Meet Luis Angel Garcia.

September 15 - October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. This month at Verizon we are recognizing and celebrating the many contributions, diverse cultures and extensive histories of the Hispanic and Latino community.?

Meet Luis Angel Garcia . Luis has been a proud V Teamer for 17 years and currently works in our VCG Customer Service Group.

Luis currently holds the position of Senior Manager at Verizon Consumer Group. In his role, he oversees a team of over 100 V Teamers, dedicated to providing long-term solutions and ensuring the best experience possible for our customers. .

Luis earned his Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Management from the University of Phoenix in 2016. He continued to expand his knowledge by completing his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Strayer University in 2019.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Luis has a passion for various sports, particularly soccer, golf, and football. During his free time, he cherishes moments with family and loves cooking.

How do you identify as part of the SOMOS community?

Born in Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico, I consider myself fortunate to have witnessed the importance of family within our Mexican culture. This is precisely why I feel such a strong connection to our SOMOS ERG. Through my experiences collaborating with numerous SOMOS members, it has become abundantly clear that each individual embodies the warmth and approachability that epitomizes our rich cultural heritage.

One of the most difficult challenges?

Growing up in a different country, I faced the challenge of adapting to a new culture and environment, which was undoubtedly tough. As a result, I found myself attempting to distance myself from my familiar customs and not fully embracing my own culture. However, as I continued to mature and interact with people from diverse backgrounds, I came to realize that my upbringing, the language I was raised with, and my cultural heritage are my greatest strengths.?

As I continued to mature and interact with people from diverse backgrounds, I came to realize that my upbringing, the language I was raised with, and my cultural heritage are my greatest strengths. — Luis Angel Garcia

How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and what does it mean to you?

I was born on September 18th, just two days following Mexican Independence Day and the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. To celebrate, my family and I gather with friends for a lively Mexican-themed fiesta. We include a variety of traditional dishes such as tacos, pozole, elote, and Mexican candy. Our celebration also includes singing and, of course, a lot of delicious food.?

The most common misconception you found about the? community??

One of the most common misconceptions is the belief that individuals from our Hispanic/Latino community can’t excel in the corporate world. I believe that our employees at Verizon, as well as the members of SOMOS, serve as excellent illustrations of the diversity and capabilities within our community and workforce. Within our ranks, you'll find individuals excelling in various roles, such as retail, customer service, project management, reporting, network maintenance, and more. The Hispanic/Latino community within our organization works tirelessly to achieve their goals, and they've unequivocally demonstrated their prowess across a wide range of job types and industries.

If you could leave one piece of advice to the people reading this, what would it be??

Our lives are constantly filled with a multitude of activities and responsibilities, both in our professional and personal lives, as well as the broader world around us. It's crucial for us to pause occasionally and genuinely reflect on our blessings and how far we’ve come in our journey in order to continue to grow as a person.