We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ramon Somoza a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ramon, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
They did a lot of things right. I am truly and deeply grateful for both of my parents. They each shaped my life and my journey in their unique ways, imparting invaluable lessons and nurturing critical character traits that have been instrumental in my success up to this point. My parents are wonderfully different people, and I treasure the distinctive gifts each of them has given me.
My father has always been a beacon of strength in my life. From him, I learned the meaning of strong character, unwavering work ethic, honesty, and the power of insightful wisdom. His candid advice often challenged me but consistently guided me toward growth and better decisions. I vividly remember times when challenges seemed overwhelming, and it was his steady presence and calm wisdom that grounded me and gave me the courage to persevere.
My mother provided the emotional foundation upon which I built my dreams. Her endless encouragement and steadfast belief in my abilities nurtured my ambitions and gave me confidence, even when the road was uncertain. She constantly affirmed that things would indeed work out, instilling in me an optimism and resilience that carried me through the toughest times. Her faith in me was unwavering, teaching me the powerful lesson of never giving up.
Together, my parents showed incredible patience and enduring love. They made countless sacrifices to provide opportunities for me, often putting my dreams before their own comfort. The blend of my father’s strength and pragmatism, combined with my mother’s optimism and emotional intelligence, provided a well-rounded and powerful foundation for my personal and professional growth.
One story I often recall illustrates their combined influence perfectly: early in my life, I faced a significant setback that threatened derail all my dreams. My father’s words reminded me to face reality head-on and work diligently toward solutions, while my mother’s encouragement reminded me to keep believing in my dreams, assuring me that setbacks were merely temporary.
Their collective impact continues to shape who I am as a developer, entrepreneur, and most importantly, as a person. I am eternally grateful for their love, support, and sacrifices. Truly, my parents’ greatest gifts to me have been the values they embodied, the lessons they imparted, and the unwavering love they consistently showed. I carry these gifts with me every day.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
For those who might be learning about me for the first time, I am very passionate about creating meaningful opportunities through strategic real estate developments and compassionate legal advocacy. My journey into entrepreneurship began shortly after graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in accounting. I co-founded a landscaping and construction company, which provided foundational lessons in business, growth, and the power of tangible results.
In 2003, I transitioned into commercial real estate, quickly finding my passion and purpose. This journey has led me to found 501K, LLC, a firm specializing in transformative real estate development projects with lasting community impact. One of our flagship projects, The Lincoln Hotel in Hodgenville, Kentucky, is much more than a real estate venture—it’s a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln’s legacy. This project exemplifies our commitment to not only preserving history but also fostering unity, community revitalization, and economic empowerment for future generations.
My work is deeply rooted in my personal experiences and convictions. Having faced significant personal adversity—including a wrongful conviction—I learned firsthand the importance of resilience, determination, and empathy. My journey through adversity and ultimate triumph has profoundly shaped my mission: to uplift and protect those who cannot fight for themselves.
This passion fuels my latest endeavor, The Somoza Law Firm, where we champion the rights of everyday Americans, especially those less fortunate and vulnerable within our legal system. Our approach is distinctly client-centric, grounded in compassion, integrity, and genuine care—qualities that truly set us apart from traditional law firms. We don’t just represent our clients; we stand with them, tirelessly advocating for justice and fairness.
What I am most proud of is the ability to merge entrepreneurship and empathy. Whether through meaningful real estate projects or dedicated legal advocacy, my goal is always to inspire, unite, and create enduring opportunities for communities and individuals alike. At the core of my work is an unwavering belief in family, unity, and the power of purposeful investment.
I invite those who resonate with this vision to join us in building a legacy defined by hope, resilience, and genuine positive impact.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele is rooted in genuinely valuing every individual relationship. I firmly believe in treating each customer as though they are not just my first client, but also my last—approaching every interaction with a profound sense of gratitude, enthusiasm, and dedication to excellence.
This mindset translates into consistently going beyond expectations, not just meeting but exceeding them at every opportunity. Whether in real estate development or through legal advocacy, my team and I always strive to provide personalized, attentive service, ensuring that every client feels uniquely important, heard, and valued. We actively listen to their needs, proactively anticipate their concerns, and diligently pursue solutions that genuinely enhance their lives and livelihoods.
In practice, this means being relentless in our commitment to quality and integrity, maintaining transparent communication, and consistently demonstrating through actions, not just words, that our clients’ well-being is our top priority. This approach has naturally led to strong, lasting relationships built on mutual trust and respect, encouraging referrals and long-term loyalty.
Ultimately, by genuinely treating every client relationship as though it’s the only one we’ll ever have, we create not just satisfied customers, but enthusiastic advocates. This strategy of deeply personal, thoughtful care is not just effective—it’s foundational to our continued growth, reputation, and success.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the most defining examples of resilience in my life was undoubtedly my battle to overturn a wrongful conviction from 2012, which unjustly sentenced me to 99 years in prison. This experience was unquestionably the most challenging ordeal I’ve ever endured, pushing me beyond every limit I had previously known. Statistically, the chances of successfully overturning such a conviction were very likely less than one in a million; the criminal justice system is notoriously designed to uphold convictions, even when they are unjust.
During those twelve grueling years, I chose to dedicate myself entirely to mastering the law. With no formal legal training, I painstakingly educated myself, navigating complex legal procedures and filing critical paperwork from within the confines of my cell. The discipline required was intense and relentless. Every single day demanded unwavering focus, profound courage, and an enormous amount of patience.
But through it all, my parents stood beside me as my unsung heroes. Their love, faith, and unyielding belief in my innocence kept me hopeful when everything else seemed lost. My mother, in particular, was extraordinary. Despite not speaking English and having only a second-grade education, she tirelessly assisted in helping me research legal precedents and submitting crucial documents to the courts. Her unwavering determination and unconditional love fueled my resolve to never give up. She was, and always will be, a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
Thanks to this relentless dedication, combined with the invaluable support of my family, especially my incredible parents, I ultimately succeeded. Achieving my freedom was not merely a personal victory; it has since shaped my life’s purpose. Now, through my work in real estate and the law, I am deeply committed to advocating for justice, empowering others who face similar struggles, and creating opportunities that will positively impact future generations.
This journey has instilled in me a profound understanding of true resilience. It’s not merely enduring difficulties; it’s transforming those hardships into purpose and strength. Today, I carry forward this lesson, honoring my parents’ sacrifices by dedicating my life to service, justice, and empowering those most in need
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.501k.com
- Instagram: @theramonsomoza
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramon-somoza
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RamonSomoza-mr8zs
- Other: www.bringbacklincoln.com
www.somozalawfirm.com
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