CGM Spotlight: Vanessa Hernandez

How long have you been with CGM?
I have been working at CGM for 9 months now. Although, I’ve been a part of the CGM family for over 15 years! Having THE Maria Hernandez as my mom, it only made sense that I would attempt to follow in her footsteps. Little did I know that those were BIG shoes to fill.

What’s your favorite part about your job?
I love coming to work and having an environment filled with positive energy. Knowing you have people at work that care about your well-being is a good feeling. I love being part of a kind and supportive team. I have gained so much confidence while working here.

Tell us the weirdest anecdote you have about glue.
As kids, we would pour a bunch of liquid glue on our hands and wait for it to dry. We would then pretend like our skin was peeling off.

Set the scene. What does a typical Saturday look like for you?
Saturdays are Target and Starbucks days! Typically, I wake up, do what I need to do at home. Then we make our rounds, either getting groceries or running errands with a venti mango dragon fruit refresher in hand. Some Saturdays my boyfriend Ivan and I cruise downtown by Lakeshore Drive and go to our secret spot where you can see the whole city lights from afar. Other days we either catch a movie at the theater or go check out a new eating spot or museum. Saturday nights we make a nice dinner and enjoy some family time.

What’s your go-to snack?
Spicy chips, PB&J, popcorn, pretzels, toast with Nutella, or sometimes a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch cereal!

Who is your superhero?
My hero is my grandpa Pedro, or as we call him Papete. For as long as I can remember, my grandpa has been a strong role model in my life. He has always rooted for the underdog and supported his whole family as best as he could. He is definitely one of a kind and I miss him everyday.

Tell us about your family.
My family consists of my parents, Maria & Carlos. The best parents anybody could ever ask for! I am the oldest of 3 kids. Next, following me is my sister Ana. It’s true what they say, your sister really is your best friend. I can’t forget about my baby brother, Adrian, who isn’t a baby anymore! We have 5 dogs! Yes, basically a petting zoo. Daisy, who is our oldest dog, at 15 years old. Maxwell Porkchop (Max) our Bulldog, Lulu our guard dog & house watcher, my little rebel Harley, and finally our land shark, Stella.

Where is your favorite vacation spot?
My favorite vacation spot is the Rio Grande Valley. It’s down in South Texas near South Padre Island. I love being in the valley! Palm trees & Whataburger – can’t get better than that!

What’s your favorite movie or tv show?
My favorite movies are Walk the Line, The Color Purple, Encanto, Pride & Prejudice, Signs, and 50 First Dates.

What’s on your music playlist?
I love all music. Coming from a home that has music playing 24/7, we listen to just about anything! My favorite artist is Mac Miller!

What’s the last book you read?
I enjoy poetry books. The last books I read were by a writer named Rupi Kaur. The 3 books are called, “Milk and Honey”, “The Sun and Her Flowers” and “Homebody.”