Meet Melissa Castro | Permit Expediter | Industrial Organizational Psychologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Castro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
I am a single mother of 2 children. My oldest is 19 and my youngest is 5 years old. The importance and example that I’ve always placed on “Education”, is one of the most important things that have impacted my children’s life. The understanding that knowledge doesn’t have a price and it’s the one thing that no one can take from you. Knowledge is the key to success!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
M.E.D. Expeditors has always been a woman-owned business. My deceased mother Maria Elena Delgado and I started running permits 24 years ago when I was only 14 years old. I started running permits because my high school had a double-shift schedule that gave me the flexibility to work from morning to 2 pm. Between both of us, we were able to build a reputation and a prestigious company. After high school, I got married, had a daughter, and started pursuing my psychology graduate degree.

At this point, my mother kept growing with all of her hard work and dedication. M.E.D. officially became one of her babies and I was completely invested in my career.

In September of 2020, my world stopped, with the accidental and unexpected passing of my young mother. The day after her funeral I knew that I had to continue her legacy…

Seeing the outpouring and support of all her clients and friends, and knowing how much my mother loved this company… gave me the strength and courage as a single mother of 2, to abandon my Behavioral and I/O Psychology career to keep M.E.D. Expeditors alive.

I’m not going to lie… It’s been a hard and challenging path. I completely had to restructure the company and for the past 2 years, I have worked an endless amount of hours. My vision for M.E.D. Expeditors was big and I’m the type of person that won’t sleep until my goals are accomplished. I took over during the pandemic and we have celebrated an abundance of growth and success. On June 6th, 2022 we went Nationwide! Increased our clientele by 300%, hired new employees, moved to a new office, implemented a new system, and doubled our revenue. Even more, became a GEM investor for the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, part of the Board of Directors, and recently got awared the “2022 Shinning Star”. I love what I do and I’m proud to say that Permitting is our passion. But what I’m most proud of is how involved we are with our community. The passion that we have for our city and the safety of the citizens.

What sets us apart from others:

Is the amount of years that we have been in the business. We have processed thousands of projects throughout Florida. We are highly experienced in small home projects to retail projects in the construction industry for the top Fortune 500 Retailers. Our main service is to time effectively process building permits or licenses, providing top-tier quality customer service for each project. The first thing we do is listen to our client’s needs. Shortly after, provide them a game plan after researching and analyzing their permitting/violation concerns. We keep constant communication with our clients and provide daily customized updates while offering individualized attention.

I’m a great believer in making my team feel appreciated and respected as professionals. I listen to our employees’ concerns and integrate their ideas into new projects while showing them recognition. I know that happy employees equal an improved work environment providing better financial results. Therefore, I have established a company culture in which the team has shared values, goals, professionalism, and attitude toward our clients. We prioritize our employee’s Quality of life by offering a safe work environment, competitive salaries, job security, flexibility, and appropriate working hours.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Friday afternoon – We will start going to a happy hour in Coral Gables. Maybe Hillstone or Bulla because they both have great food. Then around 8pm we’ll head over to watch a play in the Actors Play house or another dinner and a show close by.

Saturday – Check into The Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne and spend the day on the beach and pool. In the evening look for a nice Wine Tasting and Food Pairing and enjoy the rest of the night by the water and some live music.

Sunday – Early massage and brunch in the Ritz. Then enjoy the day on a yacht… while indulging in adventurous water-sports.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Yes, there is a person. Maria Elena Delgado – my mother.

Website: http://medexpeditors.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medexpeditors/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/med-expeditors-inc./

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/medexpeditors/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/m-e-d-expeditors-coral-gables