Conversations with Fernando Ortega

Today we’d like to introduce you to Fernando Ortega.

Hi Fernando, 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?
Following the grand tradition of Spanish olive oil, ILOVEACEITE has a heritage dating back to 1950 when Founder Fernando Ortega’s grandfather began work in the olive oil business. For over 60 years, the Ortega family has produced 100 percent authentic extra virgin Spanish olive oil.

In 2009, third-generation olive oil producer Ortega, an attorney by trade, combined his Spanish heritage and passion for entrepreneurship to start ILOVEACEITE©. I’m a Degree in Law / University of Navarra’92, Master in Business Tax Advisory (CEF’93) and Master’s in Administrative Traffic Law / University of Murcia’01. I’m a Lawyer by trade (‘93), since 2004 I have been involved as an entrepreneur in corporate projects in Spain and internationally. Founder of Publicatuslibros.com (2004), Ittakus Comunicación (2005), Noticiascadadía (2006). In 2009, I founded ILOVEACEITE Spain, currently with two international subsidiaries: Kochamoliwe in Poland (2011) and ILOVEACEITE US in the USA (2016). In 2017, I launched ‘Texas Test’, a food acceleration export program and in 2018, I founded La Plaza, the first Spain’s Street Cuisine foodtruck in Texas, based in San Antonio.

Through his years of professional experience, I have been able to combine the knowledge and skills I have obtained in each of the fields I have worked in: Legal, Human Resources, Communications & PR, international business, business and brand development, online strategies, and sales among others. My passions include photography and design, I design T-Shirts with my own brand “Vagamundos” (www.fernandortega.com), and love for travel, writing, riding my Harley and I’m a long distance runner. Currently, we import and distribute olive oil, food and wine from Spain. We do catering service in Texas with www.spanishcuisine.us.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. It has been as a long distance race. United States and, particularly, Texas are completely different that Spain. Not only the way of life. We’re talking about business. This is a huge market, with a lot of rules and a very complicated system. You need time (and money) to understand the whole picture. Your background, credit score, credit cards, loans… it’s a challenge when you arrive to the US and want to start your own business. No references, no clients, no credit. It’s painful. Of course adding all the rules about immigration. You have to prove, daily, your a good nonresident ‘alien’ or a good company. All payments on time, all clean papers and background but nevertheless, banks or customer don’t know anything about immigration rules and how hard is to be in the States. After five years operating in Texas, at least, we’re almost Texans!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a Lawyer by trade since 2004 but I have been involved as an entrepreneur in corporate projects in Spain and internationally. I love to be an entrepreneur. I’m 52 but every single day, I wake up thinking about what is going on today. It’s an adventure. Life is an adventure. As an entrepreneur, I see all my activities as a challenge. I love to learn daily. I do many different activities daily: I cook, do photography, design, writing, sell all our products, community manager… even we have a moving service company in San Antonio. What else? I love to be busy but and the same time I love to create; new ideas, projects, etc. Now I’m thinking in my new photography studio in San Antonio. Moon Art Space (www.moonartspace). Is another dream. It will be ready in the following weeks! Looking back, I’m so proud to say: I’m where I want to be. That’s it!

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’m learning to sail at Canyon Lake. I want to sail around the world. When I will be 60, I would like to get in another level of my life. I will think more to enjoy the life than to work. I’m working since I was 20. And need my time to see the world, know more other cultures, travel, take thousand of pictures and enjoy of endless sunsets. I lost my parents in one year. Both passed way really young. They teach me life it’s too short. I have two sons, 22 and 21. They are the best and actually, they are growing their future. I need to rest up and take time to enjoy my last years on the earth being grateful with all that I have lived.

Contact Info:

• Email: info@iloveaceite.us
• Website: www.iloveaceite.us
• Instagram: @iloveaceite
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/iloveaceiteus
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/iloveaceite_us
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/iloveaceite

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