Meet Hugo
Assisted by the Goodwill Job Help Center
With help from Goodwill, he created a successful path to renew his life. “We get out of life what we put into it, and I want to offer people hope.”
For many years, Hugo Hernandez allowed alcoholism to wreak havoc in his personal life. He lost good paying jobs and alienated family members. At a company picnic, he became quite intoxicated and risked his son’s life while canoeing on the river. While apologizing on Monday morning, his boss said something that Hugo will never forget—he shouldn’t be apologizing to him, but rather, to his son. That marked a turning point in Hugo’s life.
Hugo sought help and received the treatment that he needed to start anew. While attempting to rectify his past mistakes, he frequented the Pflugerville Community Center, where he first encountered Goodwill. The Case Manager on staff offered him encouragement and together they built a strong resume from a scattered employment history. Hugo was quickly able to find a job!
Seven years later, when the economy started to decline and there wasn’t a lot of work for civil engineers, Hugo found himself unemployed again. While running some errands, he noticed a Goodwill Job Help Center next to the Goodwill Retail Store in Round Rock. Hugo recalled the positive experience he had before and walked in, where he was immediately surrounded by caring and supportive staff. Everyone at the Job Help Center was struck by his enthusiastic and positive personality. In fact, Mary Lou Sorenson, a Job Source Case Manager, went out of her way to share Hugo’s resume with her neighbor, an architect. With Mary Lou’s help, he had an interview with a civil engineering firm that hired him just a few days later.
Hugo has been working with Brushy Creek Engineering since 2012. He is excited to be a part of a company that is growing and offering him greater responsibilities. Because Hugo is so thankful for the support that he has received from Goodwill and other organizations, he greatly enjoys giving back to his community. He currently volunteers his time offering ESL classes at his church and assisting other individuals who have hit their rock bottom.
“We get out of life what we put into it, and I want to offer people hope.”
