went and did my Infantry school and then my warehouse training as my permanent job in the Marines.
In 2001 I had my last child in April just before the 911 attacks in New York, by then I was in the reserves in Houston Texas, when later in 2004 we were activated to get involved in Iraqi Freedom II, from June 2004 to June 2005 spending 7 months of that in Iraq, I have received my Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Award Medal, and other awards.
In 2007 after finishing my 8-year contract in the Marines I was not able to continue because of some injuries while in Iraq when both of my Knees got dislocated and had to get a surgery.
By then I was home with my marriage separation and in charge of my three boys, whom I raised by myself for over 8 years in the mid-time I was working as a welder in an oil company and in 2010 I decided to go back to school and get my degree in culinary arts something I have loved since I was 12 years old working for different hotels and restaurants even a couple of sports stadiums so I decided to get my Chef diploma, but by June 2010 for a life destiny, I started my own Catering Business that was called A-Team Catering, because it was a project between 10 other students for a class that we need it.
When the class finished 3 months later I got stuck with a company in my name and no idea on how to run a business, but never the less I continued the business, my catering business started with a 2006 blue 4-door Kia spectra sedan, using my mother’s kitchen and oven and delivering all the food in this small car and I cooked for over 350 people with my kids to help me serve and cook.
In my first year as a business owner I did 12 catering jobs that generated $7,500.00 us dollars on my second year I did generate 14 catering jobs which generated $9,000.00 us dollars in 2012 revenue sales of $15,000.00 2013 I remarried and the business grew to $18,000.00 in revenue sales still small but just enough to pay the bills 2014 generated $40,000.00 but I was having this dream of growing my business 3 times in 2015 compared to sales in 2014 and even my wife though I was crazy to think that I could potentially generate that kind of money some people said maybe you can double up but never 3 times that well in 2015 I generated $148,000.00 in sales compared to 2014 bought a trailer with a full kitchen that is worth well over $25,000.00 that is all paid for and over $10,000.00 in equipment for all types of events for up to 350 people with ceramic plates, silverware and glassware all paid in full.
In 2015 I went over my own goal of 3 times the revenue in 2016 we have matched the sales revenue of 2015 and I am ready to expand and reach the goal of sales revenue of $300,000.00 for 2017.
This is just a small part of my life and business story, I am always looking the way to improve myself and help others in my way over the years in business I have donated dinner packages for different non-profit organizations, as part of how grateful life has been to me and my family.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, but it’s worth all the challenges I have been through, normal challenges as any other business =, financial being number one, then fears of failure, criticism, lack of support, and wanting to give up.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Chef Q Catering?
Chef Q Catering started as a school project in 2010, with a different name. Back then, we called ourselves The A Team and with time changed to what we are now.
We cater to the government 95% of the time National Guard, Marines, Texas Guard, Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Airforce, and some other federal and state agencies.
We do not have a fixed menu, we work to our clients’ desires of food, we customize the menu based on food ethnicity, budget and size of the event to be served.
We are mobile, we bring the kitchen to you. We travel anywhere in Texas and annexed states.
My competition is ourselves, we love to serve and we do it well.
What were you like growing up?
I was a very curious guy, I start to cook when I was about 7 and professionally at age of 12 in a small restaurant in Mexico.
I started my own business shining shoes, car washing, and selling gum on the parks and streets of Monterrey, at age of 8, my father owned a marketing business, and printing. He never liked it for me to be doing that since there was a good financial situation in my family.
But I never mind learning different stuff. At age 15, I started a business called Amway, you heard of it that was my first lesson learned in the world of business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chefqcatering.com
