World Trade Center Miami recognized Patricia Compres, founding and managing member of Advance Customs Brokers & Consulting, as one of five outstanding women in the international trade arena. The International Women's Achievement Award was presented on May 5. The award honors women practitioners who have made outstanding efforts in the field of international trade for South Florida. It aims to document and recognize achievements such as innovations, advancements in trade facilitation and market access, as well as entrepreneurship, which have contributed to and improved the competitiveness of international trade for the community.
Compres noted how appropriate it was to celebrate the international achievements of women with an organization like WTC Miami that is led by such an accomplished visionary as Charlotte Gallogly. Compres also acknowledged the many women who contributed to her success. "First and foremost is my partner Maria Bermudez," she said. "Also, I credit my daughter, my mother, and produce and customs leaders who led the way and mentored me, including Mayda Sotomayor, Carol Sydnor, and Robbi Bell, to name a few, as well as my team at Advance Customs Brokers."
Left: Tiffany Compres accepts the 2023 International Women's Achievement Award on behalf of her mother, Pat Compres, who was out of town; right: Pat Compres
She spoke about the anxiety and doubt she faced when taking the step to leave her full-time employer, obtain her customs broker's license and strike out on her own. "I was working as an in-house broker for an importer and decided to quit and start my own company," she said. "It was very scary! It took so much courage to quit. To my surprise, my employer at the time, Eladio Valdez, agreed to be my first account, knowing that I was starting from my garage."
Compres concluded her remarks by touching on the constraints faced by women with children and encouraged all women to keep persevering. "I had reservations about starting my business as the mother of a young daughter and how to navigate the demands of both roles," she said. "We could do better in supporting both parents and emulating fair household management and balance for the next generation. Lastly, don't listen to well-meaning people who tell you going for your dream isn't a good idea. When I started my first business almost 30 years ago, my mother Sady told me, 'Don't be afraid of anything; if you don't risk, you don't gain.'"
This year marks the 20th year of the event, and over 100 women have received the award during this time. In addition to Compres, the award was also presented to The Honorable Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County mayor; Lissette Elias, trade commissioner Dominican Republic; Djenane Gourgue, vice president of the Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce; and Teresa King Kinney, CEO, Miami Association of Realtors.
For more information:
Jodean Robbins Duarte
Advance Customs Brokers
SolutionsAssociatesInt@gmail.com
https://www.advancecustomsbrokers.com/