Jose Corral, Portland Employee of the Month

There are certain things that can brighten your day, even if it’s just a simple smile from a co-worker in passing. If you find yourself walking through the downstairs coffee bar area at break time you are sure to be greeted by Jose Corral with a big smile and “good morning, it’s break time!” This brings a smile to many employees’ faces every time, seeing someone else in such a good mood. And his supervisor Mike agrees!

“In the year and a half that I have worked with Jose, I have had the pleasure of working with a man that takes great pride in his ability to do a great job with any task assigned to him.  Jose is eager to help his fellow co-workers out when needed and teaches new employees working in the UPC Department how to work smart and handle any task. He also lends a hand to Receiving when they are shorthanded and in need of help. The best attributes that Jose brings to work every day are his never wavering high production level, ability to make people laugh out loud, and exudes a positive attitude all of the time,” said Mike McCoy, UPC Room Supervisor.

Jose has been a part of the Houston’s team since December 2013 where he enjoys working in the UPC Department. He says it is a comfortable job and likes repacking product, assembling table bases and high chairs, labeling products, and more.

When away from work you can find Jose enjoying the weather at the Tillamook coastal area or fishing with his wife and two kids (daughter 21 and son 20). He likes walking down the shore and says even rain and elements won’t stop him from enjoying it. Though he doesn’t just like a nice stroll on the beach to take time to simply breathe the fresh air, one of his favorite things to do is build a bonfire with family and friends he stays with while in Tillamook area. He also enjoys going fishing for salmon in the river and even cleans the fish himself before serving them up in a tasty dish! Some of his favorite meals to cook are enchiladas and chile rellenos. Yum!

Congratulations Jose on earning Employee of the Month for October for the Wilsonville Warehouse! We really appreciate all your hard work and laughs!

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Izzy Ortiz, Employee of the Month

If you’ve ever had a chance to walk our warehouses, you know you’ll see employees pulling orders and storing excess inventory, among other things. Whenever you come across forklift number twenty-one, Izzy Ortiz is sure to greet you with a smile and a, “Hey, how;s it going?” Izzy works in our Wilsonville warehouse as a forklift driver for the Cash & Carry Department, but you will also find him helping out with other projects throughout the building. “Izzy is an outstanding employee. He is one of my most reliable overflow drivers, and I can rely on him for anything that I need done,” says Angie Buffeta, Cash & Carry Supervisor.

Izzy enjoys all of the friendships he’s made here at Houston’s over the last 10 years, and the flexible hours don’t hurt either, “I like that I am kind of my own boss. I know what I have to get done for the day and I can do it all on the forklift.” In addition to the experience he’s gained as a forklift operator for over 21 years, Izzy’s ability to manage his time effectively while going above and beyond what’s expected of him, contributed to his Employee of the Month achievement.

When his children were young, Izzy would do security work on the side, but since they’ve recently graduated, he now only provides security in the parking lot of his church during Sunday services. Before the services start, he can be found escorting church members to their seats as an usher. His favorite event to provide security for each year is his church’s Halloween festival, where he gets to see the kids dress up and enjoy the excitement that all of the festival activities have to offer.

While Izzy used to play softball on the Woodburn Co-Ed League and coach wrestling, leg surgery sidelined him, and he is now an avid fan still attending some of the softball games to help keep score. Izzy also loves to take full advantage of his time with family, whether it be barbecuing with his dad, or just spending quality time with relatives.

Thank you, Izzy, for your continued dedication, hard work, and sunny personality! Congratulations on earning the Portland Employee of the Month award for June 2017!

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