Patience Rodriguez, 38

When Patience Rodriguez took a job as a reservationist at the age of 19 with a vacation rental company, she had no idea the industry would grab a hold of her and not let go.

That’s exactly what happened: the 38-year-old Cape Coral resident has been in the same business since she took that first job. Today, she is one of the leaders at Select Vacation Properties on Sanibel Island as the director of owner and guest relations.

“I started in the business when I was just 19,” she says. “I saw an ad in the paper and needed a little bit of money before I went on vacation. It really evolved into a passion.”