Hispanic Heritage Month 2021: Employee Highlights
Roberto Valdes
Project Director,
Clayco
Alba Colavitti
Senior Design Associate,
CRG
Emiliano Alvarez
Senior Project Engineer,
Clayco
Carlos Montiel
Vice President of Project Controls & Scheduling, Clayco
Roberto's Story
Alba's Story
Emiliano's Story
Carlos' Story
Being a first-generation immigrant to the US was a very tough decision as I love my country and my entire family still lives in Mexico. When I came to the United States of America, I came with an idea on how things were in this country, ideas that came from Hollywood and ideas that did not match what I wanted for my future or myself. I discovered quickly that my premises were far from being true as I met many people from all over the place that shared the same values I had.
It did not take long for me to make friends, succeed at work and make an impact due to the great amount of opportunities and good people from a lot of different backgrounds and cultures than reside in this country.
Mexico and the US have a lot of history together and that is something that we cannot ignore. The Hispanic community has played a huge role in the success of this country and it will continue to be a big part of the growth of the country. I am extremely proud of being both Mexican and American and being able to share two different cultures with my kids while sharing the same family values that have been instrumental for both my American family (My wife Jamie) and my Mexican immediate family.
– Roberto Valdes
My story is the last, but not least. So, to close this Hispanic Heritage Month celebration I am going to tell you why is so important to me.
“Hispanos” (Hispanic people) had been a truly huge support to the economy of the USA, but I am not going to talk about numbers nor statistics. What I am going to talk about is how the roots of being “Hispano” had been formed from generation to generation. This month is to showcase the rich culture we bring to this amazing “melting pot” called United States of America.
Celebrating the great cultural traditions is one of the proudest moments for a “Hispano”; from Mexico to the end of the Americas: Argentina/Chile; to across the pond: Spain; the architecture, performing arts, music and dance, cuisine, and everything in between are treasures to experience and be immerse in them.
Sharing and having those treasures recognized and savored by the world is the best, most amazing feeling and proudest moments ever!
– Alba Colavitti
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of family, unity, tradition, culture, and pride. Being Hispanic is a broad term as Latin-America is composed of 33 different nations. However, we all share the same struggles and values that characterize us such as family, tradition, hard-work, and pride. As many of my fellow Hispanics, I am a first generation immigrant as well as college graduate. Our families had to undertake a tremendous journey in order to pursue better opportunities. Many things are still new to us, but we are assimilating well in to this great nation and leaving our mark.
The best way to engage in this meaningful month is by giving back to our communities as well as participating safely in the many parades and festivities that occur during this month (a little fun never hurt nobody). I really look forward to reading and hearing about people’s success stories during this month of Hispanic Heritage Celebration.
– Emiliano Alverez
The Hispanic Culture has contributed to the history of the United States granting cultural values to our community. At some point, a third of the US was Hispanic and often people tend to omit this important fact. The National Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to honoring the hard working Hispanic people and it also helps to highlight the beauty and diversity of our culture.
Being an immigrant provided me an opportunity to learn and grow in the US. Leaving my Family and my lovely country behind, Colombia, was a very hard decision; one of the best I’ve made in my life. I am very proud of this choice and very proud of making impactful contributions writing my own history in such a great country, the US.
My own history involves transmitting the proudness to my two daughters, this will assure me to preserve the Hispanic heritage alive for the generations to come.
– Carlos Montiel
