Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. — Andrew Carnegie
“If you are Persistent, you will get it. If you are consistent, you will keep it.
Be humble In your confidence, yet courageous In your character.— Melanie Koulouris
Best Meal Experience (Outside Certe’)
PerSe—The Scottish Blue Lobster will stay with me forever!
Biggest Daily Career Challenge you face every day
Topping my own creativity and making sure that I find new & beautiful ways to display our amazing food. Keeping the menus fresh & making the clients continue to be wowed & love what we do.
Proudest Work Achievement
Helping to build an event department that went from a few a month to as many as the days can handle.
What is always in your refrigerator or pantry?
You will always find a giant stash of Irish tea bags in my cabinet. It’s always tea time at my house.
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails —William Arthur Ward
Best Meal Experience (Outside Certe’)
PerSe. The “Oysters & Pearls” and the Butter Poached Lobster. Sigh.
Biggest Daily Career Challenge you face every day
Making each client feel like they are the only one & providing them personalized customer service. Ensure they are not just satisfied, but going above & beyond. No rushing them even on the busiest days. Just having satisfied customers is not enough!
Proudest Work Achievement
Building our on-line ordering site from just a few clients per month to a few thousand.
What is always in your refrigerator or pantry?
Louisiana Hot Sauce (it’s a Southern thing) and Tomatoes (Tomato Sandwiches are the best!)
The past is where you learned the lesson. The future is where you apply the lesson.— Unknown
Best Meal Experience (Outside Certe’)
My best meal experience was the street food back home in Michoacán, Mexico.
Biggest Daily Career Challenge you face every day
Time management with many moving parts.
Proudest Work Achievement
Being able to work in the food business where my passion lies.
What is always in your refrigerator or pantry?
There’s nothing better than leftovers from my wife’s cooking!
“The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results. Just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat” —Napoleon Hill
Best Meal Experience (Outside Certe’)
T-Bone Steak (amazing Mushroom Sauce!) from the Thai restaurant “Sea.” The Tandoori Chicken with Lemon Rice from the Indian Restaurant “Saphire”.
Biggest Daily Career Challenge you face every day
Only so many hours in a day!
Proudest Work Achievement
Working my way up at Certe’. Started at Pizza by Certe’and built my customer service skills while creating long term relationships with clients. Now in my current position because of hard work & dedication. Nothing means more than fulfilling client needs as if they were my own.
What is always in your refrigerator or pantry?
Pickles (Vlastic preferably)
“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live”.-Norman Cousins
Best Meal Experience (Outside Certe’)
Smoking my own Brisket for 12 hours. Was hit of the event and taught me how food is art. The canvas is empty at first and with a little love and care, food can be whatever we make it.
Biggest Daily Career Challenge you face every day
Getting 20 different personalities on the same page working towards our goal.
Proudest Work Achievement
Building relationships with my customers. When they know they can trust me with a big order to be on-time and correct. The client knows when they place an order with me, I will do whatever it takes to come through.
What is always in your refrigerator or pantry?
Hot Sauce, Steak, Ground Beef, Broccoli, Avocado, Eggs
I never lose. Either I win or I learn.—Nelson Mandela
Best Meal Experience (Outside Certe’)
Las Catrinas, Astoria Queens—Breakfast Chorizo Burger
Biggest Daily Career Challenge you face every day
Urgency from everyone around me
Proudest Work Achievement
Learning about the flavors of food and how they combine to make a perfect dish
What is always in your refrigerator or pantry?
Tomatoes, Oranges, Water, Apples
“The quality of your thinking determines the quality of your life” —Al Pacino
Best Meal Experience (Outside Certe’)
Maya NYC. Traditional Mexican restaurant that reminds me of food when I was a boy.
Biggest Daily Career Challenge you face every day
Teaching new employees the Certe’ way. Work hard, fast, clean & efficient.
Proudest Work Achievement
Learning how to cook in many NYC restaurants with many different cultures.
What is always in your refrigerator or pantry?
Salsa of all kinds & Guacamole.
As I look back on my life, I realize every time I thought I was rejected from something good, I was actually being redirected to something better.—Steve Maraboli
Best Meal Experience (Outside Certe’)
6-Course tasting dinner by Chef Anthony Goncalves, Kanopi, Westchester Ritz Carlton.
Biggest Daily Career Challenge you face every day
Constant fights with vendors on quality, freshness and prices.
Proudest Work Achievement
Being re-hired by Certe’ at a better position.
What is always in your refrigerator or pantry?
A Jar of Peanut Butter (creamy because that’s what my wife buys) and Monster Energy Drink (white).
If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you—Fred Devito
Best Meal Experience (Outside Certe’)
Back home in Columbia. Fresh Arepas with Cheese in the middle coming right from my Mom’s pan.
Biggest Daily Career Challenge you face every day
Balancing cash flow.
Proudest Work Achievement
Running the finances of the business while the owner was away. He was unable to take this much time off previously.
What is always in your refrigerator or pantry?
Eggs, Milk, & Ginger ale (for my Whiskey).
You must expect great things from yourself before you can do them—Michael Jordan
Best Meal Experience (Outside Certe’)
Trattoria L’incontro in Astoria Queens. Linguini a la Diabla with Seafood was one of the best I’ve ever had.
Biggest Daily Career Challenge you face every day
Maintain high standards of freshness.
Proudest Work Achievement
Being promoted from pizza cook to Kitchen Manager.
What is always in your refrigerator or pantry?
Fresh vegetables from my garden and cheese & yogurt.
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