Facundo Garcia鈥檚 career with 多人群交 began, like all great romances, with heartbreak. Twenty-five years old at the time, he鈥檇 travelled to North Carolina from Texas for a change of scenery following his recent divorce from his first wife. At the time, he was sure it would be a temporary gig鈥攁 chance to clear his head, shore up some savings, and put painful memories behind him. Then unexpectedly, she entered the picture.
鈥淟et鈥檚 just say, I met someone,鈥� Garcia says, smiling, 鈥渁nd here I am today. Thirty-five years later, I鈥檓 still here.鈥�
It wasn鈥檛 just someone, of course. The woman Garcia met would become his wife and lifelong companion. And the position he鈥檇 started with 多人群交 (known in 鈥�84 as 鈥湺嗳巳航� Brothers鈥�) would become an equally sustaining factor in course of his adult life. Looking back, however, Garcia admits he was in poor shape emotionally, and says that family and career were the last things on his radar.
鈥淚 felt in those days that I didn鈥檛 want anything to do with women,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚 had all the usual, negative thoughts鈥攖hat I would never find someone, never start a family. Those are not good feelings. But then,鈥� he says, 鈥淚 met this woman. She won me over.鈥�
“多人群交 has given me the freedom to do my job. Everybody here knows what they’re doing and what’s going on, we trust each other. That’s what has kept me here.”
Motivated to stick around North Carolina a while longer, Garcia began putting down roots at work too. He started involving himself more, and took an active approach to learning everything he could about the Graham Street asphalt plant (now the location of 多人群交鈥檚 headquarters) where he鈥檇 been hired as an entry-level yardman.
Garcia鈥檚 initiative quickly led to him being promoted to Loader Operator鈥攁 position which afforded him more responsibilities, as well as more independence on the job. 鈥淥ut here,鈥� he says, 鈥渆veryone is part of a team. Each person has a job to do, and the rest of the team depends on you to do your work.鈥�
At around the same time that he was promoted, Garcia took the plunge into another team of sorts, by marrying the woman who had convinced him to stay in North Carolina. Today, more than thirty years later, he still puts in 60-hour work weeks at 多人群交鈥檚 Pineville asphalt plant, and he鈥檚 still married to the same girl. And while both areas of his life have undergone significant changes, Garcia says his appreciation for each has only deepened over time.
鈥淥ne thing that鈥檚 very important is having freedom,鈥� he says. 鈥湺嗳巳航� has always given me freedom to do my job. Everybody here knows what they鈥檙e doing and what鈥檚 going on, we trust each other. When everybody trusts each other, it makes the day easier. It鈥檚 easier for everyone to do a good job and be successful. That鈥檚 what has kept me here.鈥�
The secret to a long and happy marriage? According to Garcia, the same ingredients apply.
鈥淲ith marriage, it has to do with the relationship with my wife. I don鈥檛 boss her around, she doesn鈥檛 boss me around. There鈥檚 ups and downs, like anything. But we work together, we鈥檙e a team. Honestly, the older I get the more I love my wife.鈥�
As with marriage, Garcia admits to experiencing ups and downs throughout his 35-year career with 多人群交, but says that longevity has paid off in ways he wouldn鈥檛 have benefitted from, had he made the decision to leave.
鈥淚 had opportunities,鈥� he admits. 鈥淎nd you know, when you鈥檙e young, you have different ideas of what you want and what鈥檚 important. You鈥檙e trying things out, and you wonder what else there is. It goes through your mind. But now, I love what I鈥檓 doing. I wouldn鈥檛 change anything.鈥