While many employees imagine some day owning the business they work for, it’s a dream that rarely comes true. Henry Barros is one of the exceptions.

Raised in Imperial Valley and one of eight children of Mexican immigrants, Barros started his sales career early by hawking snow cones on the corner. At 18, he worked as a file clerk at McKendry's Insurance, where he soon proved his worth. On his second day he went out to take pictures of a mobile home park and came back with $1,300 in premiums.

At 21 he earned his insurance license, moved to San Diego and got a job at Dwight Gove Insurance Agency in South San Diego. Although he only made $8,000 the first year, through perseverance he eventually made enough to buy the company in 1994.

But buying the company proved to be no bed of roses. Barros had to cover company losses and buy out his partners, which meant he drew no salary for 18 months. But under Barros' leadership, Dwight Gove thrived and grew from four employees to 27 (many of whom are bilingual). He now has two offices (the other in Mission Valley) and has become the largest independent insurance agency in South San Diego. Sales have grown by $1 million every year he's owned the company.

Barros also is quite involved in the community, sitting on the boards of the San Diego Workforce Partnership, Sharp Hospital and the San Diego Youth Council. He is active in the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and an honorary member of the San Diego Sheriff's Association.

Dwight Gove offers a wide variety of personal insurance, including auto, home, boat, life, and commercial. The company also offers financial services under Gove Financial. All this is a far cry from the snow cones of his youth. But that is why Barros has been named Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year.