Q&A with Ryan’s Employee Resource Group, Amigos@Ryan

From September 15 to October 15, we join people across the country in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: a time to honor the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. 

This celebration is also about connection. Through Amigos@Ryan, our employee resource group, team members create space to share experiences, build relationships and help us grow as a more inclusive workplace. 

To mark Hispanic Heritage Month, members of Amigos@Ryan opened up about their own traditions, experiences and how this ERG fosters a sense of belonging. 

• Ale Macias, Senior Preconstruction Specialist 
• Angela Peña, Senior Project Coordinator 
• Dani Duque, Landscape Designer III 
• JP Bacariza, Senior Vice President, Market Leader Southeast Region 

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you, and how do you celebrate it? 

Ale Macias: It’s a time to share love and pride for our culture. I celebrate by sharing fun facts, food, recipes and hosting or joining community events. Hispanic culture is all about big families, and we extend that warmth to our friends. 

JP Bacariza: An opportunity to celebrate Hispanic Heritage, celebrate, and introduce people to some of the amazing things in Hispanic and Latin culture. 

What are some actions—big or small—that our colleagues can take to honor Hispanic Heritage Month?  

Dani Duque: There are a lot of opportunities for action during this month and in general to “give back” to the Latine/Hispanic community. Here are the first ideas that come to my mind and that I personally do during the year: 

• Donate to an organization that is doing a good job advocating for the Latine/Hispanic community. 
• Going out for dinner or ordering online from a Latine/Hispanic-owned restaurant or coffee shop. My personal favorites in Minneapolis are Hola Coffee, Bichota Coffee, Andale Taqueria, and Tropico. 
• Attending events that celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Currently, until October 1st, a beautiful free art exhibition is taking place in Saint Paul, titled Alebrijes: Keepers of the Island on Raspberry Island. Johnson-Ortiz, the executive director of the Minnesota Latino Museum nonprofit, organizes this free public art exhibition. 

Ale Macias: Take the time to learn more about us, where we are from, our favorite foods and traditions, what brought us or our families to the U.S. 

JP Bacariza: If you have a Hispanic heritage, share it and introduce something of your culture. If you are not, learn something about a Hispanic colleague or friend. 

What challenges have you faced as a Hispanic/Latinx professional, and how have you overcome them? 

Angela Peña: I think we all have a bit of imposter syndrome, but for me, it has always been finding my voice and self-advocating.  I have always been sort of an “outsider” and blending in and not making waves had been my go-to approach with past employers. This is always a work in progress but as I have gotten more experienced and with age, those self-doubt voices quieted down. Coming to Ryan, and finding  individual strengths, culture, and insights are valued really helped put those uncertainties at ease, which is why our ERGs are so important! 

Ale Macias: Hearing occasional statements about Hispanics that are not positive or that generalize our culture based on a single experience. I understand people might not realize that some comments can be hurtful, so I try to share the good side of our culture and our people, to help provide more perspective.  

JP Bacariza: I have not because I pass as a ‘white’ American, my father was not so lucky and suffered some professional and personal discrimination as a result of his heavy Spanish accent.  

Describe the purpose and mission of Amigos@Ryan to someone who’s never heard of it before. 

Ale Marcias: It’s about finding community within Ryan, meeting people from different countries who still have a lot in common, discussing topics that affect us, and celebrating Hispanic holidays together.  

JP Bacariza: To support each other, and introduce others to Hispanic and Latin culture. 

Who has been the most influential person in your professional career and why? 

Angela Peña: There have been many throughout my career. However, the very first one, when I was a newbie to the world of construction, I was lucky enough to work alongside an assistant controller who took me under her wing. She leveraged her knowledge and experiences as another Latina in our industry, giving me guidance, confidence, and room to grow. The patience, knowledge, and trust she granted me was priceless. We are still in touch decades later and will be forever grateful to her. 

What is a favorite memory or moment you have with Amigos@Ryan so far? 

Angela Peña: I have been a part of Amigos since 2023 but this year has been my favorite year to date. We have amazing leadership, vision, and enthusiasm to champion and support each other during difficult moments as well as have fun.  Examples are the “Supporting Our People” conversation we recently had and the HHM brunch hosted in the Southwest office that showcased dishes from various Latin-American countries. 

Ale Macias: A few members of Amigos and I got to share our story, traditions and favorite foods with the A+E group. I loved that the group was genuinely interested in our stories. It was very interesting to discover similarities across all Latin countries, like how homemade food is so important to any celebration, how big our families are and how close we stay with them even when we live far. 

What is something you think might be misunderstood about Amigos@Ryan, ERGs, or our commitment to inclusion in general that you’d like to clear up? 

Dani Duque: They are open to ALL employees; you don’t have to identify under any of the groups to be able to participate and join them. You can join as an ally, as someone who wants to learn more about and/or is curious about ways to take action in the different communities/topics we have in our ERGs, or because you identify yourself under any of them. We love to have people involved, from joining our pages and attending events throughout the year, to participating in the steering committees and donating their time to help keep the ERGs alive and thriving.  

Ale Macias: That it will take up too much of your time. ERG meetings and events are all voluntary, so I wouldn’t let that stop you. I wish everyone would at least join an ERG to learn more, even if they don’t identify with the group. It’s a great opportunity to open your mind and heart to new people and perspectives.