Episode 5

full
Published on:

20th Apr 2023

Guacamole and the Entrepreneurial Spirit with Johan Vazquez of Guac N’ Squat

In this episode of the Rooted and Reaching podcast, hosts Nick Kuhn and Bethany Hartley speak with Johan Vazquez, Founder of Guac N’ Squat, a food business based in Goshen, Indiana. Johan’s passion for serving people, his pride in his Mexican heritage, and his entrepreneurial spirit have driven him to create a successful business from the ground up. He talks about the valuable role community plays in the support of business owners and shares how he is educating customers about Mexican cuisine through his products.

QUOTES

  • “I wanted to do food and serve people. I love serving people. I love inviting people into my home. I think that is hospitality, part of my background, and part of being Mexican. I just love taking care of people.“ - Johan Vazquez [00:29]
  • “You can't do everything by yourself. Seek help. I like the idea of community-building relationships. Whatever I can't do, they can help me get there. Whatever my skill set allows them to do, we can trade. Connect yourself with a good community and group of friends.” - Johan Vazquez [13:16]



TIMESTAMPS


1:25 Guac, Peanut Butter, and Popsicles

2:49 Overcoming Challenges and Sourcing Quality Ingredients

6:57 Guac N’ Squat and Johan’s Entrepreneurial Spirit 

12:49 Community Building, Obedience, and Perseverance





RESOURCES

Guac N’ Squat


CONTACT

Nick Kuhn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuhnnick/ 

Bethany Hartley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanyhartley/

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About the Podcast

Rooted and Reaching
Stories about local Startups and Founders in South Bend and Elkhart
There’s a job to do, and in the South Bend - Elkhart region, a midwestern work ethic is changing the narrative from rusty to ready. Our cities are opening up and working together as a region—universities are engaging beyond their campuses, sharing their brainpower and realizing that they’re bigger and better with the community behind them. Organizations are reaching out to newcomers and helping them build local networks, leveling the playing field. Infrastructure is being creatively adapted to be gathering places where new deals are made, new collisions happen, and new entrepreneurs take root. Join the Rooted & Reaching podcast, where we discuss the startup life with entrepreneurs with connections to the South Bend - Elkhart region.

In doing this, we will inform the general public and ourselves about what resources are available and the major pain points of entrepreneurs in our region. This podcast is also intended to tell the amazing stories of our local entrepreneurs in the hope that it will inspire another person in the region considering an entrepreneurial pursuit to take that leap of faith and see the supportive atmosphere in the area.