Employee Spotlight: Alejandro Sanchez

Employee Spotlight: Alejandro Sanchez

Alejandro Sanchez is eager to teach his daughter, who is due in August, all about his journey as a first-generation Venezuelan immigrant to the United States.

Alejandro has worked at MarketSource for 2.5 years and was recently promoted to senior business process engineer for Retail, a role where he can flex his industrial engineer education. “I have always loved to learn how things are done…when, how, and why?” he says. “I also have always had that need to learn something new and add skills to my toolbelt. MarketSource has been a great way for me to learn about different departments and how they work together.”

In 2007, after studying industrial engineering at Universidad Rafael Bellos in Maracaibo – Venezuela’s second-largest city after its capital, Caracas – Alejandro’s father suggested that his son apply for residence in the U.S. It took eight years for him to receive correspondence back that his case was being evaluated. “The following year, at the age of 32, I said goodbye to my parents and my girlfriend,” said Alejandro. “I boarded a plane with my bags, my memories, my unfulfilled dreams, my fears, uncertainty, and a positive attitude that it would all work out for the best…and arrived in Atlanta.” His friend from high school, Luis Garcia, had already moved to Atlanta and was there to pick Alejandro up from the airport. Two weeks later, Alejandro’s girlfriend—now wife—arrived and decided to stay, as well.

Alejandro was introduced to MarketSource by Luis, who works at Allegis Global Solutions today, but worked at MarketSource at the time. “I was told MarketSource had many opportunities for growth and I realized that the company’s core values aligned with mine, too,” he said. “Now that I’ve been here for a couple of years, my favorite part of my job is the people and the processes. I like listening to what people do, putting it on a process map, and then helping them realize that—with a few changes to their routine—they can be more productive or more efficient.”

Next year, Alejandro looks forward to being eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. “Being an American citizen means broadening my culture, adopting American ideals, and merging that with my Venezuelan culture…I love being a part of the diversity that exists here.”

As for what he will specifically share with his daughter? “Not to be afraid to knock on different doors…one will always open and with it will come opportunities, changes, challenges, goals. I will teach her that – although the road can be long and difficult – she will have the tools and the attitude to reach those goals.”

And Alejandro is already her perfect example.