As a teenager, Emiliano moved to the U.S. to carve out a better life for himself and his family, first working as a farmer in Texas and eventually landing in Willmar. In addition to being a hard worker, Emiliano is a supportive father who raised five boys without their biological mother, and he hoped only that they would have easier lives than his own.
“He wasn’t concerned about what career I wanted,” Pablo said. “He just wanted me to make a future for myself and make sure that once he leaves, he doesn’t have to worry.” Although his father didn’t dictate his career path, Pablo said he inspired it. “My dad used to work on cars and always asked us to help.” Having worked as a mechanic in Mexico, Emiliano continued to work on his own car as a hobby in the U.S. and started showing his sons the ropes when they were just 10. But Pablo realized that his interest in cars was a little different from that of his dad. “He was mostly on the mechanical side. I was more interested in painting.”
Pablo’s focus on auto body work brings together his lifelong passion for both visual art and cars, and it has positioned him to have a unique skillset as a kind of automobile artisan. “It takes patience,” he said, reflecting on his program, which was much smaller than the auto mechanical program at Ridgewater. “You have to blend in the new paint with the original. If you mess up, you have to sand everything down and restart, and that’s gonna be another four-hour job.” But the work suits him.
Pablo is continuing his education at Ridgewater for another year to complete an entrepreneur certificate, with the goal of opening an auto shop with his twin. Their youngest brother, who will graduate from high school next year, may follow their lead. “Our goal is to have our own family business, and hopefully it can grow big. I want it to be the most popular shop. It’s a big goal, but I’m excited for the future.”
