What important skills did you learn in your first job that have been instrumental to your success?

My first job taught me a lot of important skills. I learned the value of teamwork and how important communication is with your co-workers. The most important thing I learned very quickly was punctuality. If you didn’t show up on time then you lost your job. It was as simple as that. There were twenty people in line to take your place. That kind of mentality has stuck with me over the years. It has taught me that there is always someone else who wants your job so you have to do the best you can do.

How do you use these skills in your position today?

Every single skill I learned in my first few jobs apply in my current position. Communicating with others is critical to my job. Communication is the foundation for any kind of marketing job. Also, teamwork is something I use daily and try to instill in others. I use the basic fundamentals I learned from my first job a long time ago to help make others successful.

Did anyone ever give you advice that you carried on with you in your career?

The person that comes to mind is a manager I had at a retail store. I showed up on my first day in some dockers and a shirt without a tie. He walked me over to J.C. Penney and bought me a suit and tie. He did this to show me how important appearance was. He became a mentor to me and took his time show me some basic business principles. He demonstrated to me the skills I would need to have and helped socialize me into the business world.

What obstacles have you experienced on your career path?

If you look at a lot of the executive staff today, CEOs, Vice Presidents and Directors, you see there is a significantly low percentage of Hispanics, African-Americans and Asian-Americans. This was a huge obstacle for a Hispanic man like me who wanted to break that mold. I hurdled those obstacles by connecting with influential people. By connecting with them they gave me the opportunity to succeed. Another way I was able to get through that obstacle is education. I put myself through school and those credentials have helped me to market myself and overcome those hurdles.

What motivated you to succeed?

I am motivated by my own accomplishments. No matter how big or small, my accomplishments push me to better myself. I strongly believe in short wins. Even following the smallest accomplishment I congratulate myself and this helps to propel me to my next bigger and better accomplishment.

What advice would you give to a young person starting his or her career?

First I would tell them that education is key because it gives you the basic building blocks to move forward on your desired career path. Communication is also a big factor. He or she will need to connect with others. This helps to extend your circle of influence.

What is most rewarding about your job?

The most rewarding thing about my job is that I am a leader. In this role of leader I can touch others and help motivate others. I love playing the part of mentor to members of my team and then seeing what they accomplish. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing your influence help others to succeed in life both professionally and socially.