When Patricia Bonilla arrived in the United States in 1992, she was a 22-year-old civil engineer from the Dominican Republic with a suitcase, a young family and a plan to earn her master’s degree. Little did she know that one day she would lead a thriving construction firm in South Florida.
Today, Bonilla is the CEO and founder of Lunacon Construction Group, a company that will celebrate 20 years in business next year . Her journey, marked by immigration, loss, motherhood and entrepreneurship during an economic recession, reflects both the challenges and determination of immigrant business owners in the United States.
Her story is particularly inspiring during March, Women’s History Month .
Early lessons in excellence
Born in 1968 in Santo Domingo, Bonilla grew up in a household where discipline and education were paramount. Her father, Pedro, an engineer, built his own company after rising from poverty. Her mother, Fanny Sanchez, was an attorney who worked alongside him…