August Employee Recognition: Domingo Hernandez

I am nominating Domingo for his planning skills and hard work. We installed three new machines to our manufacturing facility and it all went smoothly because of him.

John Correia

What do you do at Natech?

I coordinate equipment and resources to ensure we quickly complete and deliver orders to meet our customers’ needs. By implementing efficiency procedures, I make sure our manufacturing process follows the guidelines for success. I also ensure our team performs with physical and emotional safety.

What is something that most people might not know about you?

I’m a third-generation injection molding processor. My grandfather, father, and uncle also worked in the field.

Another thing is that I’m an immigrant from Mexico. Since the first day that I set foot in the USA, I’ve made the effort to understand more about American culture. I put a lot of time and effort into bonding with the culture.

How did you start your career in manufacturing?

Since my uncle was a plant manager for several years, he frequently took me on plant tours. I was fascinated by the process and machinery. I asked him for an opportunity to work, so he hired me as an apprentice, and the rest is history.

What is the most useful thing you’ve learned at Natech?

Leadership, no doubt. Through the years and training I received from the company, I gained so much experience leading people. The leadership philosophy at Natech is helpful for work, my professional growth, and my personal life.

Domingo is a real stand-up guy, and one of the hardest working people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He is a forensic investigator of any troublesome molding process. He will not rest until he knows exactly what is happening and why it is happening the way that it is. He’s a beacon of knowledge and loves to share what he learns with those around him. When I grow up, I want to be more like Domingo.

Mike Botta

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to watch the sunrise at the beach. Witnessing the birth of a new day inspires me and reconnects me with nature and the principles of life.

I like to play pool and poker with friends. I enjoy reading a good essay about philosophy, psychology, or anything that’s new.

I love music. I’m currently writing a book about my experiences and personal psychological effects of this great companion called “Music.”

What’s one thing that you can’t live without?

Work! It may sound ironic, but I really enjoy what I do.

And I can’t start the morning without a good cup of coffee. I have a name for my Cup of Joe — I call it the Hernandez special. One sugar and 5 ounces of half-and-half and I’m ready to go to war.

What is the favorite part about working at Natech?

The challenges that come with introducing new products and coming up with solutions that involve critical thinking and decision making.

I also love interacting with the entire team, from management to sales to HR to engineering and production. Everyone is super talented and it’s an honor to interact with everyone every day.

What is your proudest achievement?

Developing internal talent with unique skills that help us achieve our upcoming goals and projects. It’s difficult to find people with skills in injection molding, so we invested in training and developing our current employees’ skills. Natech is a learning organization, so I always encourage the continual growth of the team.

What motivates you?

Everything we manufacture has an impact on someone’s life, so it feels good to be part of Natech. And my team motivates me. Every one of them has a very personal thing that motivates them to come here and do their best work.

What are 3 traits that define you?

1. Honesty. I can’t be a leader without it. I start with internal honesty. I recognize my limits and skills and put in effort to improve myself every day.
2. Commitment. I guarantee that I’m there for my team when they need me.
3. Integrity.

What are 3 traits that define Natech?

1. Supportive. We get what we need when solicited, like training, equipment, and resources.
2. Hard-working. When we encounter odd situations and obstacles, hard work is our solution.
3. Multitalented. Everyone at Natech is always willing to learn new skills. We are multicultural individuals working together in one single culture – Natech.

What is your favorite Natech memory?

It’s a memory about Mr. Gerd (Founder of Natech). I remember that day like it was yesterday. We received a mold transfer and had issues with the runners not coming out of the tool. I reviewed the tool, and I noticed rust in the sucker pin orifices. So, I mentioned to Gerd that the runners were probably hanging in the tool because of the rough surface the rust created. Gerd told us to remove the plate and to polish it, but no one on the team had experience with that task. Gerd said, “Let me show you big guy.” He guided me through the process using the proper technique. It was his unique trait to give always give training. It’s a great memory.

Related Resources