Giovanny Martinez
Plant Manager, Schaumburg, IL
Started as an intern. Fearless in the face of a challenge. Built a career on his commitment to learning.
Years ago, Giovanny Martinez made a plan to succeed. A plan that included achieving higher education and building a strong foundation for a long-lasting career. He’s worked hard toward achieving it and has adapted to challenges along the way by keeping himself focused on what he can learn from in every situation.
The first challenge he had to overcome was showing others that where he’s from doesn’t determine where he’s going. Giovanny, or Gio, was born and raised in a predominantly Latino neighborhood, Little Village, in Chicago, IL. He says the neighborhood has had its fair share of hardships and even described it as a “rough place”. This challenge did not stop him from being the first member of his family to attend college and graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology.
After graduation, Olympic Steel offered Gio an internship at the Schaumburg, IL division. As an intern, he built good relationships and demonstrated strong work ethic and a commitment to learning everything he could. Chuck LaTour, Gio’s mentor and Schaumburg Operations Manager agrees, saying “He is the future of the Company. He leads through action and grows through learning from others.”
Following the internship, Giovanny accepted a Quality Technician position. A year later, he took on Safety Coordinator responsibilities, and in 2017, he became the Fabrication Department Lead. Last March, Giovanny was promoted to Plant Manager to oversee all production – an opportunity he’s embraced as a chance to learn even more about the division’s operations.
Learning energizes Gio, and it’s what brings him to work each day with a smile on his face. Whether he’s shadowing others and picking up tips, working with one of his management mentors or learning by doing things himself – he simply enjoys the opportunity to get better. He embraces failures as a way to learn more, and that focus on self-improvement and thirst for knowledge are what have propelled Gio forward – personally and professionally.
For this reason, Gio tackles challenges without fear. Because even if he fails, he knows there is still the opportunity to learn from that failure and to adjust the plan until he succeeds. This process moves him closer to reaching his goals, and it’s helped him build a solid foundation for a long-lasting career.
His advice to others who want to build a strong career at our Company? Give it your all, every day. If you’re willing to learn, you’ll succeed at Olympic Steel.
