As we wrap up our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and the amazing folk at Envoy who contribute to our success, let’s meet with Jacqueline Gil who is an Envoy Customer Care Operations Trainer at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). We’ll hear all about her passion for Mexico and how she loves to celebrate her heritage.
What is your Envoy story?
I have been with Envoy since June 2021. I started off in the Customer Care department pushing wheelchairs and four months later, I became an acting lead. In September of 2022, I came over to the training department where I am a cross-trained Trainer — that means, one day I will be training out on the ramp and other days I will be training Customer Care agents in the terminal.
I am also responsible for creating our weekly Safety Briefing that goes out to all our agents.
What’s the significance of National Hispanic Heritage Month to you?
Growing up, my dad would take me to Puebla, Mexico every year during Semana Santa, or Holy Week, and I would always look forward to going. My dad made sure that I knew where I came from and where our roots are, and my children have also gone to Mexico since they were babies.
Not everyone gets to see the beauty of Hispanic countries with their own eyes, so having a month where we can showcase our accomplishments as well as our culture and our amazing food is great. It brings me joy to ask my children how their day went and them telling me they learned about Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Puerto Rico etc.
Who has inspired you in your life?
My Papa Ene was such a great man, and growing up, I always had so much pride knowing I was Enedino’s granddaughter. Even though he is no longer with us, he is still very much remembered and loved by those in the little town we are from. He loved to play the trumpet and played in a band even at an older age.
When my dad goes to Mexico, I always make sure to give him money for my Papa Ene’s flowers.
How do you like to show your Hispanic pride?
I love to show my pride through my clothing and jewelry. I like to wear handmade jewelry brought from Mexico, as well as my huaraches that my sister-in-law brought me from Michoacan.
I also enjoy celebrating Mexican holidays and traditions. One of them being Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Every year, I set up a small alter in my home, called an ofrenda, and I enjoy setting it up with my children.
Tell us one surprising fact about yourself that others may not know.
One surprising thing about me is that my children are not only Mexican, but they are also Guatemalan. They are part of two amazing countries with beautiful cultures.
I have not been to Guatemala, but I always have a piece of Guatemala with me, from my kids and my husband’s family who have treated me like one of their own.