In a turnaround tale from Mesa, Arizona, Marina Flores has traded corporate clout for local flavor. Flores, laid off during the pandemic after almost two decades in corporate America, found her career resurgence in an icy treat—shave ice. "I was climbing the career ladder after buying a house and feeling very good about myself, and then two weeks later, COVID-19 hit and my position was gone," Flores narrated in a story documented by The Daily Posting.

The pandemic years challenged many, yet Flores's entrepreneurial spirit couldn’t be dampened, the bills had to be paid and with her back against the wall, she had to get creative transforming her side hustle into her breadwinning venture. ABC15 reports, "I make shave ice. I’m just going to do it for a living," said Flores. Her business operations began humbly from a trailer, but steadfast growth enabled her to carve out partnerships with multiple local schools to support their functions, a win-win approach where she didn't charge for attendance but shared a slice of the profit with them.

Years of grinding it out have now led to a momentous leap from trailer to storefront. This Saturday marks the opening of Marina's Fresh Fruit Shave Ice store, a structural manifestation of her resilience and entrepreneurial drive. As ABC15 details, the new shop will be located near University Drive and Alma School Road.

“Like my mom said, good things always come out,” Flores shared optimistically, her story not just one of personal triumph but also an emblem of hope for others who may find themselves facing similar crossroads. Flores's message to other dreamers, no matter their age, is to take the leap and bet on themselves; despite challenging odds "I could have lost my job in my 40s and started a completely new career and started completely over," she reflected.