We’re talented, diverse, and collaborative. Our work matters because we know that we can make a difference – and you can, too.

As an Environmental, Health, and Safety manager, I work to ensure standards in environmental health and safety, including hazardous waste, hygiene, training, occupational safety, cleanup for emergency response, and other areas. I’m responsible for helping others have a safe and effective day at work by putting systems into place to improve the quality of the work environment; I want people to be able to do their job consistently and not worry about their health while doing it. Since I get to see and work with everyone in the plant, I’m able to get to know them individually, learn their stories, and understand what motivates them. In turn, they trust me with their lives and livelihoods.

Benchmark allows me to have autonomy in what I’m able to do and in my responsibility for others. When I started here a couple of years ago, I was able to begin with a blank slate and put systems in place to meet good standards, grow processes, and build something that works to improve the quality of the environment for everyone. Every challenge is unique, and we work together to solve them. It’s always good to be part of a company that’s growing and has an eye toward growth.

If you want to be successful here, engage with the people around you. Think about your ideal career path and speak up about what you’d like to do so that we can support you in that. We want to continue to develop people and put good processes in place so that you never lose that sharp edge and continue to learn and grow. Be confident that you’ve been hired for a reason, and you can make Benchmark a better place because we’re all working together with an innovative, improvement mindset. It’s funny: everywhere else I worked, they always told me to set benchmarks and meet them, but now I get to do that every day with a company by that very name. We keep setting the Benchmark and moving it to improve it.

I manage the HR functions at three locations, including all California locations, and Guadalajara and Tijuana, Mexico, totaling over 2,000 employees. We mostly work on confidential projects in areas like commercial aerospace, government, and defense. That means the projects we complete here are meaningful because they protect lives. I love the work that I do recruiting and supporting employees to help lead them through various situations that arise. Here, my input is always valued and they take my voice into consideration. At Benchmark, people in leadership positions really care; they reach out not because they have to, but because they want you to know that you really matter.

If you’re considering a career at Benchmark, you have the ability to build a career of your dreams while making a difference. Every time I go through a new employee’s orientation, I cover procedures and processes, and I always tell them, ‘Never just stick to your job description.’ Here, you can always learn more about products, customers, and the business itself. In other places, you have to do your job and stick to it. Here, you can partner with other leaders, go to new sites, and learn as much as you want, because we give you the opportunity to touch areas other than your own.

I feel that my background and experience is really valued from a cultural perspective. Our leadership is putting an emphasis on the right areas of company culture in order to continually improve diversity and inclusion. I never feel like I’m a number here; I’m a valuable part of the company. I wake up in the morning ready to help other Benchmark employees because my time here matters, my work matters, and I can add value to the company. Benchmark is a great company to work for, not only because of its competitive salary and benefits, but because you can feel proud to work here. It’s amazing what we do with technology, and Benchmark is where I want to be.

I’ve been with Benchmark for 13 years as a machine operator in multiple areas. Now that I’ve been here a while, I am a mentor for new hires coming in, and I can help them with getting certifications as well. I really appreciate that upper management is always helpful in accommodating my needs. I’ve never felt neglected or secluded because of who I am or where I’m from.

A few years ago, my brother became very ill, and my family needed me to help out, so I had to take a lot of time off. I thought I was going to have to take extended leave or even leave the company. Management worked it out with me to work part time and keep my benefits while still being able to care for him until I could come back full time. They chose to help me and work with me–they didn’t have to do that. They understand the importance of family, and they’re good human beings. There’s always someone willing to help you if you do a good job and you need something, and it makes the days go by easy. We also have quarterly bonuses that we share based on the goals the company has set. At my location, we’ve never missed any, and it’s always exciting to have an extra incentive that makes a difference. I work with good team players, and everyone is there with the same goal.

The type of work I do doesn’t require me to invent anything, but to focus on details and instructions of what’s given. I can never assume the product I built a week ago is the same now. I have to keep attention to detail and always focus. In manufacturing, something may look like it’s the same thing, but the engineers may make a change that very morning, and I have to be careful with the instructions I’ve been given to implement the changes that happen. We have machines that do the work, and we load the right programs and technology. The electronic devices are class 3, meaning they have to work all the time during their lifetime. I know what I build makes a difference in people’s lives. I’m proud of that, and it makes me feel good that I’m a part of it.