To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, Enterprise is highlighting employees within the Latinx community throughout September and October. Hear from Armando L., Franchise Operations Development Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean, on what he cherishes most about the culture of El Salvador.
What is your Hispanic heritage?
I was born and raised in El Salvador. At the age of 14 I moved to Los Angeles.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
It’s a time to celebrate and appreciate the vibrant diversity in our culture and the contributions our community has made to the progress of this great nation throughout our history. Latinos come from all backgrounds, and in all shapes and forms. So it’s great to celebrate and share our diversity, our folklore, our language and our contributions with this country.
What does it mean to you to be Latino?
It gives me a sense of belonging and pride in all the beautiful things that our culture offers: amazing food, great music, strong family values. We love to spend time with our family and celebrate any occasion together with great food and music. It is one of the things I cherish the most about our culture.
What unique perspective has your heritage given you?
I have learned from being a Latino in the US that our community is a resilient and striving community. We moved here for different reasons, but for most of us, this country has offered us the opportunity to reach the dreams that perhaps our mother countries could not. We are proud to bring a different flavor to America and become part of this beautiful nation.
What initially attracted you to a career at Enterprise?
I loved the Management Training program concept as it offered a career path for those of us just starting. I rented my first car when I was in college, and it just so happened that the person who picked me up also graduated from my college, UCLA. She had nothing but great things to say about the company and her experience, so when I graduated I decided to apply.
What keeps you at Enterprise?
The culture, the people and the work I do. I started as a Management Trainee in Southern California and moved my way up in the region until a new opportunity for international business came out. And now I work on the Global Franchising team, supporting our efforts in building a leading franchise network.
Have you had an a-ha moment at Enterprise, or a realization that you weren’t just doing a job, you were building a career?
Yes, I think that happens pretty early on in an Enterprise career. If you pursue the rental career path at Enterprise, at every level you’ll work with amazing people that care about the business and your success as a team member. As I prepared to become an Assistant Manager, I realized that this is a career and not just a job after college. For me, it has been a fun, exciting and rewarding experience. I love working with our international operations and contributing to their efforts of becoming the best rental car brands in each market that we operate.
