2017 COD Award Program

FERNANDO ALCAUTER
President, Michoacana Mexican Market LLC
The young entrepreneur Fernando Alcauter
was born in Chicago Illinois and moved to
Columbus Ohio in 1999, where he was raised
and where he was taught to be devoted to his
work. In 2008 he graduated from Westerville
South High School. Fernando did not have
the same future waiting for him as many of his
schoolmates, whom were preparing for college.
Unlike many young students, Fernando had to
make a choice between continuing his education,
or integrating in the growing family business, the
local supermarket chain La Michoacana Mexican
Market. The decision was not only tough because
of the family pressure, but also because he
was the youngest of the brothers and had the
most education, so the expectation was high.
He opted to join the family business when Las
Michoacana Mexican Supermarket was a chain
of nine locations in Columbus and one in Dayton.
This is where his entrepreneurial career began.
The initial stages were not easy, nor was he
simply given a title. Fernando had to face many
obstacles along the way, starting out by being
the owner’s son, but having to fulfill the duties
of cashier, cook, server, meat cutter, and even
in janitorial. His father made him department
manager in 2012, and in 2014 he took over general management in the largest one of the
Supermarkets, located on Morse Road.
The six years of devotion to the Supermarket business forced him to gain experience in all areas
related to the business, and this brought better opportunities. Self-motivated, and self-taught in
many areas of management, and with the support of his family and other managers, Fernando
surpassed his other siblings, and upon his father’s retirement, he took over the position of President
of Michoacán Market LLC. With this new title came many changes, a rejuvenated business
structure, and the necessity for difficult decisions that have allowed the expansion of the business.
Fernando is also a big advocate of the Hispanic Community and he has demonstrated appreciation
for the support of the family business by giving back as much as possible. He is constantly involved
in social, religious and sports festivals, and has a hands-on approach to contributing to non-profit
efforts via time, resources and money. He has also made the time to devote to his own companies,
Nando’s Investments and Gilnando’s Properties. He lives on his father’s advice of “any goal you
propose upon yourself you can achieve with dedication, honesty and good work ethic”.
We need to reach that happy stage of our development when differences
and diversity are not seen as sources of division and distrust, but of
strength and inspiration.
PIONEER AWARD WINNER
Josefa Iloilo