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Career Growth: A Hispanic Recipe for Making Industry Impact

At Crowley, contributing to career growth through a resilient supply chain is like crafting the perfect Hispanic recipe—each step requires precision, the right mix of “ingredients” and the vision of talented individuals who bring their unique skills, leadership and cultural values to the table to create a high-performing workplace that impacts our industry.
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All great recipes need key “ingredients,” and for Crowley, that’s our people. Hispanics are the second-largest ethnic group among our Crowley team, and their contributions are rooted in a deep sense of community and strong values. These core tenets help us build meaningful relationships throughout our businesses and set the foundation for a resilient, people-focused supply chain.

The Sales Expert – Driving Business Growth with Passion and Perseverance

Tony Lopez Krulas
Business Development Manager

Tony Lopez Krulas, a business development manager who joined Crowley in January 2024,  has already significantly impacted the advanced energy team by identifying opportunities to develop and operate small-scale local energy systems, also known as microgrids (MGs). Such infrastructure is designed to provide cost-effective energy solutions that can reduce emissions and increase resiliency compared to the main electric grid.

For Lopez Krulas, born in La Coruña, Galicia, Spain, his Hispanic heritage plays a crucial role in how he approaches business growth and building relationships.

 “Growing up in a small, close-knit community in Spain with Gallego travel culture traditions taught me the importance of building trusted relationships,” Lopez Krulas explained. “I’ve always valued adaptability. It’s ingrained in my DNA.”

This adaptability has proven valuable in Crowley’s dynamic business environment and in building an agile strategy. When the advanced energy team identified energy needs in the Puerto Rico and Caribbean markets, Lopez Krulas jumped in quickly, showcasing his ability to adapt and collaborate across regions with large Hispanic populations.

Top Employer for Latinos

Crowley is honored to be recognized by the National Diversity Council as a 2024 National Top Employer for Latino Leaders. This recognition reflects Crowley’s commitment to empowering and supporting our Hispanic employees through employee-led business resource groups, professional development opportunities, community engagement activities and more.

One notable example of how Lopez Krulas’s cultural heritage influenced his work occurred during a project in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where the decision-maker shared his Hispanic background. “We initiated our conversations in English out of habit but soon shifted to Spanish and began discussing our shared cultural traditions,” said Lopez Krulas. “This shared connection helped build trust and reinforced our relationship.”

For our Hispanic colleagues like Lopez Krulas, these connections are about more than business—they are about building long-term relationships based on mutual understanding and trust.

Looking ahead, Lopez Krulas advises younger Hispanic employees to embrace who they are and remain open to learning, especially if they want to enter the advanced energy space.

“Be genuine and don’t shy away from your cultural identity,” says Lopez Krulas. “These long-term projects reflect the future of energy dependency, and Crowley is leading the charge.”

Exceptional Customer Experience – Building Relationships with Empathy and Understanding

Sheila Castro
Administrator, Account Management

Sheila Castro, an administrator of account management in Crowley’s customer care department, knows that exceptional customer experience is the heartbeat of a resilient supply chain. During her five years at Crowley, Castro has focused on driving customer loyalty through empathy, understanding and effective problem-solving. Castro’s approach to customer service is deeply rooted in kindness and warmth, qualities she believes are central to forming meaningful connections with Crowley customers.

“I believe most Hispanics possess a natural warmth and empathy, which helps foster genuine connections with others,” said Castro, a native Guatemalan. “This inherent friendliness helps us create an open and inviting atmosphere, which is instrumental in building customer trust and rapport.”

She has seen firsthand how these traits help resolve complex issues, turning challenging situations into opportunities for collaboration. “Kindness plays a crucial role in minimizing tensions and creating a cooperative environment,” Castro added. This approach facilitates harmonious problem-solving and strengthens collaboration to build effective customer partnerships.”

Castro’s leadership style is deeply aligned with Crowley’s commitment to accountability as it resonates most with her cultural values. “My commitment to customers is deeply rooted in my Hispanic heritage, which emphasizes integrity, respect, and accountability,” Castro explained. “I believe being a leader requires taking full responsibility for the customer experience, ensuring their needs are handled with care and dedication.”

Communication is another area where Castro’s cultural background shines. “In Guatemala, kindness, respect and empathy are highly esteemed,” Castro said. “By prioritizing these values over the immediate situation, I can cultivate respectful and friendly interactions that lead to collaborative and effective solutions.”

Castro advises younger Hispanic employees entering the customer service field to remember this communication method. “Put yourself in the customer’s shoes and assume good intentions,” Castro explained. “Strive to understand your customers deeply enough to anticipate their needs and lean on your cultural values when building customer relationships.”

The Mariner’s Perspective – Supporting Hispanic Colleagues to Fortify the Industry

John D. Cedeno Jr.
Bosun

For John D. Cedeno Jr., a bosun with 33 years of experience at Crowley, leadership aboard the vessel fosters teamwork and ensures the crew’s well-being. As a senior crew member, Cedeno Jr. is responsible for the vessel’s deck maintenance, operations and upkeep.

Raised in Puerto Rico, Cedeno’s Hispanic roots have influenced his leadership style and approach to problem-solving at sea. As a bilingual supervisor, Cedeno often bridges communication gaps between crew members and has a sense of cultural nuance when engaging with workers from different Hispanic backgrounds.

From his experience, Cedeno has an advantage when supporting folks whose second language is English. Navigating language barriers when he first moved to Puerto Rico as a child reminded him of the importance of making non-native speakers feel accepted.

 “I remember the relief I felt when I met a bilingual student who helped me communicate with my peers,” Cedeno said. “I see that same expression on new crew members’ faces when I greet them in Spanish. It reassures them that I’m here to guide and support them.”

His cultural heritage also informs how he handles challenges aboard the vessel. Cedeno emphasized the importance of resilience in his family and encouraged him always to stand firm in the face of adversity. For his family, a “no quit” attitude has been passed down across generations, constantly reminding him to never give up and push through all obstacles.

This resilience, combined with his determined mentality, allows him to be seen as an asset with solutions for every problem that faces the SIU, Crowley and his fellow shipmates.

For Cedeno Jr., teamwork is at the heart of fostering safety and efficiency aboard the vessel.

“Family is an important value in Hispanic culture and I apply that sense of belonging to my team,” he said. “When people feel valued and a part of a team, they work better together and that’s crucial for maintaining a safe, productive supply chain.”

As a seasoned mariner, Cedeno Jr. offers sage advice for younger Hispanic employees starting their careers: “Be open-minded, learn all you can, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Always work safely, take ownership of the task at hand and be the example your loved ones believe you to be,” he concluded.

The Perfect Dish – A Dependable Supply Chain

At Crowley, every employee brings unique “ingredients” to our businesses—whether it’s through the cultural values that shape their approach to work, their high performance and engagement, the creativity that drives innovation, or the shared experiences that set the foundation for customer relationship building. Like any great recipe, combining these elements drives company success and increases the dependability of our supply chain to continue pushing the industry forward.

Crowley offers rewarding maritime careers for college graduates and others looking to join a company that prioritizes safety and innovation while providing competitive wages, opportunities to advance and the choice to join a hard-working team building a sustainable future. Learn more about maritime jobs, including becoming a port engineer.

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