|
Oscar "Oz" Sanchez is a man who doesn't know the meaning of quitting. Despite being severely injured, Oscar is a devoted athlete who cycles several hours each day, training for the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.
Despite Oz's can-do attitude and wide range of experience earned from a career as a Marine, he wasn't connecting with employers who appreciated his skills and were willing to work with his personal goal of making the Paralympic team. Even with an impeccable service record and a degree, Oz couldn't find the right job. He knew he was well- suited to a managerial position, yet he had reached the point where he was willing to do just about any type of work just to be employed and still have time to train.
Finally, Oz turned to Warriors to Work to help him get his career on track. Warriors to Work connected Oz with the Navy's Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, who was looking for an employee with his unique experience and skills. Oz joined their team as a Lean Process Facilitator, a position he never would have considered seeking before talking to Warriors to Work staff. As a facilitator, Oz works to make manufacturing processes and procedures more efficient.
Oz has settled in to his new job and finds it's a great fit. This summer, his employer will be sending him to a training program to earn his black belt in Lean Six Sigma. Oz has been thrilled the people at the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center fully support his dreams of competing in the Paralympics. They've created a flexible schedule for Oz that gives him time to attend intensive Paralympic training camps.
"Everybody can achieve their dreams. My dream was to do both my two careers simultaneously- my athletic career and my professional career. Before, I felt like I was doing a tap dance and trying to get someone's attention. I knew I could be an asset to an organization, but the problem I was having was that I was coming in from the bottom up. I needed to get to the top and find some sort of VP or executive who had the ability to see what I had to offer. Now that I have connected with the right job, I'm really excited and I'm really looking forward to what the future brings. They've been very supportive and have worked with me to provide the resources I need to work while maintaining my training schedule. You've got to find a support structure of someone who will work with you to help you achieve your dreams and help you stay focused."
|
