Meet Isabel Serrano | First-Generation Entrepreneur, Summit Interpreter & Translator

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

Hi Isabel, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
My favorite quote is from 1 Corinthians 16:14, which says, “Let all that you do be done in love.” As a young Christian woman, this Bible verse is my compass. For me, it means embodying God’s love in every action – whether it’s through kindness, generosity, empathy, gratitude, or humility. I love this verse because it serves as a constant reminder to approach every situation from a place of love, regardless of what arises. Because of this perspective, my demeanor is consistently positive, and true joy is a natural part of who I am. It’s through a lens of love that I seek genuine understanding, practice active listening, and communicate with tenderness. Ultimately, my core belief in love is what informs every decision and interaction in my life and business, directing me with purpose and authenticity.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My personal story is the very foundation of my business. As an immigrant from Mexico who was raised in Summit County, I saw firsthand the struggles my family and community faced in a new country where they didn’t speak the language. I watched as they missed out on opportunities and resources because of a language barrier. This experience gave me a deep understanding of the challenges people face when English isn’t their first language, and it fueled my desire to help. My business, Summit Echo Interpretations, is my way of giving a voice to those who need it. The name itself reflects our mission: you speak, and we echo. We are not just a service; we are a bridge for communication, ensuring that important conversations are truly inclusive for both Spanish and English speakers. We go beyond simple translation by focusing on cultural competence, which means we don’t just interpret words—we convey the content, tone, and cultural nuances behind the message. This approach allows us to serve a wide range of clients, from non-profit organizations and businesses to individual community members who need support.

What sets us apart is our commitment to a servant leadership approach. Our work is rooted in compassion and empathy, inspired by our Christian faith. We see every project as an opportunity to serve people and build strong relationships within the community. I’m most proud of how we’ve been able to adapt to the needs of our clients, expanding from live, remote, or hybrid interpretation at coalition meetings to also offering translation, transcription, and even voice-overs for documentaries or conferences. It’s truly special to see the Spanish-speaking community engage and use their voice, whether it’s in a conversation that improves food access for their neighbors or simply having a birth certificate translated accurately. We are also committed to giving back to the community by planning to offer an interpretation course, empowering other bilingual individuals to use their skills in service of others.

Starting this business was a journey of purpose and justice. While it was fairly straightforward to find courses and learn the basics, the real challenge has been the trial-and-error of testing different systems, technology, and navigating legal details. You learn quickly that even with a business plan, there’s always a need for continuous learning and adaptation to find the most efficient and effective way to do things. My journey has also been shaped by a personal challenge I discovered in high school: a degenerative condition that affects my night and peripheral vision, which means I can’t drive. This has made travel to jobs a frequent hurdle, but it has been a profound lesson in reliance and gratitude. Overcoming it has been a testament to the incredible support of my family, who have driven me to countless jobs, and the dependability of my team, who I can always count on to step in when needed. This challenge has not always been easy, but it has been manageable and has taught me to be resourceful and to trust in the people around me. Ultimately, my goal is to generate a lasting impact by staying true to my principles and fostering positive change in my community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In my view, a week-long adventure with my best friend visiting would be spent exploring some of the great local spots I’ve come to know. Here is a possible itinerary:

DAY 1: Breckenridge, CO
We’d start the morning with breakfast at Columbine Café, then take a walk and do some shopping along Main Street. If it were winter, my recommendation is going either ice skating at Stephen C. West Ice Arena or taking a horse-drawn sleigh ride. If it’s summer, though, I’d insist we grab some rolled ice cream from Stir-Pan Creamery—it’s a must! Afterward, we’d head over to the County Boy Mine for a real gold mine tour. When we get hungry, we’ll grab lunch at Oaxaca Bites. Then, if we’re feeling adventurous, we could try fishing for some rainbow and lake trout at Montgomery Reservoir. If we’re not lucky with fishing, my go-to spots are either getting a modern twist to Mexican food at Mi Casa Restaurant or pizza at Fatty’s Pizzeria. To cap off the night, we’d go to I Scream Arcade to play some games.

DAY 2: Leadville, CO
This day would be a 45-minute drive to Leadville. Our first stop would be Buchi Café Cubano for breakfast and coffee, followed by a ride on the Leadville Railroad. Next, we’d go on a hike at Ice Palace Park and then have a picnic. For a bit of a rush, we’d go ziplining at Top of the Rockies, and then make sure to stop by Turquoise Lake for some photos and to watch the sunset. We’d also check to see if there were any seasonal events at the Tabor Opera House. Before heading back to Summit County, we’d have to get some tacos from the “El Mexicano Food Truck.”

