Wilmer Martinez, 32

Following in his family’s footsteps, Wilmer Martinez, CDT, opened his removable prosthetics lab, Smile-Bright Dental Laboratory, in Santa Ana, CA, two years ago. His father and two uncles own laboratories in Honduras, where he grew up and in which he started working at seven years old. “They taught me the important role dental technicians play, how the patients are depending on us to create a smile customized just for them and how to be a perfectionist,” he says.

Believing that happy, talented employees are the key to having a successful business, Martinez enjoys mentoring his three technicians and sharing his passion for his work. “This is what I love to do and as the saying goes, if you love what you do, you will always look forward to going to work,” he says.

While he acknowledges the competitive nature of the southern California market, he’s confident he can continue to grow his business, including adding more staff members and a...