Hispanic Heritage Month: Interviewing Latino Manufacturing Role Models | Augury

Hispanic Heritage Month: Interviewing Latino Manufacturing Role Models

Oct 10, 2024

Manufacturing Meet Up

0:0038:39

15301xOct 9, 2024

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 – Oct 15) in the US and Ed Ballina and Alvaro Cuba are celebrating with two special guests. They welcome Nathalie Hernandez (TECO) and Mike Ortega (PepsiCo) to the show, with a focus on this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme: “Pioneers of Change, Shaping the Future Together”. The four discuss:

Career trajectory
Biggest challenges to overcome
Advice for other Hispanics pursuing a career in manufacturing

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Meet Our Hosts

Alvaro Cuba

Alvaro Cuba has more than 35 years of experience in a variety of leadership roles in operations and supply chain as well as tenure in commercial and general management for the consumer products goods, textile, automotive, electronics and internet industries. His professional career has taken him to more than 70 countries, enabling him to bring a global business view to any conversation. Today, Alvaro is a strategic business consultant and advisor in operations and supply chain.

Ed Ballina

Ed Ballina was formerly the VP of Manufacturing and Warehousing at PepsiCo, with 36 years of experience in manufacturing and reliability across three CPG Fortune 50 companies in the beverage and paper industries. He previously led a team focused on improving equipment RE/TE performance and reducing maintenance costs while improving field capability. Recently, Ed started his own supply chain consulting practice focusing on Supply Chain operational consulting and equipment rebuild services for the beverage industry.

Discussion

Ed Ballina: Well, hello amigos, a real special podcast coming your way today. Hi, I’m Ed also known as Eduardo Ballina. Alvaro Cuba: Hello guys. Great to have you manufacturing buddies.

This is a very special episode as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. We thought what’s the best way to conduct this podcast? We decided to invite a couple of Latino buddies that work with plants and in the plants to share their experiences. We have Nathalie and Mike.

Nathalie Hernandez: Thank you for having me.

Mike Ortega: Hey, great to be here.

Ed Ballina: So let's kick this off. Again, thank you so much, Mike and Nathalie. This is a great opportunity to showcase some top-notch Latino talent. I won’t do justice to your backgrounds in a minute or two, so let’s get started. Welcome to the Manufacturing Meet Up Podcast.

Alvaro Cuba: Special to hear about Latino month. Ed will share with us some figures about Latinos in the US.

Ed Ballina: The Latino population in the U.S. is the fastest growing diverse part of the population. We account for around 20% of those living in the U.S. The Latino community contributes almost $4 trillion to the GNP. If you stack rank countries by GDP, we would be the fifth largest GDP nation in the world.

This is important to realize, although we share many commonalities, we also represent slightly different cultures.

Alvaro Cuba: Certainly a different perspective. We bring different ways of working and our own experiences to the melting pot. When someone from Latin America comes here or an American goes there, it is crucial to have training and mentorship.

Ed Ballina: Now let me shift gears to introduce Nathalie. I’ve known Nathalie for 40 years. She is currently supervisor of purchasing for Tampa Electric Company, better known as TECO.

Nathalie Hernandez: I’ve been with TECO for 18 years, started in the call center, managed to get my master’s degree as a single mom. Now I work to become a certified purchaser.

Ed Ballina: And Mike Ortega is a finance director of food service for Pepsi Bottling North America, with 37 years of experience.

Mike Ortega: I started as a cashier and was fortunate to leverage my career in Pepsi, attending and graduating college while working.

Alvaro Cuba: What was your biggest reward as Hispanics working in the US and what was your biggest challenge?

Mike Ortega: The language was a barrier for me coming from Cuba, and I struggled to find role models since my parents did not attend college.

Nathalie Hernandez: I also faced similar challenges but fortunately had mentors who guided me. My biggest reward was purchasing my first home as a single mom.

Ed Ballina: Great stories; the role of family and support is crucial. How did you come to the United States, and what advice would you share for other Hispanics?

Nathalie Hernandez: Know your worth, always expand your knowledge, and let your personality shine.

Mike Ortega: Don’t be afraid to take a seat at the table. Your voice matters. Also, take that leap and don’t hesitate to seek mentorship.

Alvaro Cuba: Always be open and curious, and bring that passion. Thank you for your experiences and for sharing with us today.