Franchise of Opportunity: Lourdes Cordero-Hilfman Lourdes Cordero-Hilfman is constantly on the go. As a wife; mother of two children, Grace and Oasis Savannah; an active member in the Killeen community and a new franchisee for one of the most recognizable convenience store brands, 7-Eleven, CorderoHilfman’s day is jam-packed.
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ince preparing for the opening of her franchise, which had its ribbon cutting in June, a normal day starts with much preparation in her store at 1000 South WS Young Drive in Killeen, Texas. “I wake up in the morning, get to work and do what I have to do in my store,” Cordero-Hilfman said. “I make sure my employees are accountable and doing their job. I’m going to the bank and making deposits. Then I have to go pick up my kids, go to dance classes - the job never ends.” Family woman, 7-Eleven franchisee, community leader, volunteer and a Zumba instructor a few times a week, CorderoHilfman embraces what it means to be a businesswoman in the 21st century. Cordero-Hilfman was born in Illinois but lived her childhood and most of her young adult life in Puerto Rico. Businessminded from the beginning, Cordero-Hilfman graduated from University of Puerto-Arecibo and received a bachelor’s degree in communication in technology. After graduation, Cordero-Hilfman decided to seek a career in the United States, which became her own land of opportunity. “I graduated in June 2007, and I came to the States on Dec. 15, 2007,” she said. “There were better opportunities and a better future for me here. “It was instilled in me to continue my studies,” she said. “I continue to stay driven and stay excited for the future, which is why I’m constantly on the go-go-go. I know everything hap-
“The system works, and it helps you get there if you have what it takes .” 58 • October / November 2014 2014
pens if you put your all and your equities in things. Really, I was willing to do it and put the effort, and I believed in myself.” Graduating from Texas A&M University-Central Texas with an MBA, Cordero-Hilfman now had two degrees under her belt and determined it was important to find a career that would fit her already-busy life rather than the opposite. “I actually concentrated more on my family. I had a baby at that time and stayed at home to nurture my child,” she said. “I have an 11-year-old, too, and I kind of focused on that aspect of my life - motherhood. I was looking at work based on the home, things that could have been flexible.” With that goal of flexibility in mind, she discovered an opportunity with 7-Eleven in October 2013. Cordero-Hilfman and her husband, Joel, felt that an investment into their own Killeen location was feasible for the family. And in eight months, Cordero-Hilfman was a 7-Eleven franchisee and one of the newest faces in the company’s push for more Latinos becoming store owners in the United States. “The system works, and it helps you get there if you have what it takes,” she said about the franchising process. “It’s about brand recognition. Everyone knows what 7-Eleven is.” On top of all of her daily responsibilities, Cordero-Hilfman has been starring in a series of 7-Eleven commercials in English and Spanish and will soon participate in another upcoming commercial in Dallas, she said. After her commercial was presented at a 7-Eleven conference, Cordero-Hilfman said the crowd applauded and was excited about the message of getting more minority leaders in franchisee positions. “I continue to get opportunities,” she said. “I have done (the commercials) with a Hispanic approach and concentrate on giving another turnaround of 7-Eleven bringing more awareness and being there for the Hispanic community. I’m young and Puerto Rican, which gave me the opportunity to be a spokesperson.” Though fully stocked with all of the basic 7-Eleven amenities, Cordero-Hilfman wants to bring some of her culture and what she grew up with to her store. “I carry some products and goods that have some flavor that differentiates my store from other 7-Elevens,” she said. “In