![\"jose-diaz-family-2\"](\"https:\/\/fiualumni-eastus.azurewebsites.net\/stay-connected\/alumni-news\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/jose-diaz-family-2-300x225.jpg\")
Unbeknownst to Diaz, attending FIU and creating connections within the University would have a direct and positive impact on his future career.<\/p>\nJose Manuel Diaz \u201986, Principal of Compass Office Solutions, is no stranger to the FIU Legacy. Despite being a first generation college student, Diaz comes from a large Panther family \u2013 and we don\u2019t just mean being part of our 200,000+ proud graduates. He and his five siblings, as well as 25 of his 29 first cousins, have all graduated with various degrees from FIU. Diaz even met his wife, Beatriz Lecusay-Diaz \u201887, at FIU\u2019s Green Library.<\/p>\n
With over 30 graduates coming from Diaz\u2019s family alone, and his daughter now joining as a freshman, it\u2019s no surprise that FIU has played a pivotal role in the shaping of his and his family\u2019s lives. \u201cI see how FIU has been an essential part of the academic formation of my family and how we are all successful in each of our fields thanks in part to the FIU degrees we all share,\u201d Diaz explained.<\/p>\n
Unbeknownst to Diaz, attending FIU and creating connections within the University would have a direct and positive impact on his future career.<\/p>\n
Growing up, Diaz was immersed in his father\u2019s food distribution business, and as a result, he wanted to learn more about the science of creating his own flourishing company.<\/p>\n
When asked if any professor made a significant impact on this career goal, he shared the powerful influence his marketing professor Dr. Nicholls had, \u201cHe set up a 3 month internship [with the Gorman Family] that introduced me to the commercial office furniture business. I eventually grew to become the General Manager of the company and when the company was sold 9 years ago we started Compass Office Solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you can say that my career was born in my Marketing Research class with Dr. Nicholls\u201d, Diaz expressed simply.<\/p>\n
FIU and its professors were vital in providing him with the tools necessary to succeed. \u201cI would describe my years as a student as very strong educational years that gave me the knowledge and confidence to pursue my business career\u201d, he reminisced. Though, ultimately, it was up to Diaz to put the skills he learned to use and become the successful business owner he is today.<\/p>\n