2020 Top Florida Latino Lideres Award Recipient
Kelvin Valle is a Latino Mover N’ Shaker from Tampa Bay, Florida
Latin Times Magazine: Where are you and your family from? What is your Hispanic heritage?
Kelvin Valle: I’m from Rincón, Puerto Rico. A beautiful small town in the West Coast of Puerto Rico. My mother “Maria Baez” still lives in Rincon.
Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it
2020 Latino Lideres: I own two businesses. Transonic Logistics Consulting & Transonic Laser Engraving. I did logistics for the US Air Force for 18 years.
Latin Times 2020 TOP Florida Latino Lideres Award!
I have a passion for logistics. Therefore, I had the opportunity to open a consulting business and now I run the entire logistics operation for a private company that provides WiFi to private jets. Transonic Laser Engraving was born after I got back from a contractor job in Colombia. I saw laser work there for the first time.
Latin Times Magazine: In your industry, what would you say separates you from your competition
Kelvin Valle: Our core values, military skills, passion, and our connection with the community definitely sets us apart from the competition. My main goal is to create long-lasting relationships, not clientele.
Latin Times Magazine: During Covid-19, tell us about your Biggest Challenge/obstacle and how you overcame it/or are overcoming it
Kelvin Valle: My biggest challenge was to start a new business while in the middle of a pandemic. Our Laser Engraving business officially started in March 2020. Therefore, it was quite a challenge to reach our local market. However, we focused on Social Media and our e-Commerce website to reach customers all over the US, Puerto Rico, and overseas. He
reached as far as Germany & England.
Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about your biggest achievement, and how you achieved it (Covid or non-
related)
Kelvin Valle: My biggest achievement was to grow the business from our garage to an actual shop on one of the busiest roads in Land O Lakes, FL. Now we can reach more customers, fulfill bigger orders, and have more equipment. I was able to achieve that by adapting to changes. Targeting online sales, e-commerce, and using Social Media. Working long hours and focusing on a goal.
Latin Times Magazine: What is next for you? What can people expect to see from you?
Kelvin Valle: I want to be the Laser Engraving business that everyone recognizes and trust. People can expect to see us in more than one location.
Latin Times Magazine: What words of encouragement can you offer?
Kelvin Valle: Never give up on your goals. Stick to them and try many things until you find the right move to achieve your goals. The worst move is the one you thought of but never tried. Use negative feedback and criticism as a fuel to prove them wrong. I’d have never done anything in my life if I heard those who never supported or trusted me.
Latin Times Magazine: Is there anything I didn’t ask that you would like to share?
Kelvin Valle: I have 3 daughters. Karina (21), Kyandra (11), Keannah (9). Karina is in college studying to become a teacher. They are my biggest inspiration, my joy, my reason to keep moving to better and bigger things, the loves of my life.
I really want to be able to hire disabled veterans and first responders. Help them to learn a new trade and to support them in the process.
Latin Times Magazine: What is YOUR comida Latina favorita? Kelvin Valle: Mofongo with seafood.