tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36798618430246641312010-07-01T15:13:21.263-07:00Minding La Tienda™(Minding the Store) A toast to the new heroes of the 21st Century, the entrepreneurs and small business owners who brave the current tough financial winds and continue to follow their star.Rosenoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679861843024664131.post-29058186453875283982009-12-06T20:43:00.001-08:002009-12-06T20:43:48.009-08:00Don Miguel Gets His Game On<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jf1-GsBODWM/SxyHdIhB4cI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/NftjPZBkHpY/s1600-h/My_Michael.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jf1-GsBODWM/SxyHdIhB4cI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/NftjPZBkHpY/s200/My_Michael.JPG" /></a><br /></div>In 2005, Michael Contreras took advantage of a free blackjack training session and began working as a seasonal casino game dealer in the San Antonio area. He did this for two years, adding Texas hold’em and craps to his dealing repertoire as well. He enjoyed the excitement of the casino parties he worked. “When I saw how much fun the guests were having, I realized I could run a business doing this.”<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Determined to turn his love of casino games into a business, he took advantage of a sale on poker tables and purchased his first game tables. With his small inventory and the experience he gained working for other casino entertainment companies, he set out to find clients for his new business, Don Miguel Casino & Hold’em.<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Michael started by dealing Texas hold’em one night a week at a bar near a local university. Now, two years later, he holds poker games at seven different bars in San Antonio, and offers casino games for clients featuring blackjack, roulette, craps, and Texas hold’em.<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He specializes in casino parties for private homes and small business, venues often overlooked by the large casino companies because the profit margin is not as large. “I especially enjoy providing my services for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and small company parties because these clients really appreciate the work we do. I get a greater sense of fulfillment and accomplishment.”<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jf1-GsBODWM/SxyHo0ELOnI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Btynpag804M/s1600-h/dmg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jf1-GsBODWM/SxyHo0ELOnI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Btynpag804M/s200/dmg.jpg" /></a><br /></div><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CMLS%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C06%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><style>
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</style><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Michael’s business has evolved into family business as well. His 18-year-old daughter deals roulette, his wife recently began helping him at the craps table, and his son and godson son help with the bar poker and other tasks. This has made his business all the more valuable to him, and he says “Not long ago my 22-year-old son expressed how proud he is of me and the business I run. That means a lot to me.” <br /></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How does Michael see the future of Don Miguel Casino and Hold’em? “I see my business growing without forgetting the people who help me along the way. I will always work to keep the private customer and small business on my books in addition to the large customers that I hope to add in the future.”<br /></div><br />Visit Don Miguel Casino and Hold'em on the web at <a href="http://www.donmiguelgames.com/">http://www.donmiguelgames.com</a> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3679861843024664131-2905818645387528398?l=mindingthetienda.rosecontreras.com' alt='' /></div>Rosenoreply@blogger.com0