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about mamie salazar harper |
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When it comes to operating a successful business and obtaining
capital to keep it growing and thriving, Mamie Salazar Harper has
become the entrepreneur extraordinaire. She is the owner of M Rentals,
Inc. in El Paso, Texas, and operates under the name of Fiesta Rent-To-Own.
Her lease-purchase stores provide an affordable option for consumers
who want to rent but can eventually purchase products such as appliances,
electronics, furniture and computers. She also provides turn key
temporary and corporate housing. This includes all furnishings;
utilities, phone, cable and high speed internet, as well as complete
housekeeping services. Additionally, M Rentals, Inc. is a federal
contractor, supplying rental appliances to the military. |
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in the news... |
Mrs.
Salazar Harper’s
story serves as an example for other entrepreneurs, especially
women business owners,
as she has overcome many obstacles in order to succeed. Before
starting her own business, she worked as a store manager for
Colortyme, a national franchise system, in Beeville, Texas. Within
eighteen
months, she grew a store from 400 accounts to 1000 accounts,
and was soon promoted to district manager! Recognizing her potential,
the franchiser approached her with a challenge, to takeover a
failing
Colortyme franchise in El Paso, Texas. |
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Click here to view news articles about Mamie
Salazar Harper |
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She
traveled to El Paso in 1990, and without benefit of family
or friends, she quickly
adopted the city and set to work creating a business that would
provide employment for other women. She started her business
without capital by accepting a “no money down, take over
payments” sweat equity arrangement. Without any formalized
training or a college degree, she took on the many challenges
of owning and operating a small business. She created opportunity
where none had existed. |
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Working in a male
dominated industry, Mrs. Salazar Harper is one of a handful of
female rental dealers in the United States, and quite possibly,
the only minority female rental dealer. In 1992, she was awarded
the Colortyme Top Ten Franchisee of the Year, and in 1993 she
garnered the coveted Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
(APRO) Dealer of the Year. She is also the founder of Women of
RTO. As an advocate for the industry, she feels her mission is
to educate the public about the true nature of this business
transaction. She plans and conducts training and informational
seminars for the industry twice a year and hosts an annual state
and national convention. By helping to mentor and train other
rental dealers and their employees, the industry image has improved
dramatically. |
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Mrs. Salazar Harper
has served for ten years on the board of directors for the Texas
Association of Rental Organizations (TARA), and is currently
the Chairman of the Board. She has served six years on the board
of directors for the national Association of Progressive Rental
Organizations (APRO) trade association. She has served as the
APRO Political Action Committee (PAC) Chairwoman for six years,
and created a contribution system that rewarded industry leaders
and increased PAC revenue from $30,000 to $150,000. She has testified
three times, on behalf of the national industry, before the United
States House of Representatives Banking Subcommittee on pending
federal legislation. In September, 2002, HR1701, the Consumer
Rental Purchase Bill was successfully passed in the United States
House of Representatives. Mrs. Salazar Harper has testified twice,
on behalf of the state industry, before the Texas House Legislature
Insurance Committee and Business Committee. |
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The President Bush
Administration recognized her hard work and high energy. In June
2001, she was invited to speak at the White House at an economic
policy roundtable conducted by Dr. Lawrence Lindsey, special
advisor to President George W. Bush. The other attendees included
Dr. Vance Coffman, CEO of Lockheed Martin and J. Carter Beese,
President of Riggs Bank and former Commissioner of the Securities
Exchange Commission. The purpose of this meeting was to report
on the current state of the economy as it relates to the different
business sectors. |
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Also
in 2002, Mrs. Salazar Harper was named one of the Dynamic Dozen
by the Greater
El Paso Chamber of Commerce. This award was presented in recognition
of El Paso’s small to medium sized businesses who have
demonstrated significant growth and who show great potential
for continued success. |
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In
2002, Mrs. Harper was selected as one of the recipients of
Women of Enterprise
Magazine’s Women of Excellence. The award, sponsored
by IBM, is given to Texas women whose initiative, spirit and
achievements
have made a positive difference in both the business world
and the community. |
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In 2003, Mrs. Salazar
Harper was selected as a member of the Advisory Board for State
National Bank. She assists the bank in identifying female entrepreneurs
who need to obtain financing for their small businesses. Thomas
Casaday, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sierra
Providence Health Network, has appointed Mrs. Salazar Harper
to a three year term on the Governing Board of the two Tenet-owned
hospitals. She will act as a liaison between the administration
and the El Paso community. |
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In 2004, Governor Rick Perry has
recently appointed Mrs. Salazar Harper as a Commissioner of
the Texas State Women’s Commission. She will be working
closely with the First Lady of Texas, Anita Perry, in addressing
a variety of issues affecting Texas women. |
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Mamie
Salazar Harper is a tireless advocate of small business. She
works closely with
the SBA El Paso District Office and SBA Business Partners.
She has volunteered her time to work with the SBA and SCORE,
the
Service Corps of Retired Executives, on various seminars and
conferences held throughout the year. In 2004, she was selected
as the SBA El Paso District Directors’ Choice Award. |
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| In 2005,
Mrs. Salazar Harper was honored with the Small Business Administrations'
District Director's Choice Award. |
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In 2005,
the Small Business administration awarded her with the Minority
Small Business Person of the Year for the El Paso, Texas District. |
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