Stephanie
Melchor
Analyst,
Internal Communications
Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Texas, Inc.
Born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, Stephanie Melchor is the Internal
Communication Analyst at Toyota. She is responsible for crafting employee
communications, writing speeches, and scripts on behalf of the president and
other members of the executive leadership
“Overall what I am most proud of is the fact that I have built trust with our
executives at Toyota and to be able to capture their voice,” she shares. “At this
point, I know exactly their tone, their voice, and I am able to translate that
message. That allows our team members to understand how much the
company cares about them.”
Melchor’s career at Toyota began five years ago while she worked as a
co-op, which is a full-time paid intern. Fast-forward to 2015, while she was in
her last semester in College, her mentor at Toyota gave her a call and
suggested she take her job since she was leaving the company.
“I’ve been able to create a lot of new processes and bring a lot of new
communication tools to our plan based on everyone’s willingness to trust me,
so I think that I really appreciate the fact that I am a valuable member of the
team,” she shares. “The fact that I am valued regardless of my age, I think it’s
really important to know that I started when I was 23, and now I am 28 and it’s
only me, the one responsible for internal communications.”
Melchor hopes to keep building on her communication skills and
project management skills to grow into a more community involved role and to
serve a greater cause. Outside of Toyota, she dedicates much of her time to
advocacy efforts. Melchor sits on the MOVE Texas Board, an organization
dedicated to ensuring young people of color are registered to vote.She also sits
on the City of San Antonio’s Affirmative Action Committee, ensuring The City is
reaching diversity and equity goals. During COVID-19 times staying in tune with
herself, and family has been a lifesaver. “COVID has changed the way that we
live,” she shares. “The pandemic has brought us closer and has allowed me to
slow down, so reflecting and journaling has been my coping mechanism.”
Summer Valadez
Skilled Technician, Paint
Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Texas, Inc.
“I first started as an intern and got my
associate’s degree through a program
partnered with a local community college and
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas,” states Summer
Valadez, Paint Skilled Technician at Toyota.
“Growing up in a very traditional household made it difficult for them when
I chose a profession generally associated with “man’s work”, my grandparents
raised a brow. A year later and they couldn’t have been prouder with the choice
I made in my career. Their granddaughter breaking traditions and starting new
ones while still maintaining some traditional ways.”
Born and raised in San Antonio, TX, Valadez has been working at Toyota for
about five years and is responsible for maintaining the equipment in the
painting department. From various robots to conveyor systems and more, her
hands are more than full on a daily basis.
Although she didn’t see herself working in a male-dominated
manufacturing industry she is proud to be where she is and it is one of her
greatest accomplishments. Another accomplishment she feels proud of is to
have changed the culture as one of the first women in her department.
“The men I work with were not ready for a female and that quickly changed
after I showed that I was hardworking and determined and a good employee,”
she shares. “That has changed and now we have two more women and now
they are known to be the most knowledgeable. I definitely impacted the shop
initially making life changes and having a female presence was a positive
impact. It’s great to see they are noticing more women at Toyota.”
The best part of working for Toyota is the relationships she has built
throughout the years with her peers and the rest of the team. “We are like a
second family because I see them as much as I see my family,” she shares. “It
also builds that safety culture that Toyota builds in you.”
Leticia Garza
Production Planning
Sr. Manager
Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Texas, Inc.
“I did not grow up envisioning working in a
manufacturing company or that I would choose
it as a career,” shares Leticia Garza, Production
Planning Sr. Manager at Toyota. “My goal was to become a nurse, as I love
helping people.”
In this role, Garza is responsible for Managing 23 On-Site Suppliers,
production volume planning for both TMMTX and service parts, and exports
(Tacoma parts to the Toyota plants in Mexico). Her role as a Senior Manager is
training and developing, supply chain management, coordinating and
communicating major change points with Toyota SR Managers and executives,
internally and externally.
Prior to working for Toyota, Garza was a registered dental assistant.
Relocating to San Antonio 21 years ago, Garza was born and raised in Three
Rivers, south of San Antonio, TX.
“I can clearly recall the night my husband and I were watching the news
when they announced that Toyota would be coming to San Antonio,” she shares.
“I immediately told my husband that I was ready for a career change and was
going to apply when they started taking applications. As soon as Toyota
announced they were accepting online applications, I immediately applied and
was hired about eight months later.”
12 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle V ol. 26, No. 5, 2020
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