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¡Aplauda Hampton Roads!
“We gained a special trust for each other years ago,” Angel Reyes said of his business partner Tony Torres. “When trapped in a crime scene, our instincts saved one another from being killed on the job.” Bonded like blood brothers against crime while working for the Chesapeake Police Department 18 years ago, Reyes and Torres again lock arms as Hampton Roads “Tropical Smoothie” franchisers. They await a July 2008 opening of their branch in Virginia Beach’s Haygood Shopping Center. Lifelong public servants, they recently served over 500 Tropical Smoothie box lunches to Suffolk tornado victims. ¡Aplauda! takes a look at two dedicated Hampton Roads citizens. Hampton Roads city? Reyes and family have called Virginia Beach home for 13 years, while Torres is a 22-year resident of Chesapeake. Current profession? Reyes wears the Norfolk City Police uniform and Torres tips his hat as captain in the Chesapeake Police Department. Torres is also the franchise owner of the new Tropical Smoothie Café. “Our business partnership is a good balance as I work as Manager of Operation,” Reyes said. “Ten years ago, Tony and I dreamed and projected a business venture together and it’s really happening.” Personal mentor who influenced your life choices? Reyes cites his father as his mentor. “He is and has always been a man of great integrity and character,” he said. “He led by example; never did I see my father drink alcohol, smoke tobacco products, or stay out late.” Torres said his mentor is “Jesus Christ who has provided for him the best example in leadership skills and examples of humility and kindness.” Organization affiliations in Hampton Roads? Both Reyes and Torres have served on board positions of the National Latino Peace Officers Association. In addition, Torres served on Governor Mark Warner’s Virginia Latino Advisory Commission and as president of the Conference of Minority Public Administrators’ Hampton Roads Chapter. Each has donated many volunteer hours in an effort to reach Hispanics and other minorities in Hampton Roads. “Many family picnics were organized for the Hispanic community to share with and build relationships to help gain trust between law enforcement and Latinos,” Reyes said. How well do you think the United States in general, but Hampton Roads in particular, has done in creating opportunities and accommodating Spanish speakers? “I have lived in Virginia since 1984, when I came to the Norfolk Naval Air Station,” Reyes said. “Originally from New York, I experience culture shock due to the fact that there was little in the Hampton Roads area for Latinos. There were no Spanish food sections in the supermarkets, and I saw very few Latinos except those I knew on the Navy base. Within the last five years, I have seen a tremendous increase in the Latino population and many locations accommodating Hispanics. In my opinion the Hampton Roads area has embraced the Latino population.” Torres responded, “The State of Virginia continues to work diligently in bridging the gap between all cultural communities as evidenced in police efforts to teach officers how to speak Spanish.” What influence do you think the Hispanic population has had on the Hampton Roads community? “The Hispanic population is growing,” Reyes said. “Our people are humble hardworking individuals with strong family values.” “The Hispanic population has been instrumental in introducing Hampton Roads to a culture that is loving, kind, hard-working and that come from strong religious beliefs,” Torres said. Any words of wisdom for the Hispanic population of Hampton Roads? “As my parents taught me from my earliest memories; first God, with respect for those you love, and what is done well, is seen as well done, all can be accomplished,” Reyes said. “Love and kindness always prevails; lead like Jesus,” Torres said. These two puertorriqueño entrepreneurs will keep their family heritage of hard work alive for a long time to come. Unlike on their island, where people call out for “limbe, piragua and coquito,” they’ll be yelling, “Tropical Smoothie at your service.” Thank you Reyes and Torres for many years of service in Hampton Roads. ¡Aplauda! — IRM |
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By Idalia Rosa-Martinez
