Each year, from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. At RYAM, it is also an opportunity to celebrate the experiences and perspectives our employees bring to work—and the connections we build by learning from one another.
Meet Omar Diaz-Siaca, Manager, Continuous Improvement. His Puerto Rican heritage and experiences have helped shape the relationships he has built throughout his career at RYAM.
When Omar began his career at RYAM in Jesup, Georgia, he immediately felt welcomed by those around him. Food quickly became a way for Omar and his coworkers to connect and learn about one another’s cultures.
“My coworkers introduced me to Southern favorites like grits, hog head cheese and tomato sandwiches, while I shared Puerto Rican dishes like rice with pigeon peas and Puerto Rican pulled pork.”
For Omar, these exchanges represented something bigger than food. They demonstrated how differences in culture, background and even accents can create opportunities to connect.
“Those experiences reminded me that our different cultures, backgrounds and accents can bring us closer together. What matters most is how we respect one another, support our teammates and work safely together.”
Omar values the opportunity to share his culture and experiences while continuing to learn from those around him.
“I appreciate being able to bring my culture and experiences to the workplace while learning from others. I’m proud of the relationships we’ve built and how people from different backgrounds come together around the same goals.”
Omar’s story shows how sharing our traditions, learning from one another and finding common ground can bring us closer together. These everyday connections strengthen our teams and help create a workplace where everyone can contribute and belong.
