The Limited English Proficiency (LEP) program continues to help individuals break barriers to employment. In the two and half years since it was launched, it has not only provided more job opportunities in the community and strengthened the company’s workforce, but now it is supporting advancement into leadership roles.
Several employees in the LEP program have built up communication, leadership, and technical skills to lead others in the Team Member Support role.
For Karelia Carrasco, Team Member Support at NRC Final Assembly, joining Gentex was the start of new possibilities-as well as a move to a new field of work, country, and culture. “Prior to Gentex, I lived in Guantanamo, Cuba, where I was a licensed medical doctor,” said Karelia. “I decided to move to the United States in search of better opportunities for my family.”
When searching for a new position, Karelia heard about Gentex through a friend, and found the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) program as well. After applying, Karelia quickly found a group of accepting people who were ready to help her succeed on the LEP lines at Gentex as a manufacturing team member.
“I still remember my first day at Gentex, I was very excited and nervous as most are on their first day,” she said. “My former group leader and also my fellow TMS Gustavo gave me the most welcoming introduction to Gentex.”
The LEP program provided a place where Karelia could build skills in a new career, while finding support in her native language. Karelia quickly took to the work, and applied herself, learning and leading her team, and approaching the job with continuous curiosity.
She is now works as Team Member Support, supporting her colleagues on the production floor in the same way she was supported during her first weeks on the job.
Several other Gentex employees who got their start in the LEP program now work in the Team Member Support role, utilizing their skills and dedication to support manufacturing as bilingual team members at Gentex.
Stephanie Onofre-Cortez was working in Holland when her brother brought up the possibility of working at Gentex in production. “I was working as an operator at another company, but my brother thought I could grow with a job here,” she said. “So here I am!”
Soon into her work on one of the LEP lines, she took on the Team Member Support role as well. “The new role has me speaking and listening more,” she said.
However, having less of a language barrier is beneficial to her work at Gentex.
Working with employees in the LEP program is great," said Stephanie."We can feel more comfortable working with others on our team. If for some reason someone can’t understand me, I can find someone who speaks Spanish, or translate, and people understand.
The welcoming environment where people feel comfortable using their native language is central to the LEP program. For employees who have worked within, and then supported, the program, the environment has provided a place where they feel they can grow and advance their career while fitting in and feeling supported by the organization.
“Although cliché in a way, my former group leader at the time, and also my fellow TMS Gustavo Solis became family to me and one of my biggest support systems at work,” said Karelia.
“I always had a personal goal of continuing to advance my career. To obtain my current role as TMS, I had to devote a lot of my time, demonstrate continuous interest in learning more, challenge our team, take initiative and overall commitment to Gentex,” said Karelia.
“My group leader saw these characteristics, but my greatest hurdle were my bilingual skills. My English still isn’t perfect, but I am getting better and more confident every day!”
If you ask her what she values about her job, Karelia will tell you that she loves the constant change and variety in her job, and the ability to help others and support her team in her work. She also values the support the program provides to team members, so that they can work on progressing in their careers.
"The LEP team provides a safe space where diverse perspectives are accepted and all team members are valued for their unique contributions,” said Karelia. “There are not many companies that provide safe spaces where one not only feels included but also feels as if they belong despite the language barrier."