At NOVA series, community leaders will discuss how they overcame obstacles to achieve success

On Sept. 18, the Manassas Campus of Northern Virginia Community College will host “Persistence Leads to Success,” a presentation by Carlos Castro and Diana Paguaga. A reception at 6:30 p.m. will be followed by a discussion at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the community.

Castro and Paguaga will discuss how they overcame obstacles to achieve success, the role education has played in their lives, tips others can use to reach their goals and more.

Castro was born in El Salvador in 1954 and migrated to the United States at age 25. An entrepreneur by nature, Castro has ventured into a variety of activities and businesses going from a dishwasher to remodeling contractor, real estate agent and restaurant owner.

For the last 16 years, he has been a successful grocery store owner. With some college education in industrial engineering in El Salvador and construction management at NOVA, Castro has fulfilled many dreams.

Through Castro’s leadership, Todos Supermarket is involved with many community events and organizations. Castro is a member of the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association and participates in various activities to reward the work of Prince William County Police officers. He is also active in the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board, NOVA’s Educational Foundation Board, and the advisory board at NOVA’s Woodbridge Campus. Castro is part of the 2010 Leadership Prince William graduate class and an active member of the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s executive board. Castro and his wife, Gladis, have three children: Daniel, Gina, and Carlos Jr.

Paguaga’s professional life grew from a solid educational base as a Fulbright Scholar at American University. She holds a master’s degree from Xavier where she majored in multinational business, knowledge she used with the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and international consulting. She expanded her technical and financial management capabilities with Oracle Corporation and counts many Fortune 500 telecommunications companies as former clients.

After extensive international travel and account management, Paguaga changed from global operations to business relationships with Humana. Recognized as an expert working with the senior market, she specializes in Medicare Advantage Plans and Supplemental Plans, as well as Affordable Care Act enrollment. She carried her senior market knowledge into real estate with Long and Foster which ranked her as a Top Producer specializing in senior housing.

Paguaga currently serves as the chair of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce’s Hispanic Council. She is also a member of the Prince William Salvation Army Advisory Council and a volunteer for Neighbor’s Keeper, an interdenominational social service organization established to be a community educator benefitting health care consumers.

The event is part of the Manassas Campus initiative called iCAD (Inspiring our Community to Academic achievements through Diverse experiences), spearheaded by Provost Roger Ramsammy. The program’s mission is to encourage people to pursue their educational goals.

The Manassas Campus is located at 6901 Sudley Road, Manassas. To learn more, contact iCAD Project Manager Michael Carrington at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 703-257-6555.