September 2024
In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to introduce you to Salomon Mejia from ESL. He joined our team in 2021 as a Facilities Maintenance Technician and is responsible for providing building and support services to ESL buildings, branches, and offices. Sal took the time to share his reflections on this month and his career journey at ESL.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
My family and I now live in Greece, and I think we are the only Latino family in the neighborhood. It’s easy to forget your roots and traditions when you live in the US. This month is an opportunity to reflect on who we are, where we came from, what kind of traditions we’re doing or would like to do. It’s awesome that here in the US there is a month that recognizes everything we are giving as Latinos.
At church, I am the leader of the Hispanic Bible Group. We have people from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, just about every country. We host a special dinner where everybody brings a traditional plate (and costumes) from their country, and we talk about our traditions. It’s a special moment for all of us to do this during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Tell us a little bit about your background?
I grew up in the Dominican Republic before moving to NYC in 1990 and lived there until 2002. On 9/11, I was working in Midtown Manhattan. It was a day that marked my life significantly. I was one of those New Yorkers working on the street not knowing if we would survive. My wife and I had three small children and I decided we needed to leave for a better, safer life. I had a friend who was living in Rochester, so we tried it out. We saw the quality of life you can have here, including the weather! Even though I’m from the Dominican Republic, I like the cold weather. I’m really happy here.
What has working at ESL been like for you?
It’s been wonderful. This is a company that cares about you. ESL doesn’t look at you as just an employee who gets a paycheck. I especially love the work the Community Impact team does to give back to the community. I remember when I was applying for this job and then being so excited to start here! It’s been a great experience with a great group of people and supervisors. Everyone respects you.
When I was hired, I told myself I had to make an effort to work with the community because this is what the company stands for. At one time, I was co-chair of our Disabilities Employee Resource Group. I also take classes through ESL University, an online platform that provides employees with the opportunity to take classes in person or online. This is a job where you wake up with gratitude that you are doing something you really like and want to do.
What else would you like to share about growth and opportunities?
I like to serve as an example to others in the community, and I am grateful to all the people who have worked with me to help me lead our church bible group and grow in this capacity.
Professionally, I equip myself with knowledge by taking as many classes as I can at ESL. I see this as a company where you can grow. I would like to get more involved in giving back to the community and to be a mentor to new Latino employees who come here, especially from another city or state. I’d like to share my perspective on what life is like here and how you can thrive.
To learn more about ESL and how to join our team, please visit esl.org/careers!
