Get to Know Isabel

Isabel’s rich and diverse background spans both Mexico and the United States and makes her a great advisor for those looking to move to South Dakota. Born in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, she grew up in a family of 10.   

When she was three years old, her family moved to the United States. She learned English in kindergarten through second grade. Her family later returned to Ciudad Juarez, where she continued her education. 

Despite facing financial challenges that led her to drop out of technical school, her determination and love for the English language persisted. She read English literature, listened to American music, and watched American shows. At 16, she secured her first bilingual job, where she learned computer skills that opened doors to opportunities in two American companies based in Mexico. She worked as an Engineering Clerk and received a promotion to an MRO buyer and an Administrative Assistant. She also worked as an English teacher in that company. After experiencing a job loss in Mexico, she accepted a position as a towing company dispatcher in Seattle, Washington. Her career path took an unexpected turn when her boss acquired a motel in Winner, South Dakota, and offered her the general manager position where she contributed to the hospitality industry for the next 12 years.  

Isabel then joined the Department of Labor and Regulation nearly two years ago. She recently became a Job Advisor and looks forward to the next chapters in her professional journey. 

She is the mother to a son and a daughter and is embracing the role of grandmother to four amazing grandchildren she loves with all her heart and soul.