At RYAM, we celebrate the diverse voices that strengthen our culture and community. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we highlight Jorge Jerez, Domestic Logistics Manager, Logistics Operations, whose Puerto Rican and Guatemalan roots continue to shape his journey.
For Jorge, Hispanic Heritage Month is more than a celebration, it’s also a reflection of strength, resilience, and the richness of heritage. Growing up with traditions, foods like pasteles and tamales, music from marimba to salsa, and cultural stories passed through generations, he learned early the importance of family, respect, and community.
Those values have guided him throughout life, from serving in the U.S. Marines, where perseverance and teamwork were vital, to leading in trade and logistics, where relationships and integrity drive success. He also draws inspiration from his great-grandfather, Claudio Urrutia, a pioneering surveyor of the Panama Canal, former Mayor of Guatemala City, and founding dean of engineering at Universidad de San Carlos. His legacy reminds Jorge that challenges are not barriers, but opportunities to listen, learn, and grow stronger.
To Jorge, true inclusion means valuing differences as the foundation for innovation and progress. Hispanic Heritage Month, he says, is a powerful reminder to celebrate and learn from one another’s unique stories, building a brighter future for generations to come.
