Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 2024

I’m a first-generation Mexican-American, and my culture and traditions have played a huge role in shaping who I am and what drives me. Mexican culture is built on the values of hard work and striving for a better life for yourself and your family. Even our music reflects this ethos, with songs celebrating “chambiandole” (or “working hard”).

Decades ago, my father took a bold step by leaving his small town of 200 people to move to Florida as an agricultural worker. After countless long days under the sun, he learned the trade of roofing and eventually worked with my family to establish our own roofing company. Watching my family’s journey from traditional blue-collar labor to owning our business is a testament to the Mexican spirit and serves as a daily inspiration for me. This spirit of perseverance and dedication is core to my career and what fuels me to achieve A+ execution delivery on a daily basis.

As the first born daughter of two Puerto Rican parents, my hispanic heritage is at the root of my story. Moving from the island at the age of 7 and knowing only a handful of English words, I became both a student and a teacher; my father spoke English, but my mother did not, and becoming her teacher in our new community (as I learned the language myself) was my unspoken responsibility. And while we were excited about embracing a new culture, we also wanted to preserve our Puerto Rican traditions and share them with our new neighbors and friends.

Today, I’m committed to that same spirit: I embrace every opportunity to share the beauty of the people, culture, and individuality of “La Isla del Encanto” (my enchanted Island). As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage month, I am reminded of all the people before me that forged new ground in the name of opportunity, and I accept the unspoken responsibility to be a teacher to future generations by honoring all heritage roots as we chart new territory together.

I am a first-generation Mexican-American born to immigrant parents. As with many first-generation Americans, it can feel like a struggle to fit in, both in personal and professional life; balancing life while living two very different cultures at the same time can be exhausting. Professionally, this has pushed me to feel comfortable being uncomfortable.

I’m often the only Hispanic person in the room, and it’s not something that intimidates me anymore. Instead, these experiences have made me more open and welcoming to others of all different backgrounds.

The accordion! Funny enough, the accordion is a prominent instrument in Mexican music. Legends like Ramon Ayala and Lalo Mora have shaped Mexican music through accordion melody. My father has played the accordion for over 20 years!

There’s so much to say about the beauty of Puerto Rico, but my fondest memories revolve around food: stopping at a roadside shop to see a coconut freshly plucked from a tree, chopped open with a machete, and handed over with a straw; coming across those small, colored pusharts where a piragüero hands you an ice pyramid covered in fruit flavored syrup; or visiting a local panaderia full of decadent sweets and savory empandillas.

Today, each of these experiences remind me of my youth. And as I share them with my children, I’m hopeful that they too will see them as their fondest memories as they embrace their heritage roots.