Title: Chief Executive Officer, Founder
Company: Hobby Art International (HAI) Supply
Location: Carmichael, CA
Education: Associate Degree in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, American River College (2010); Small Business Solutions, Business, Winterstein Adult Centre (2004)
Career History: Chief Executive Officer, Founder, Hobby Art International (HAI) Supply (2016-Present); Customer Service Relationship Manager, SPS Wholesale Inc. (2016); Warehouse Supervisor, Customer Service, Tonic Studios USA Inc. (2015-2016); Customer Service Manager, Kuretake ZIG Corporation, Sacramento, CA (2013-2015); Customer Service Representative, Intelliquote Insurance Services, El Dorado Hills, CA (2011-2013); Commissions Auditor & Disbursements, Cost-U-Less Insurance, Rancho Cordova (2010); Accounts Payable Manager, InterBev Products, Inc., Carmichael, CA (2005-2009)
Victor C. Velez, Chief Executive Officer and Founder at Hobby Art International (HAI) Supply, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of business.
An independent businessman and entrepreneur with nearly 20 years of professional experience, Mr. Velez has excelled as the chief executive officer and founder of Hobby Art International Supply—a successful provider of arts and crafts, embellishments, paper goods, and stationaries for the paper crafting industry, including greeting cards—since 2016. In this role, he curates new products, always ensures the best quality possible, trains his employees, and takes great pride in collaborating with numerous small businesses and independent companies.
Launching his career as an accounts payable manager at InterBev Products Inc. from 2005 to 2009, Mr. Velez went on to serve as a commission auditor at Cost-U-Less Insurance in 2010 and a customer service representative for Intelliquote Insurance Services from 2011 to 2013. At this time, he answered an ad for a job opening at Kuretake ZIG Corporation, a manufacturer of fine arts materials, and while working there as a customer service manager from 2013 to 2015, he gathered inspiration from the company’s founder to provide quality products to showcase his dedication to his craft. He subsequently further developed his expertise by serving as a warehouse supervisor and a customer service representative at Tonic Studios USA Inc. from 2015 to 2016, and then as a customer service relationship manager at SPS Wholesale Inc. in 2016 before founding Hobby Art International Supply.
Raised in the United States by parents from Mexico, Mr. Velez began wielding his entrepreneurial skills as early as the sixth grade, helping his father make his first business card and encouraging him to start a business around card-making. People ultimately became interested in it and would ask his father to make business cards for them. He completed coursework in small business solutions at Winterstein Adult Centre in 2004 and earned an associate degree in business, management, marketing, and related support services from American River College in 2010. His entrepreneurial spirit carries on within his current business; while he considers himself a “solopreneur,” he believes that family is essential for growth and advice. His mother has been helping him greatly in his business, and he can always rely on his father to be supportive, as well as the comfort of his cat, Lucy.
In the future, Mr. Velez hopes to expand his business and have his own building displaying all their art products and embellishments. He would love to be an authority figure when it comes to helping other businesses.