Sueño Millonario: The Story of Mario Montes and Diana Argote

• Millonario Sueño shares the story of Mario Montes and Diana Argote and DACA.
• DACA was a fundamental piece for their company to grow.
• They demonstrate that the American dream is possible for everyone.

The story of Mario Montes and Diana Argote is one of persistence, resolve, and hard work.

As kids, they came to this country and understood the challenges many young immigrants face. But rather than stopping at hurdles, they chose to tackle them courageously.

Diana arrived at 11 and finished high school in Georgia. She began working at 15 or 16 in different jobs, and after finishing school, she started working with her husband, Mario.

Mario came to the United States at eight from the State of Mexico, Puebla. He started working with his parents and, as he learned more, grew a passion for the craft of working with metal.

Mario and Diana’s Tough Landscape

The pair met through friends and found they shared a lot, including being the oldest kids in their families.

They clicked right away, and after dating for a while, they chose to marry.

But at that time, they faced big financial problems. Mario had taken over his parents’ metal business, but a financial downturn caused him to lose everything.

For two years, they lived in tough conditions in an attic without heat or air conditioning.

The Birth of Rays Stairs

But rather than quitting, they chose to rebuild their lives and business from the ground up. Through persistence and resolve, they bounced back and began anew.

The name of their company, Rays Stairs, shows their wish to create a business that went beyond cultural and language barriers.

Previously, they had a name with Hispanic hints, but when they restarted, they picked a more general and universal name.

Rays Stairs has grown a lot over the years and now has 16 employees. They have worked on big metal construction projects.

Rays Stairs is Misunderstood

An interesting story in the company’s history is how they found out the effect of their name on how customers saw them.

At one point, they got a job where most of the communication was by email.

When they got to the job site, they were surprised to hear someone say:

«I didn’t think Rays Stairs was Hispanic!» This made them realize how much a company’s name can affect how customers see it.

A Support

The journey of Mario Montes and Diana Argote with DACA is a key part of their success story in the United States.

DACA, meaning Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a program giving temporary legal status to certain young immigrants who came to the United States as kids and meet specific criteria.

For Mario and Diana, DACA was a game-changing chance.

This is because a major hurdle they faced was not having legal immigration status, limiting them in many parts of their lives, like education and work.

Overcoming Challenges

Diana, for instance, said that when she wanted to go to college, she found out she didn’t have a social security number.

But her work attitude and upbeat outlook helped her build confidence in herself and her skills.

Despite not having legal status, she managed to impress employers with her dedication and charisma during job interviews.

Mario and Diana’s situation changed when they learned about DACA.

The DACA Moment

This program gave them a chance to get temporary legal status and, therefore, allowed them to progress in their lives in the United States.

For Mario, this meant a year and a half of living without legal status before getting DACA.

The day they learned they were eligible for DACA was a thrilling time for them.

It gave them a feeling of safety and hope.

The American Dream

Mario and Diana were able to apply for DACA, which let them work legally and grow their metal construction business, Rays Stairs.

DACA didn’t just give them stability and work chances but also the confidence to push their business forward and chase their dreams.

Today, Mario and Diana are an example of success in the United States.

And their story with DACA is a testament to how this program can change the lives of young immigrants willing to work. Sueño Millonario says goodbye for now and thanks you for reading this far.