Essential Piece of the Puzzle
As maintenance technician of the University Student Union (USU), Jerry Armendariz is a driving factor behind the smooth, efficient operations at the heart of Long Beach State’s student life. His dedication to his work is a reminder to all of us that behind every well-maintained facility is a hard-working crew with a dependable leader.
Jerry’s handiwork dates all the way back to his childhood. “I would spend time building porches with my grandpa and working on all kinds of things with my parents,” he recalled. “My mom and I would work on cars together, and my dad would teach me how to use his tools. I never knew those experiences would shape my career choices, but, looking back, maybe I should have!”
Maintaining a large facility such as the USU is no easy task, but Jerry has plenty of experience in the field. His career began at the young age of 19 while working a temporary job in the carpeting industry, where he quickly picked up skills in the fields of construction, remodeling, and maintenance. He remembers having a dedicated lead that taught him how to do things the right way.
“Having a great teacher really made an impact on me,” he stated. “I carry the lessons from that job everywhere I go.”
Through his unwavering work ethic, Jerry turned that temporary job into a six-year gig, and the connections he made there led to his first job at ASI in 2010. “Sharing those lessons is a huge part of my job here – passing on the knowledge to the next generation is critical.”
For Jerry, the best part of ASI is the incredible staff he gets to work alongside with, many of which have become his good friends. He’s thankful to have met his fiancé, Leiana Swanson, at the Student Recreation & Wellness Center (SRWC) where she works as membership services and outreach coordinator. While Leiana works on her master’s degree, Jerry hopes to earn an electrician certification to expand his skillset and move up the ladder within ASI.
“I love working here, and I hope to continue working here as long as I can,” he said. “The work suits my interests, and being able to teach students is very rewarding.”
Jerry Armendariz always leads his team of students by example, teaching them practical skills that he hopes will come in handy in their personal and professional lives, just like they have for him. They, as well as many other staff members, appreciate Jerry’s abundantly positive contributions to the ASI team.
Jerry Armendariz was awarded the Essential Piece of the Puzzle during the March ASI employee assembly. As a part of ASI’s commitment to uplifting customer service, each month all full-time staff participates and votes in this monthly employee of the month program.
