Shaping the Future Together
“Together means knowing that no matter where life takes us, our culture, family, and memories will always connect us.”
That quote from UG2 HR Business Partner Marlen Gonzalez Hernandez captures many of the sentiments expressed by members of the UG2 family for our annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
At UG2, we are so grateful when our employees bring their heritage to work, from food and music to family traditions and values. We know that each one of us has unique traditions, celebrations, and customs that connect us to our heritage. When we share the things we cherish, we feel closer to one another as individuals and gain a deeper sense of community as a whole.
For all of those reasons, this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme—Together—is especially meaningful within our workplace community
To mark this celebration, we asked UG2 employees: What makes your team work well together? Is there a tradition from your culture that brings your family or community together? What does ‘Together’ mean to you?
Joshua Zavala, Engineering Facility Technician shared that he is proud of his Mexican heritage and brings a strong sense of family, teamwork, and dedication to the workplace every day. When asked what makes his team work well together, Joshua highlighted the importance of communication, accountability, and trust. Family is also a significant part of Joshua’s life. One tradition that brings his family together is preparing tamales every Christmas. This annual tradition gathers the entire family and celebrates their culture, values, and connection to one another through food and shared experiences.
When asked to describe togetherness in one word, Joshua chose “united.” This word reflects both his family values and his approach to teamwork, emphasizing the importance of supporting one another and working toward common goals.
Julio Romera, AVP, Operations, had this to say: “My family comes from a small town called Belmonte de Cuenca, and during the second week of September, the town celebrates its annual festival in honor of the apparition of the Virgin Mary. During that week, family members who have migrated to different places return home, making it one of the few times when everyone is together. The town comes alive with flea markets, artisan vendors, music in the streets, and religious processions throughout the town. For many people, it is a deeply emotional and meaningful celebration. For me, beyond the religious significance, having the opportunity to see my entire family gathered in one place is a true blessing and something I cherish every year.”
Alexis Pena, Janitorial Office Manager shared, “To me together means showing up for one another. Knowing we are on the same team, communicating, celebrating each other, and choosing one another even when works gets busy or difficult. My Hispanic heritage has taught me the importance of family, hard work and resilience.”
Jackie Lopez, Finance Manager, talked about the genuine connection her team has with one another after being together for more than 15 years. “Our relationship goes beyond being coworkers,” Jackie said. “In many ways, we have become a familia. Looking out for one another, supporting each other, celebrating each other’s accomplishments, and being there during the difficult moments—is something I value deeply. We laugh together, we cry together, we celebrate together, and we work hard together. Over the years, we have built a level of trust and understanding that is difficult to find. We know that when one of us succeeds, we all succeed. We show up for each other, we push each other to be better, and we never leave anyone behind. We are not just working alongside each other—we are working with each other, as one. And when we cross that finish line and celebrate a victory, we know that we got there together.”