We were excited to take you “backstage” at Maria Empanada to hear from entrepreneur and founder, Lorena Cantarovici. Lorena shared her story of how she came to Denver from Argentina with only $300 in her pocket but determined to make it. Lorena started selling empanadas from her kitchen, mostly to friends and family. Six years and several locations later, that effort has paid off: Maria Empanada has won the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2017 Small Business Person of the Year Award for Colorado; Zagat rated the company as “one of the 12 hottest new bakeries across America;” they’ve appeared on the Food Network twice and were recognized as one of the Eight Breakout Brands of 2018 by the nation’s top restaurant industry magazine. We enjoyed an evening of empanadas and entrepreneurship (as well as some wine!) with fellow members.