Today we’d like to introduce you to Luis Martinez.
Luis, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I always have to start by saying I am from Puerto Rico, I moved here in 1996. My background is in marketing, event coordination, the beauty industry and community development. It has been a long 16 years of career development. 8 years ago I let it all go and start from scratch, it was the best decision I have ever made. It has helped me grow individually and socially. In the process, I met an incredible woman named Rebecca Royster who is my business partner and we have launched our first event, Dames and Dregs Festival.
Has it been a smooth road?
Ha! I would say as smooth as unstirred crunchy peanut butter can be. I have had major bumps on the road. From working in the family business and dealing with those emotional stresses to losing my father in my early 20’s. That is when I decided to break loose, quit everything and start over again. At that time I had started to grow great relationships within the city and bigger corporations. I had just managed a South East Tour for Scion (Toyota) which was a great success.
As well as coordinating local festivals that uplifted the Hispanic community, with attendance of over 20k. However, I quit and went directly to retail. I wanted to start from what I knew best customer service. I have also struggled a lot with being a minority and the way higher-ups can interpret your tone, your moves, your voice, and how I am not one to say sure I will do that!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Our business was launched at the start of 2018, it is called Mar and Roy. We are working out some final brainstorming ideas. However, our goal is to engage the community in ways that have not been done before. We want to innovate, cultivate, engage, and always give back. We want to think before we act, we want to partner with companies that match our culture and ideas. We are a minority-owned company, in a southern state. I am not sure how much prouder someone can be one that is put out on the table.
What we are currently working on is the launch of our first major event. Dames and Dregs Festival. It’s an Atlanta-based experience that seeks to empower and educate the community by celebrating the female contributions to brewing, both in the present and throughout history. We strive to create an enticing, supportive, and inspiring atmosphere, featuring the hard work and talents of female-led breweries, brewers and brewery employees who are women, as well as female-led businesses and non-profit organizations within the community.
Who else deserves credit – have you had mentors, supporters, cheerleaders, advocates, clients or teammates that have played a big role in your success or the success of the business? If so –who are they and what role did they plan / how did they help.
Oh wow, I believe the universe deserves such credit. She has really worked in showing me that everything happens for a reason. You just have to fight it through and never give up. I believe it started with any teacher that believed in me and pushed for me, that fought for me. Including coach Williams, leaning on my shoulder and telling me “this too shall pass”, to my college professor Lee Furey. My mother, hands down is a powerful storm in my life and has taught me lessons left and right.
My friends for not giving up on me. Those who talked down to me for giving me the power to grow and fight until I do me. They taught me to celebrate my life, my self, my work. Then, there are business moguls like David Baumgaurden, Anisa Telwar Kaicker that I have had the pleasure to work under and they gave me a different world to explore. Also, anyone else that has crossed my path. I believe we are all interconnected in some way. Once I receive your energy I will feed off it forever, good or bad.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.damesanddregs.com
- Email: luis@damesanddregs.com
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
