ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — For many, the American Dream has meant being your own boss. That has been the case two generations of one Rockford family, originally from Mexico.
Brisa Berumen-Dixon started her non-emergency medical transportation company, Seabreeze, in 2019 after seeing patients struggling to reach healthcare appointments.
“I was working in the community with patients who had traumatic brain injuries, and there was a big barrier with assisting individuals to get to their medical appointments, Berumen-Dixon said. “We often don’t think about how impactful transportation can be, but one in five individuals are impacted by transportation, and 32% of patients that don’t show up to their medical appointments are due to transportation.”
Her business now operates 25 vehicles, completing 325 trips per day.
On Thursday, the City of Rockford highlighted Berumen-Dixon and her business accomplishments on their social media .
Earlier this year, the City proclaimed June 17th as Berumen Family Day to honor her grandparents, Jose and Herminia, and their contributions to the city.