From immigrant family to tech CEO, Nina Vaca uses her success to spread global entrepreneurship | Technology
Her father, who owned a travel agency, was murdered in 1989, when Nina was 17. “My dad died at 46. My age exactly. And he left behind five children,” Vaca says. “It was a tragic time for my family. That’s what makes our success story so beautiful. “Yes, like a good entrepreneur, I found a need in the marketplace and a way to fill it. Yes, the barriers to entry were minimal at the time because there was so much demand for IT. Yes, all those things are true. “But the real purpose behind me starting Pinnacle was to create a better life and a better circumstance for my family.” Her older sister, Jessica Narvaez, joined Pinnacle’s management team early on, followed by her younger brother, Freddy Vaca, then her husband, Jim Humrichouse, and cousin, Ximena Alvarez. Today, Vaca numbers her “family” in the thousands, including 5,000 employees and consultants and people in the communities here and abroad that she helps. “The larger and more successful we are at Pinnacle, the more we’re able to...