More than 20 years after starting as an hourly associate in the store, Hector Padilla has recently taken the reigns as The Home Depot’s senior vice president of store operations. We sat down with Hector to learn about the importance of being bilingual in the aisles and his journey through the company since starting as an hourly associate.
How did you get started with The Home Depot?
I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. I moved to the United States when I was 19, and my dream was to join the Army. When I arrived, I was getting my green card and applying for the Army when a friend suggested I work for The Home Depot while my Army paperwork went through. When I went for my Army physical exam, I was diagnosed with color blindness. This condition meant I wasn’t going to have the opportunities I was looking for in the Army. I decided to dedicate myself to The Home Depot instead.
The Home Depot was your first job, and you started as an hourly associate. When did you decide to pursue a career with the company?
When I arrived from the Dominican Republic, I had never heard of a big-box retailer. I was completely lost when I started, and I didn’t know if I was going to make it. My department supervisor took me under his wing. He taught me the importance of taking care of customers and having a store that was in-stock and presentable. He taught me about the culture and values, and I was hooked.
When you came to the U.S., did you speak very much English?
No, I didn’t. I took English classes back at home, but when I decided to work at The Home Depot, I started taking classes here. I studied very hard and changed my habits. I would make myself speak English, as well as watch television and listen to the radio only in English so that I could get used to the language. Twenty years later, I’m still learning.
Tell us about your efforts to provide products that fit local needs.
I spent the last five years as regional vice president in South Florida, U.S.V.I. and Puerto Rico. I knew that we had to do a better job of mirroring the community with our products. We added a lot of products to these areas that we didn’t have before to meet local needs. For example, in the Florida Keys, Puerto Rico and coastal areas, we brought in hundreds of boating supply items to support the community.
What are your plans for improving operations?
I’m going to simplify our processes. My vision is to free up our associates, so they can spend more time in front of our customers.
