Finding Friendship Through Roots

Aug 30, 2016 6:00 PM ET

Originally published on HeraldPalladium

BENTON HARBOR — Ana Romero was new at Whirlpool Corp. and looking to meet more people.

The GIS lead analyst joined the Whirlpool Hispanic Network as soon as she began working for the home appliance maker in 2013.

The network, which was created in 2001, is an employee resource group that allows various workers who have Latino backgrounds to meet and socialize through internal and community-centered events.

The group is comprised of about 50 active members. But Romero, one of the network’s co-leads, said they consistently reach out to the rest of Whirlpool’s 500 Hispanic employees in the Twin Cities.

“The main reason I joined was to meet people,” Romero said. “That’s been really useful because you get to know people outside of your department. After I began, I decided I wanted to be involved in everything.”

Three years after joining the ERG, Romero is now co-lead for the network where she recruits people to be either a member or part of the board.

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