AC Anecdotes: Arnulfo’s Road to Entrepreneurship

By Madeline Knapp

Arnulfo has never been afraid of learning as he goes. When he decided to start Nufo B Resin Design, an epoxy flooring business, he had to figure out everything from what it looks like to start a business to setting up bank accounts, and advertising his services to find clients. “I’m very proud to start that business,” Arnulfo said. “I always wanted to be my own boss.”

Today, the 35-year-old King City resident is already looking beyond his first business. He hopes to enter real estate: buying, renovating and selling properties. This interest grew after he remodeled a condo and sold it for a profit. That drive to build something for himself came after a period when Arnulfo was unsure of what his future would look like. Growing up, he watched his father struggle with drug use and time in prison. “I learned to follow my dad’s footsteps,” Arnulfo said.

After his parents separated in Los Angeles, Arnulfo moved to Monterey County, where he attended school and was primarily raised by his mother. As he got older, he began recognizing that he wanted something different for himself. “There was a time that I knew it was gonna end,” he said. The birth of his daughter in 2022 gave him another reason to think about the life he wanted to build. Arnulfo eventually participated in the Conviction Alternatives Program (CAP), where he began working toward that future. He is now five years sober. As Arnulfo began rebuilding, one question remained: what did he want to do next? “I didn’t know what to do with myself. So, I started a business,” he said.

While participating in CAP, Arnulfo learned about A Curiae and participated in their Professional Mentorship Initiative (PMI.) He was paired with Alec Wiley, who helped him learn how to promote Nufo B Resin Design, reach potential clients, and use social media to grow his business. Because Wiley was also starting a business, the two could bounce ideas off one another. Arnulfo entered the mentorship with little experience in business, but when Wiley introduced him to something new, Arnulfo tried to apply it himself. That willingness to step into unfamiliar territory has continued beyond his mentorship with Wiley. With his business up and running, Arnulfo is thinking about what he wants to build next, including his plans to pursue real estate.

Arnuflo also wants what he has learned to reach beyond his own success. Arnulfo often speaks with young people about his experiences and encourages them to make choices that can create more opportunities for their futures. “I talk to young kids, I tell them, that drugs and drug using and drug dealing doesn’t get you far,” he said. His family remains one of his greatest sources of motivation. “They always push me to be better and never gave up on me throughout my process,” he said.

Arnulfo’s life today is defined by what he is building: a business, plans for a future in real estate, strengthening his relationship with his family, and providing opportunities to help younger people learn from his experiences. Along the way, he has learned to embrace the uncertainty that comes with choosing a new direction.

He wants people to know that “Change is good. Don’t be scared of change,” he said.

“Don’t be afraid of accomplishing your goals.”