HE&R Spotlights Team Members in Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 2024

HE&R Spotlights Team Members in Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 2024

Hershey Entertainment & Resorts(HE&R) was proud to spotlight several team members on its company Facebook page and HersheyJobs Instagram in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15, 2024). Thank you to Jules, Ivan and Todd who shared their thoughts with us! We invite you to meet our team members, read their stories and learn what Hispanic Heritage Month means to them in their spotlights below.

Jules Viera, HE&R Corporate Services, Marketing

Meet Jules, a Marketing Specialist with HE&R, whose work supports the creation and distribution of media messaging and promotions for the company and its brands, including assets for signage, TV, and radio. "What I love about Marketing [at HE&R] is that we get to showcase all of the incredible elements of our destination," said Jules.

Although she officially began her HE&R career in February 2024, Jules explains that her path toward working with the company truly began when she enrolled as a student at Milton Hershey School(MHS) at the age of 9. "I feel like everything I am is because of MHS, and having a career with HE&R now feels like my purpose. [HE&R and MHS] have a genuine connection. Our team is so passionate about giving back to the students at the school. I am so happy to be here and give back to the school that gave so much to me - it's all a part of who I am."

For Jules, the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month is "a vital opportunity to celebrate and recognize the diversity within the Hispanic community." She explains that cultural exchange and sharing experiences help us understand and appreciate diversity, using food and food-centered experiences within Hispanic communities as an example. "Cultural exchange is really important, and it changes the way you interact with and see the world. Food is significant in Hispanic communities because it helps bring communities together, which is why it's often at the center of events and celebrations. For me, being Puerto Rican - a Latina - it means that cooking and being with others in the kitchen is just as meaningful as it is about the act of eating. It's about sharing the experience, being together."

Ivan Hernandez, Great Save Productions, GIANT Center

Meet Ivan, Video Content Producer for Great Save Productions at GIANT Center, who started his HE&R career in 2019. One of 32 videographers in the American Hockey League, Ivan is responsible for capturing the excitement of Hershey Bearsgames and creating an immersive and entertaining fan experience. "I help oversee in-house and in-game production and provide content for the games and our social media channels," explains Ivan. "And yes, I also get a lot of face time with the players!"

Ivan's creativity is on display not only on home ice at the GIANT Center but also on national media outlets, with his footage appearing in "Sweeter by the Dozen," a documentary produced in conjunction with Hershey's National Hockey League affiliate, the Washington Capitals, that highlights the Bears' run to their 12th Calder Cup. "To share my footage and be a part of that larger project is incredible," beams Ivan. "The experience I have in telling and sharing stories - whether with the players or fans - is so fun."

Ivan was first introduced to hockey through his father. "When my parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico in the 1990s, my father did not have soccer games to watch because international soccer games were not televised then. So he would watch the Pittsburgh Penguins play hockey on TV, and he became a hockey fan!"

For Ivan, the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month is about "reflecting on my family and being together. I recognize the sacrifices that my family has made for me. It's about taking advantage of those opportunities that I've been given and doing the best I can with them." He continues, "I'm fortunate and lucky, and I've worked hard [in my career]. I'm thankful for each opportunity and grateful to do what I do every day."

Todd Tuttle, Devon Seafood + Steak Hershey

Meet Todd, Senior Manager of Devon Seafood + Steakin downtown Hershey, PA. Todd recalls his first dining experience with friends at Devon, "I remember it exactly and which booth we sat in. I noticed [the staff's] attention to detail and remember thinking, 'That's my style!' I could envision myself working in the restaurant." After concluding a 20-year career as a charter captain in Key West, FL, Todd relocated to Central Pennsylvania and began his HE&R career in 2013, joining the Devon team as a part-time bartender.

Now managing daily restaurant operations, Todd ensures those signature details remain at the forefront of the business, noting, "You can have dinner anywhere, but it's the experiences and excellence that we create at Devon that sets us apart." As a committee member of HE&R's MERGE (Multi-Ethnic Resource Group for Everyone) Employee Resource Group, Todd enjoys supporting company events, building connections and encouraging the growth and development of his team, "My proudest moments come from watching our young team members learn new skills, grow their confidence and return each year. I watch them flourish as they create memories for our guests - there's something so special about that."

When asked what Hispanic Heritage Month means to him, Todd smiles, "It means gratitude. I am filled with gratitude! I am grateful for the blessings and luxuries that are afforded to me because my grandparents were brave enough to immigrate from Mexico to California to start a different life." He continues, "It also reminds me to reflect on many of my family traditions, like gathering to make tamales during the holidays - it took many hands! Some of those traditions get lost over the years, but it's the memories associated with the traditions that carry meaning. Celebrations [like Hispanic Heritage Month] help remind us of that."