Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Ruiz.
Hi Katherine, 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?
💫 My Story: From Bagels to Purposeful Abundance
My story in this country began like many others: I arrived in the United States with a suitcase full of dreams, studying English and working as a waitress in Manhattan.
Until one day, while visiting a childhood friend, his mother told me she was selling her small bagel shop in Brooklyn.
I had no money, no fluent English, and no idea what it meant to run a business in another country… but something inside me said yes.
And that yes changed my destiny.
I learned to bake bagels at four in the morning, to grill pounds of bacon, to smile at customers when all I wanted was to sleep.
I went from living paycheck to paycheck as a waitress… to living paycheck to paycheck as the owner of my first business in the United States.
From walking everywhere, to owning my first car.
From sharing a room, to renting an entire house.
It was the beginning of a journey that taught me that the best decisions are often made before you feel ready.
âš¡ The Turning Point
Over time, life put me to the test.
I became a single mother, with a baby in my arms, while putting out fires at Bogaty Bagel Shop every single day.
And then came the hardest blow: my mother passed away from cancer.
That day I understood that no matter how much you earn, you can’t buy time… or health.
I found myself broken inside, exhausted, in debt, and afraid.
But right there, in that moment of darkness, my rebirth began.
I decided to invest in the only thing that could multiply my life: myself.
I invested in personal growth — mentors, workshops, retreats — in my health and emotional well-being.
And the incredible thing was that I did have enough time and money… without working more hours.
Because when you change your mindset, you change your results.
I left behind predatory loans, stopped being invisible to banks, and began to create wealth with purpose.
🌱 The Rebirth
With that new mindset came new streams of income.
I moved to the suburbs of New Jersey, married an extraordinary man, and together we relocated to South Carolina, where CorKat Solutions, our vending machine company, was born.
In that moment, I realized this wasn’t just about me —
it was about everyone who has the drive to grow but feels trapped in the system.
That’s how Alfa Mastery was born — our mentorship program that helps others build financial freedom from scratch, with low investment and big vision.
Today I know that true success isn’t just in the numbers.
It’s in going to bed each night knowing that you earned well… and were present for the hugs and the conversations that truly matter.
It doesn’t matter your accent, your starting point, or what others have made you believe.
You can earn big.
You can live in abundance.
And you can do it without giving up what you love most.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all — the road has been anything but smooth. When I bought my first bagel shop in Brooklyn, I had no money, no fluent English, and no business experience. I learned everything through trial and error: waking up at 4 a.m. to bake, managing staff, dealing with suppliers, and serving customers with a smile even when I was exhausted.
Later, as a single mom running a small business, the challenges became even more personal. I faced financial pressure, emotional burnout, and the loss of my mother to cancer — one of the hardest moments of my life. But those struggles taught me resilience, faith, and the importance of investing in myself.
Every obstacle became a lesson. What once felt like chaos eventually became the foundation of who I am today — not just an entrepreneur, but a woman who builds with purpose and helps others create freedom through their own ventures.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Corkat Solutions is my newest company, based in South Carolina. We provide vending and micro-market solutions across the Upstate region, helping residential communities and high-traffic businesses give their residents, tenants, and employees convenient access to quality snacks and drinks — right where they are.
What makes us different is that we don’t just install machines — we build relationships. Our service model focuses on customization, technology, and community impact. We tailor every location to the people it serves, offering fresh products, smart systems, and reliable service that truly make life easier.
Beyond Corkat, we also lead Alfa Mastery, our bilingual coaching program that helps people across the U.S. start their own vending businesses from scratch. What sets Alfa Mastery apart is our Ride-Along Experience — one of our business consultants travels directly to the client’s location to guide them live, step-by-step, on how to secure contracts with high-traffic businesses and build their vending route successfully. We also offer the full program in Spanish, creating opportunities for the Hispanic community to build financial freedom through entrepreneurship.
Corkat is expanding rapidly, and what excites us most is not just growth, but impact — knowing we’re helping local communities access better on-site convenience while empowering new entrepreneurs nationwide to create abundance on their own terms.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is seeing transformation — in myself, in my family, and in the people I mentor. Watching someone go from doubt to confidence, from survival to abundance, reminds me why I do what I do.
I find joy in the small, quiet moments too — waking up early to work on new ideas while my family sleeps, sharing breakfast with my son before school, or hearing from a student who just placed their first vending machine. Those moments fill my heart because they remind me that success isn’t just about numbers or recognition; it’s about living a life aligned with your purpose and being present for the people you love.
Happiness, to me, is growth with gratitude.
Pricing:
- Our Packages starts at $2000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alfamastery.com/welcomealfamastery
- Instagram: katherineruiz.oficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/corkatsolutions
- Other: https://corkatsolutions.com
