02What it took

What did it take to get here that people don't see?

What people don’t see is the journey behind the title. My work ethic was shaped long before my career began, rooted in my family values. It took sacrifice, discipline, and the courage to build a life in a new country while holding onto the principles my family instilled in me: humility, perseverance, responsibility, and the determination to keep moving forward even when the path wasn’t clear.

Getting here took long hours, resilience, and a commitment to proving myself in every room I entered. It meant learning to lead with both strength and empathy, earning trust through consistency, and showing my team that growth is possible no matter where you start. The role I hold today is the result of years of unseen effort: embracing challenges, adjusting to changes, choosing discipline over comfort, and believing that leadership is not just about achieving goals, but about lifting others as you rise.

03Who carried you

Who carried you, and what did they teach you that you still use every week?

I have been carried by the support system I have at home, the people who remind me where I come from and keep me grounded no matter how demanding life becomes. My family taught me the values that guide me every week: treating people with dignity, showing up with consistency, leading with empathy, and taking responsibility for the impact I have on others. Those lessons shaped me as a person and continue to shape the way I lead today. In my role, I rely on those roots to build teams, create opportunities, and make decisions that honor both where I come from and the future we are building together.

04For the leader coming up

What is the one thing you'd tell the leader coming up behind you?

I would tell the leader coming up behind me to stay grounded in who they are and lead with the values that shaped them. Titles change, responsibilities grow, and challenges get bigger, but your character is what carries you through all of it. Invest in people, because they are the greatest return on any effort you make. Lead with empathy, show up with consistency, and don’t be afraid of the sacrifices that come with growth. The path isn’t always easy, but if you stay true to your values and lift others as you rise, you’ll build something that lasts. Also, make sure to embrace your cultural roots and aspire to greatness.

05Adelante

Adelante means forward. Where are you taking your function, your company, or your industry next?

Adelante, for me, means moving forward with purpose. Carrying the strength of our heritage into the future we are building. I’m taking my function forward by shaping a workplace where diversity isn’t just represented, but empowered. As we open our Live! Virginia Casino & Hotel, my vision is to elevate how our industry develops talent, creates opportunity, and builds leaders who reflect the communities we serve. I want to set a new standard: one where diverse voices (especially Hispanic voices), values, and perspectives help define what excellence looks like. I want our teams to see that their backgrounds and stories are strengths, not obstacles, and that they belong in every room where decisions are made.

That’s the future I’m pushing toward: a stronger, more inclusive industry shaped by the very communities that have carried us here.