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Estrella Insurance is documenting the journey of franchise owner Arla Rodriguez, who moved from volunteering in a local office to building a presence of 12 locations across Palm Beach County.
Originally from Cuba, Rodriguez faced difficult circumstances before making the life-changing decision to move to Florida. Her childhood friend, who knew someone working at Estrella Insurance, suggested she seek out the Palm Beach County office and offer to volunteer there in hopes of eventually earning a job. Though uncertain, she trusted the advice of her dear friend and took the chance.
To support herself, Rodriguez worked a demanding cleaning job from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., then spent her afternoons volunteering at Estrella’s flagship West Palm Beach office. She maintained this routine for eight months. Her persistence paid off in 2001, when an Estrella supervisor offered her a part-time position, an opportunity she immediately embraced and one that marked the beginning of her career with the company.
By 2003, Rodriguez transitioned to a full-time role in Broward County and left her cleaning job behind. In 2006, she was offered a manager position in Palm Beach County, once again taking on a new challenge.
In 2010, she was presented with a new opportunity, becoming a franchisee in Palm Beach County. Unlike earlier moments, this decision gave her pause.
“I didn’t say ‘yes’ right away,” Rodriguez recalled. “It felt both exciting and scary. For the first time, I needed to stop and really think about it.” After careful consideration, she accepted and never looked back. “The leadership was incredibly supportive. To this day, I’m grateful for the guidance and belief they had in me as I built my business.”
Rodriguez credits key leaders within the organization for helping shape her success, including CEO Nicolas Estrella, Jr., Vice President of Operations Richard Estrella, and Co-Founder and Vice President of Franchising Jose Merille, whose financial insight proved especially valuable as she expanded her portfolio. She also highlights her supervisor Jose "Stevie" Sanchez and Director of Training Ana Laura Morales as part of the team that continually guided her with this venture.
Equally important has been the support of her family. Her husband and daughter have been deeply involved in the business, contributing to key decisions and sharing in every milestone. Her daughter, in particular, has grown up alongside the company, gaining firsthand knowledge of its operations as the business expanded from one location to many.
Today, Rodriguez is the owner of 12 Estrella Insurance offices throughout Palm Beach County, built on community connection and team culture.
The Rodriguez family remains actively involved, regularly visiting their offices to support their teams and foster a strong, family-like environment.
“My husband and I love being in our offices and supporting our teams,” said Rodriguez. “They truly feel like family. We’ve experienced ups and downs together, and we’re always there for one another and for our clients.”
After 25 years with Estrella Insurance, Rodriguez shows no signs of slowing down.
“I’m excited for what’s ahead,” she said. “And I’m always ready to say ‘yes.’”
