Esperanza “Hope” Andrade might be just that…hope. She isthe first female Latina Secretary of State for the great stateof Texas, and a successful entrepreneur. Through her professionaland public careers, she demonstrates the power of the Americandream.
Secretary Andrade was put up for adoption by her birth–father.In the hopes of giving her a better life, her father gave her to a lovingcouple, Elpidio andEloisa Andrade. “Therewas no question abouttheir love…which gaveme great confidence,”says Andrade.
Her adoptive parentshad difficultybearing children,their first and onlychild only living to 6months of age. Theypoured out their loveon Andrade, encouragingher every step ofthe way. Her motherfawned over her, walkingher to school, waiting onthe steps and even having a friend keep an eye on her at recess. Shealso went home for lunch each day, where her mother cooked forher.
Her loving home environment fostered courage in the youngAndrade. She spent her summers educating herself in the library,and working from the age of 12. She married her husband, Ramiro,when she was 18. A returning Vietnam veteran, Ramiro contributedto what Andrade sees as her early maturation. After Andrade’ssheltered childhood, the 24 year old Ramiro finally taught her howto ride a bike. Both of them began working at an early age, “Wewanted a better life,” says Andrade. They considered working togetherfor a time, but Andrade says, “We thought we’d enjoy eachother more as husband and wife than as business partners.”
Not long thereafter, Andrade’s entrepreneurial spark beganto grow. After having a child, Andrade was working hours outsidethe standard nine to five. After speaking with fellow femaleprofessionals with children, she noticed the market for more flexiblechildcare. Andrade began a staffing agency, The DomesticAgency, which coordinatedworking motherswith part–time childcare and housekeeping.After placing anad in the Northside Recorder,they were soonproviding childcare toupwards of 100 clients.Soon, clients were callingto see if she couldtake care of their agingparents as well. Afterfilling that need, thoseaging parents began toneed medical and finallypalliative hospicecare. Andrade and herbusiness partner fulfilled these needs by expanding their servicesto home health and hospice care. “We just listened to our customers’needs,” says Andrade.
In 2007, Andrade sold Optimacare Home Health and MissionPlusHospice , realizing what she feels is the true Americandream. “We took an idea, and made it into something that hadvalue to someone else,” says Andrade. During her entrepreneurialdays, she and her business partner also started a photography studio,a perfume shop, and a nail salon. Through each venture, shesays, “If we have a happy employee, they’ll take good care of theclient. I believe strongly in taking care of our employees.” She thenutilized that regard for her employees as she shifted her focus topublic service.
When she left the entrepreneurial race, she didn’t slow downfor even a moment. She began serving Leadership San Antonioin 1990. After joining, she attended a Leadership San Antonioretreat in Wimberley, Texas. There, she was shy, feeling out ofplace among her corporate compatriots. As we are all aware, shemost definitely belonged among the leaders of our city. Shortlythereafter, she was invited to bevice chair of VIA, which wasstruggling in the 1990s. She thenaccepted invitations to serve aschair of the Hispanic Chamber ofCommerce, and vice chair of theGreater Chamber.
The governor then askedAndrade to serve on the TexasTurnpike Authority in 2000 andthe Texas Transportation Commissionin 2003, where she wasthe first female Latina chair. Shecompleted her term on the TexasTransportation Commission onApril 30, 2008. On July 10, 2008,while at a conference in Las Vegas,Governor Rick Perry called her toinvite her to serve as his Secretaryof State. In this capacity she servesas the Chief Business Officer forTexas, working to attract businessesto the state. She also servesas Chief Protocol Officer, overseeingthe maintenance and operationsof our border policies and Chief Elections Officer.
With years of experience in local business, transportationand local bureaucracy, Andrade is more than qualified as ourTexas Secretary of State. In addition to her impressive resume,however, are the values and priorities which shine through herconfident and charismatic personality.
“Being the first woman Latina Secretary of State; it comeswith a tremendous honor, but also responsibility,” says Andrade.And she is handling this responsibility with the same humilityand respect which have inspired the trust of Governor RickPerry, as well as San Antonio’s business community. “Everyonekeeps saying that history is being made, but I want to be proudof what history will say of me,” says Andrade. She recognizes thepivotal role that she holds for both the female and Latino populationsof Texas.
So what types of policies will our history–making Secretaryof State support? She will workwith the Governor on the prioritieshe has set for our greatstate and asserts that she willfocus on ensuring that her officecontinues to serve Texaswith efficiency, dedication anda commitment to outstandingcustomer service. She believesthat Texas must maintain abusiness friendly environmentto keep attracting businesses toinvest in Texas and strengthenour relationship with Mexico.She also believes that technologyis important for our state andwe must continue encouraginginvestment in this field.
Andrade is rightfullyproud of her record of successand achievement in the stateof Texas. Her greatest pleasure,however, are her two grandsons.Perhaps following his mother’sexample, Andrade’s son Michaelis a budding entrepreneur himself. Though she mighthave hoped for a more stable mode of employment for her son,Andrade is surely proud of his continuing their business–savvylegacy.
We thank Secretary of State Hope Andrade for her continuedservice to the state of Texas, and are proud to claim her as aSan Antonian.
