Pablo Hernandez & Matthew Brown College of Business, Class of 2021
SECURINGACOMMUNITY The most successful entrepreneurs will always point to their capacity to recognize opportunity as a fundamental element of their success. Founded by College of Business undergrads Pablo Hernandez and Matthew Brown, The Secure Mask company was founded to meet the public demand for comfortable, reusable face masks in the wake of COVID-19. But it can’t just be an opportunity—it’s a culmination of preparedness, resources, and connecting the dots which moves opportunity into success. “I always had an entrepreneurial spirit, which I believe comes from my parents,” says Hernandez, a senior marketing major. He has tested the entrepreneurial waters with several ventures during his time at UofL, including photography and owning a coffee roaster, Herns Coffee. Hernandez’s parents have been involved in textiles and manufacturing—a direct connection that helped to jumpstart The Secure Mask. 6
UofL College of Business: CURRENCY
Matthew Brown’s passion for finance and investment has helped to give the duo a solid fiscal foundation. Like Hernandez, Brown has already built a successful enterprise—he has been a ticket broker since 2016. “Building my ticket brokerage allowed me to learn how to interact with both business-to-business clients and business to consumers. It also taught me the importance of cash flow and managing inventory.” That inventory management currently occupies much of Pablo’s apartment. “We ship everything out from my apartment. There are boxes everywhere.” Ramping up inventory has gone hand-in-hand with an increase in demand. Initially, mask orders were from the Louisville metro area. “When we first started selling the masks, I used to spend part of the day delivering them in my car,” says Hernandez. “But that all changed when we started doing ads on television.”
