Hispanic Heritage Month—September 15 to October 15—is a time to honor the history, culture, and contributions of descendants, living in America, of people from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Aramark employees set time aside this year to celebrate Hispanic history and culture with events designed to inform, educate, and engage fellow team members across the company.
The efforts are led by Aramark’s employee resource group (ERG), Impacto, in partnership with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time for us to reflect on the year Impacto has had,” said Alison Birdwell, President and CEO, Aramark Sports + Entertainment and Executive Sponsor of Impacto. “Thanks to our engaged members and dynamic leadership, Impacto has much to be proud of this year. We have expanded our ERG hubs across the country, including the Chicago, Dallas, and Houston areas, and focused on career and leadership development that included hosting a workshop in partnership with the Aramark Young Professionals ERG.”
Creating Impact
Aramark ERGs like Impacto provide leadership development, education, and resources to members, along with valuable marketplace insights and community engagement opportunities.
Last month, Impacto joined community organizations and other ERGs to host backpack drives, gathering and donating back-to-school supplies to over 4,000 school students in more than 30 communities in the U.S., Ireland, and Chile.
Several members of Impacto serve on a committee of certified translators, helping Aramark further educate and communicate with employees, clients, and consumers on a variety of topics.
Impacto partners with the Aramark Health and Wellness team to translate “What’s a Parent to Do?” blogs into Spanish. A series of Feed Your Potential 365 nutrition and wellness blogs written by Aramark Student Nutrition dietitians and chefs, “What’s a Parent to Do?” blogs are available to parents and the public in both English and Spanish (e.g., “Breakfast Struggles: What’s a Parent to Do?” | “Los Desafíos Del Desayuno: ¿Qué debe hacer un padre?”)
“Translating materials to Spanish means a broader audience can be reached with tips and information,” said Francisca Sohl, a district manager for Aramark Student Nutrition, and Impacto Chair. “Aramark does a great job educating clients and customers on healthy living, but sometimes there is a community piece to that which can be difficult because of a language barrier."
Hispanic Heritage Month Event Highlights
Throughout the month, Hispanic chefs and their recipes were featured at participating Aramark client accounts in a companywide series called “Chef Spotlight,” which celebrates culinary innovation and workplace diversity.
A trivia event was held September 19th where participants tested their knowledge of Hispanic culture and heritage while connecting with co-workers.
On September 29th, instructors led a salsa dancing class at Aramark’s Philadelphia headquarters and online.
A career workshop called, “Ace Your Next Interview!” was held October 3rd that featured a dynamic discussion with members of Aramark’s Talent Acquisition team, Emily Pickett and Damarilis Philips, Impacto's Workforce Chairs.
On October 8th, a workshop called “The Power of Declaration and Becoming an Inclusive Leader” was held to equip leaders with the knowledge and skills to champion inclusivity throughout the organization.
Led by Yai Vargas, an expert speaker on matters of diversity and inclusion and a member of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, Vargas led participants in practical strategies and exercises to foster a more inclusive workplace.
Annual Awards and Keynote
To wrap up 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month, Impacto hosted a special event October 15th that featured a keynote address on leading collaborative teams. The keynote speaker was Ainhoa Pozzi-Gonzalez, Vice President of Legal - Latin America, Aramark International.
The ERG also held their annual awards presentation—the Impact Awards—which celebrates outstanding achievements of Aramark team members and Impacto members who embody leadership qualities.
Congratulations to this year's Impact Award Winners:
Executive Award
- Raul Mendez – Aramark Corporate
Aramark Collegiate Hospitality
- Juanita Alfaro
- Leopoldo Betancourt
- Ryan Lopez
- Daniel Martinez
- Crystal Perez
- Ricardo Plascencia
- Juan Villanueva
Aramark Destinations
- David Baron
- Jose Antonio David
Aramark Facilities Management
- Victor Chavez
- Oscar Colorado
- Emily Gillis
- Vilma Rivera
Aramark Healthcare+
- Angela Caram
- Roger Cordoba
- Kathy Evee
- Juan (David) Torrescano
Aramark International
- Paula Beatriz Garcia Angulo
Aramark Refreshments
- Roma Garza
Aramark Sports + Entertainment
- Yadzia Gaona De Cazares
- David Garcia
- Anthony Lopez
- Luis Paulino
- Alexandra Sierra
Aramark Student Nutrition
- David Ferrel
- Jennyfer Jimenez
- Alicia Rivera
Aramark Workplace Experience Group
- Dalila Mercado
- Claudia Nuss
- Ashton Thompson
