Former Perry Bluejay and Des Moines entrepreneur Amner Martinez has been nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year by Fuse DSM, Your Chamber of Commerce. Amner’s entrepreneurial spirt has been on display for many years in his work in the Des Moines music scene, burgeoning podcast field and in the staffing industry.
Amner is a native of Guatemala and has lived in the U.S. since 1990, including going to high school in Perry. One of his first entrepreneurial ventures was co-founding the Warren Morrow Latin Music Festival, the first Latin music festival in Iowa. The festival was founded to honor the life of Warren Morrow, a community leader, entrepreneur, philanthropist and mentor who died unexpectedly at the age of 34.
“I met Warren in 2008 when he sponsored my first-ever Spanish rock event,” Amner explained. “Warren provided us sponsorship money and asked for nothing in return. When he passed away unexpectedly in 2012, I attended his funeral, and it was one of a kind. Amidst the sound of live music, everyone shared their fondest memories and personal stories about Warren, which ranged from his musical interests to the many tremendous accomplishments within the community, which were considerable given his young age. We wanted to keep Warren’s legacy alive, his community advocacy, his emphasis on educating and empowering youth, his commitment to increase the quality of life for underserved communities and his passion for bringing live Spanish music to Des Moines.”
In addition to the music scene, Amner and fellow Perry Bluejay Kenji Nakata co-founded Amplified, a podcast hosting site that provides access to podcasts for entertainment that highlight culture, business and community.
Neither his entrepreneurial projects in podcasting nor his music are the reason for his nomination as entrepreneur of the year.
Infinite Resources DSM is a headhunting, recruiting and consulting firm that provides staffing solutions for companies in the Des Moines metropolitan area. Amner has been in staffing and management for more than 15 years and chose to combine his unique and diverse experiences to form a company that connects the workforce to jobs in manufacturing, construction, logistics, management and more.
Amner left his corporate job to start his own business, initially working out of his home before starting to hire his recruitment team and eventually opening his office in the downtown Des Moines area. Infinite Resources has boomed amid the workforce crisis taking place across the country by bridging the cultural gap that exists in some companies. His client list is varied both in industry and in locations across the state.
Amner and his wife, Laura, have three children, Isabella, Luca, and Azul. He believes in Warren Morrow’s motto: “When you have good intentions, success is inevitable.” You can vote for entrepreneur of the year at the Fuse DSM, Your Chamber of Commerce website.
