Highlighting UG2’s Diverse Workforce Through Hispanic Heritage Month
UG2 would be nothing without our incredibly diverse and passionate workforce. From day one, we have been committed to celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout our organization. Although our team represents a wide variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, languages, and cultures, we all come together to accomplish our mission of providing the best customer experience in the facility services industry.
Hispanic Heritage Month, which occurs annually from September 15 to October 15, serves as a perfect way to honor our hardworking UG2 family. Many of our team members originate from Spanish-speaking countries and bring with them their own unique experiences and outlooks.
In our recent social media spotlight series, we were able to highlight UG2 employees from seven different Spanish-speaking countries: Alex Romano (Operations Manager), Claudia Rodriguez (Account Manager), Hagen Corona (Operations Manager), Nelson Zelidon (Stationary Engineer), Yaisel Lacher (Supervisor), Stefhania Agudelo (Onboarding Specialist), and Artemio Vasquez (Floor Care Utility).
We invited these stellar employees to share some fond memories and traditions from their home countries.
What is something you miss from your country?
Artemio (Mexico): The traditional Mexican dish of Mole Oaxaqueno. It’s prepared with many different ingredients which gives it a special taste. The ice cream is also a favorite. It comes in a variety of flavors and can even have a smokey taste depending on the type.
Alex (Argentina): All the homecooked Argentinian meals, especially empanadas!
Hagen (Guatemala): The food and culture.
Do you have a favorite tradition from your country?
Claudia (Chile): Chile’s independence Day, Fiestas Patrias. The celebration lasts almost a week and family and friends get together all over the country to eat, drink and celebrate. Some typical foods that people enjoy during the festivities are Empanadas and Anticuchos (a meat dish). There are also celebratory drinks like the famous Pisco Sours, Piscola (Pisco liquor with soda over ice), and Terremoto cocktails (wine, pineapple ice cream, and grenadine).
Yaisel (Cuba): Traditional Cuban food, like a roasted pig.
Nelson (El Salvador): Semana Santa, which is Easter week. In El Salvador, people put a lot of effort into celebrating annual traditions.
Do you have a favorite Hispanic song or musician?
Stefhania (Colombia): The song “La Tierra del Olvido” by Carlos Vives.
We are proud to honor all that our UG2 Hispanic American employees contribute both to UG2 and this country as a whole. Our people are our best asset and we continue to celebrate their diverse backgrounds and accomplishments every day.