DAY 3: Dillon, CO
Our first stop on this day would be breakfast at Blue Moon Bakery, where I’d recommend their special with the jalapeño cheddar bagel—it’s my favorite. We’d then hit the trail for a great hike up Tenderfoot Mountain. For lunch, we’d either get some authentic Salvadoran pupusas at Panaderia Summit (I always get the jalapeño cheese ones!) or grab an appetizer and a drink at Saved by the Wine. In the afternoon, we could go bowling at Elevation Bowl, and then end the night with a pizza dinner from Nick-N-Willy’s followed by a movie at Skyline Cinema 8.

DAY 4: Silverthorne, CO
We’ll take a 40-minute drive to Kremmling to start the day at Big Shooter Coffee, where I would absolutely insist you try the lemon blueberry muffins with a breakfast burrito or smoothie. A fun morning would be spent horseback riding at Rusty Spurr Ranch. Afterward, we’d head back to Silverthorne and grab a bite at the food court in Blue Bird Market. We’d then walk over to The Art Spot for an arts and crafts class. We’d grab a coffee and dessert at Red Buffalo Coffee, before checking out the Blue Bird Market First Friday event. If we were celebrating something special over the weekend, we could put in a custom cake order at Colorado Marketplace and Bakery this day to make sure it’s ready in time. We’d finish the night by camping at Cow Creek North Campground, starting a campfire, and enjoying some s’mores.

DAY 5: Silverthorne, CO
For our second day in Silverthorne, we’d begin with a breakfast southwest omelet or avocado toast at Kucu Tequila Bistro. Afterward, we’d walk to the bridge near the Silverthorne Pavilion for some photos. We can spend a good amount of time shopping at the Silverthorne Outlets and then get a treat at The Chocolate Factory. For lunch, we’d have a picnic at Trent Park and play some bean bag toss, tennis, or basketball. We could also go fishing or paddleboarding at North Pond Park. We would end our Silverthorne adventure with a nice dinner at Mint Steakhouse.

DAY 6: Dillon, CO
We would start this day with a brunch at Bistro North—their berry lavender lemonade is so refreshing! We can spend some time shopping at the nearby stores and then go on an easy hike at Sapphire Point to see the views (and the chipmunks!). For an afternoon snack, we could grab some Mexican sweet bread from Tacos Tequila. If it were winter, I’d of course recommend snowboarding or skiing at Keystone Ski Resort. However, in the summer, we’d enjoy a walk and spend time at the Dillon Marina and maybe check out the playground, which is a great spot for kids. We could also check out the Dillon Amphitheater, where there’s usually a concert or a movie playing on the weekends. Finally, we’d enjoy dinner on the hibachi side of Nozawa Sushi and Hibachi, where the chef cooks right in front of you and puts on a show with fire and a volcano.

DAY 7: Frisco, CO
On our last day, we’d have breakfast at Bread+Salt, followed by church service at Emmanuel Fellowship at the Summit County Community and Senior Center (10:30am). Next, we’d go on a moderate hike at Rainbow Lake and reward ourselves with some ice cream from I Scream Gelato. We’d grab lunch at Summit Thai and then buy some fresh produce at Uncle John’s Farm Stand. The afternoon would be spent at Frisco Adventure Park on the bike park or disc golf course. In the winter, I’d definitely recommend snow tubing here or nordic skiing at the Frisco Nordic Ski Center. After all the fun, we would have a truly authentic Mexican dinner at Hacienda Real to end our amazing week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A huge shoutout to Mountain Dreamers, a leading nonprofit in Summit County! Through a couple of courses they offered, my entrepreneurial path truly began. First, the Community Interpreter Certificate course, led by the Community Language Cooperative, allowed me to hone professional interpreting skills and gain insights into language equity. Then, Mountain Dreamer’s business course also taught me the essentials of business formation. I also want to thank my cherished friend, Adriana Barberena, for inviting me to these courses. My sincere thanks also go to the Executive Director, Peter Bakken. His mentorship and trust gave me the confidence to register my LLC business.

Beyond my formal education, my family has been an unwavering source of encouragement and practical support. My mom, Mary Serrano, has been an incredible companion – from naming the business and traveling long-distance for jobs, to even becoming a voice-over interpreter herself. My dad, Miguel Serrano, has also been consistently supportive, always ready to assist with logistics or advice. And I thank my cousin, Melissa Hernandez, for her outstanding work as our Digital Content Specialist, where she brings creative ideas to life and develops engaging content with me. The excellent service we aim to provide is a testament to the hard work and talent of my dependable team of interpreters and translators, who I incredibly appreciate. To be frank, this team makes every project 100 times more fun!

But above all, my deepest gratitude belongs to Jesus for the blessing of starting my own small business at 23 years old and making all of this possible. It’s through God’s grace that I’ve been blessed with a strong support system, which has kept me grounded and brought me to where I am today.

Website: summitecho.company

Instagram: @summitechointerpretations

Other: summitechointerpretations@gmail.com

Image Credits
Melissa Hernandez, Mary Serrano, Sandra Puc, Amy Hall