May 23, 2014 | SharkAdmin Reprinted from 2010 Manuel Cerda, IIISenior Human Resources GeneralistNorthwest Vista College Having been at NVC for just five months, Manuel Cerda has a knack for making a lot of friends. His smiling demeanor instantly puts employees at ease when they have to ask him a Human Resources question. He’s also made an effort to visit with different departments so employees can meet him and ask work related questions. He said district Human Resources recently changed its office structure where all the HR generalists have permanent homes at the colleges they are stationed at instead of splitting their time between the campuses and downtown office. Manuel said this is a better approach because he feels it’s getting closer to the customer. With the previous structure, Manuel said he moved around a lot, spending about two and a half years each at San Antonio College and Palo Alto College. He then spent another two years at the downtown office in the Training Division for a total of almost eight years with the district. The NVC value Manuel most identifies with is joy because he likes to have fun at work. He also likes learning new things and community because he likes people. What is his educational background? A graduate of Oliver Wendell Holmes High School, Manuel then went on to San Antonio College. He continued his education and graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management. Where did he work before? Prior to coming to Alamo Colleges, Manuel worked for H-E-B for 14 years doing a little bit of everything, including working his last three years in Human Resources. After that, he worked for San Antonio construction company, Zachry Corp., as a human resources manager. Manuel said after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the construction industry declined and his company wanted him to transfer to Phoenix. Being a San Antonio native, Manuel didn't want to leave his hometown and learned about Alamo Colleges from a friend and was encouraged to apply in its Human Resources department. Being at NVC has also become a family affair. His daughter, Melanie, 19, is a new student here. What is the best thing about his job? “Getting out and meeting people; it’s hard to sit at a computer all day.” What is the most rewarding thing about his job? “It’s when you can help someone with an issue or problem they are experiencing.” What are his hobbies, interests, etc.? Besides being a sports fan, he’s a collector of items and loves playing Wii. He keeps an early routine of working out and cooking for his family, which includes his wife Ana and 4-year-old son, Manuel, IV.
