10 Questions for Alonso Renteria
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September 15—October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to recognize the extraordinary impact and achievements of Hispanic and Latino individuals in America and beyond. This month, we’re sharing interviews with Hispanic team members at Northwest Pipe Company, discussing their career journeys and celebrating their culture. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!
10 Questions for Alonso Renteria
As a field service representative for our steel water transmission systems, Alonso Renteria spends much of his time visiting project jobsites where our product is delivered daily. He assists clients with proper handling, storage, and installation procedures, as well as repair recommendations to meet owner and AWWA specifications. Alonso works hand in hand with NWP plant engineers, project managers, operations, and quality control teams to address and resolve any issues before and after product delivery and to ensure project success and client satisfaction.
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1. What is your job title and how long have you been with Northwest Pipe?
My job title is Field Service Representative, and I’ve been with Northwest Pipe since 2018 when the Tracy plant was acquired from Ameron.
2. Describe the journey leading to your current position?
I was hired at the Tracy plant on March 3, 1994, starting on the cylinder production line. As my experience evolved through different tasks and departments, I became an operator of various types of pipe manufacturing equipment and machines. From there, I became a manufacturing production foreman, an HSE coordinator, and later a salaried supervisor. The experience I gained in all of those different roles was acknowledged and recognized when I was offered the field service representative position in 2012.
3. What’s the most exciting thing about your job?
The most exciting thing about my job is being able to assist customers at the jobsites to make sure our product installs without any problems.
4. Name two things that always brighten your day— one at work and one outside of work?
At work: Talking to customers and getting positive feedback about our product.
Outside of work: Knowing that my family is healthy and always remains united through thick or thin.
5. Which of the Northwest Pipe ACT Values (Accountability, Commitment, and Teamwork) resonates most for you in your role and why?
All three ACT values resonate for me in my role. I take accountability by responding immediately when a contractor seeks assistance or consultation, and I commit to making sure the request is taken care of in a timely matter in collaboration with them and, at times, my colleagues.
6. Which current or historical figure of Hispanic Heritage do you admire most for their leadership, contributions, or service to others and why?
A figure of Hispanic Heritage I admire is Cesar Chavez. He dedicated his whole heart and soul to fighting for farm workers’ rights, organizing marches, strikes, and boycotts to pressure employers to pay adequate wages. Chavez was responsible for legislation enacting the first Bill of Rights for agricultural workers.
7. Name someone in your life who inspires you and why?
My parents are a big inspiration in my life—they migrated here to the United States in 1974. They were very hard-working agricultural workers, raised a family of five, and would open their doors to anyone that needed their help by providing them with a roof over their head and assistance in job placement until they became self-sufficient.
8. What advice do you have for individuals entering your profession?
My advice is to be patient, flexible, and understanding with the customer. The majority of contractors out in the field deal with more than just our product.
9. Are there any family traditions significant to you in celebrating your heritage?
Most definitely—preparing and eating our gastronomical Mexican dishes, listening to Mexican Regional music like Mariachi and Banda, and honoring other significant dates like Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and Dia de los Reyes Magos (Day of the Wise Men).
10. What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
It’s a celebration and recognition of what Hispanics have done in the United States to make changes in any form or way.