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Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), Hispanic employees have been celebrating by sharing customs, foods and celebrations of their many varied cultures. As the month draws to a close, we are proud to highlight the lived experiences of several of our Hispanic employees from across the United States. Here, they reflect on the importance of sharing culture and traditions – both at work and at home.
Alex Israel Felix Ortiz
Sr. Director, Operations, Greensboro, North Carolina
I oversee the operational framework of the Greensboro, North Carolina, pharmaceutical distribution center, ensuring that all processes align with the company’s strategic goals while maintaining efficiency, compliance and productivity across all departments. I was born, raised and began my career in Puerto Rico. I studied mechanical engineering, then worked in the aerospace industry and medical device manufacturing. Eventually, my wife and I decided to move to the United States for better opportunities. Despite having no prior experience in warehouse operations or distribution, I accepted a role as an operations manager, progressing through roles with increasing responsibilities at a few other companies before joining Cardinal Health.
Cardinal Health has an exceptional workplace culture that has been instrumental in my transition. The company fosters an inclusive and supportive environment. There is a strong emphasis on professional development, with numerous opportunities for growth and learning. The leadership team is approachable and genuinely cares about the well-being of the staff. Being in the healthcare industry, there is a great sense of purpose to our daily work. The collaborative atmosphere and focus on innovation make it an exciting place to be, and I am proud to be part of such a dynamic organization. Our distribution center has employees from 28 different countries, and we aim to understand and celebrate each.
At home, my family speaks Spanish and continues the traditions we had in Puerto Rico. Our goal is to ensure our children don’t lose their cultural identity. Staying close to our heritage is crucial as it shapes our cultural identity, preserves traditions and enriches our lives. Embracing our heritage contributes to societal diversity, promoting respect and appreciation for different cultures. Ultimately, it is a source of pride and inspiration, motivating us to honor the legacy of our ancestors.
I am actively involved in several community initiatives, including mentoring young professionals, participating in local food drives, and supporting educational programs for underprivileged children. I find great fulfillment in giving back to the community and making a positive impact on the lives of others. Volunteering allows me to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and contribute to causes that are close to my heart.
Abril Penelope Ibarra
Advisor, Data Management and Governance, Edinburg, Texas
I am proud to be Mexican American. My family is originally from a town called Montemorelos in Nuevo Leon in northeastern Mexico; I was born in Illinois, where my family moved for work. I now live in Edinburg, South Texas, near the border in an area referred to as the Rio Grande Valley. I am proud to be first generation in my family to have graduated from college with both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. It has been a great honor to be able to achieve what many call the American dream.
It is important to me to keep tradition going as it serves as a reminder of where we came from and is a great way to honor our ancestors. During Hispanic Heritage Month each year, on the 16th of September, my family celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day with food and music.
At Cardinal Health, I am a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) ambassador for my team, which has been a great learning experience and has helped me develop leadership and networking skills. I attend monthly ambassador sessions and relay information back to my team to promote awareness of the many resources Cardinal Health has to offer. I am looking forward to growing even more in my role in the coming year.
I am part of a team managing eligibility and trade restrictions for vendors and materials. Cardinal Health is a great place to work and has always been inclusive in recognizing events and holidays occurring around the world. At a past event we learned about the cultures and traditions of employees located in different areas. I loved it and learned a lot about my peers. I have never been afraid to share who I am and often share at work when talking about activities done over the weekend in our weekly meetings. It feels great to share about my culture with those who are interested in learning more about it.
George Michael Rodriguez Pinto
Manager, Operations, Peabody, Massachusetts
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, I grew up knowing that spending time with family and friends, especially with family gatherings on Sundays was the priority. My mother is Peruvian and my father is Cuban; I visited Peru and Cuba frequently when I was a child, getting to experience the Marinera, the Peruvian national dance, and learning the Cuban dance style Bachata from my parents.
Recently, I moved to Massachusetts where I’m the second shift outbound operations manager at our Peabody, Massachusetts, pharmaceutical distribution center. I lead a team of four supervisors and more than 125 employees with a common goal of ensuring the safety of our associates when picking, packing and shipping customer orders.
Working at Cardinal Health, I have met amazing leaders and associates with shared values and a strong, mission-driven culture, demonstrated night after night. Working here is like being part of a big family, and I’ve seen my team come together to support each other. It’s a great, diverse group of employees that allow me to feel comfortable sharing my own heritage and family customs, and to hear stories of their amazing customs as well.
Juan Carlos Peña
Director, Data and Analytics, Miami, Florida
I work from our sales office in Miami, Florida, managing a team of 15 people who use internal and external data to produce insights for the Cardinal Health Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions segment.
Cardinal Health gives us the opportunity to grow and develop, and we are encouraged to share our unique experiences with others. Here, I know that I do make a difference. I am a member of several of our employee resource groups, including ¡HOLA!, which focuses on developing leaders and serving as a platform for Hispanic cultural awareness within Cardinal Health.
I am very proud of my heritage. I was born in Alquizar, Cuba, a small town outside of Havana. My entire family is from there, where we lived until 1966 when we came to the United States on the Freedom Flights that aided Cuban immigrants. My parents gave up their home, jobs and all their belongings to be able to raise my brother and me in a country where we would be able to achieve our goals. I was just seven years old when I came to this amazing country, and I am extremely proud to be an American.
I learned our customs and language from my grandparents, and I now share these with my own kids and grandkids every day. We speak Spanish at home so they can learn the language and participate as productive members of the community. We also celebrate important holidays together, and the one our grandkids love the most is Dia de Los Reyes Magos, also known as Three Kings’ Day or Epiphany, on January 6.
I am always speaking about Cuba to anyone that will hear me, telling them about all the great customs we have, the foods we eat, how important music is to us and most of all how much fun we have. I love to cook and share recipes with others and I’ve even taught a few of my Cardinal Health friends how to make Cuban coffee and how to dance salsa. Some of my best friends started as fellow employees and I love the feeling of family at Cardinal Health.