Family values and a positive mindset helped Geovanni Rodriguez advance his career from custodial staff to coordinating production for HHMI’s meetings and events. Growing up in El Salvador, Rodriguez says, “My family had a farm with many acres of land. Everyone contributed to the farmwork, including my grandparents.” At HHMI, Rodriguez said that work ethic helped him become a full-time employee in 2015 as a kitchen steward, before he gradually worked his way up to event production coordinator in 2024. “I’m the guy behind the scenes helping coordinate the logistical and technical aspects of events to ensure they run smoothly and are executed seamlessly,” he says.