Exodus Moving & Storage is thrilled to welcome Oscar Perez to our team as our new Veteran Liaison. With a distinguished 10-year service history in the US Air Force and nearly three decades as a Locomotive Engineer for Union Pacific Railroad, Oscar brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his new role. As a veteran himself, Oscar understands the unique challenges faced by those who have served and is committed to providing exceptional support and resources to our veteran community. His passion for community involvement and unwavering commitment to veterans’ well-being make him the perfect addition to our team. Join us in welcoming Oscar Perez to the Exodus family.
Interviewer: Welcome to the team, Oscar! Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to join us here at Exodus Moving & Storage?
Oscar Perez: I am originally from California, attending Catholic schools from 1-12 grades, I am the third child of four siblings, having two older sisters and a younger brother. I completed 10yrs of service in the US Air Force and am currently a Locomotive Engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad for the last 27 years and look forward to retirement in the next few years. I joined Exodus as an extension to my spouse Norma who is a manager for sales and marketing.
Interviewer: As a Veteran, your experiences are incredibly valuable. Could you tell us about your service history and any experiences that shaped your career path?
Oscar Perez: I enlisted into the US Air Force at 17 on Aug 28, 1984, attended Basic Training and the Security Police Academy at Lackland AFB as well as Air Base Ground Defense at Camp Bullis Texas. I have been stationed at numerous bases in the states as well as overseas. I was promoted from an E-1 Airman Basic to an E-5 Staff Sargent by the time I separated from Active duty in Aug 1994. My duties were providing Security /Law Enforcement duties to include Nuclear Weapon Convoys, securing Military Installations and Personnel, Supervise/Instruct Subordinates in weapons safety, tactics and protocol, writing enlisted performance reports, evaluating security procedures and providing feedback. I have been awarded the following: AF Good Conduct Medal, AF Commendation Medal, Southwest Asia Campaign Medal, Liberation of Kuwait Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal as well as numerous ribbons.
Interviewer: Transitioning from military to civilian life brings its unique challenges and opportunities. How has your transition been, and what lessons from your service do you find most applicable in your daily work?
Oscar Perez: The transition to civilian life was not an easy process in the beginning, I found job opportunities scarce for what I had been trained for and not having a four-year degree, my career goal was to be in Law Enforcement, however because of the Rodney King incident, there was a hiring freeze in the state of California at the local, state and federal levels. A friend provided a path to a job with the Union Pacific Railroad was my best opportunity to sustain and support my family. I have been with the UPRR for 29 and a half years and look forward to retirement in the next two and half years. The qualities I bring to Exodus are the ability to speak to large crowds, to instruct and evaluate, eye for detail, see things through to completion.
Interviewer: You’ve taken on the role of Veteran Liaison. What inspired you to pursue this position, and why was it important to you to serve veterans in our community?
Oscar Perez: I had accompanied my wife Norma to many networking events and social after hour gatherings and made many friends/connections of my own and saw a need to reach out to fellow veterans as Exodus does to older adults and show that the company cares about their well-being and giving them support by getting involved in community activities and programs such as Healing Warriors and Health4Heros which are local organizations. As a Verteran, I have firsthand experienced the neglect and double standardization that our society has given our Vets thru the years, and I firmly believe that Exodus is committed to change that, and I would like to be the face that the vets see and can trust for Exodus.
Interviewer: What are your primary goals in your new role here? Are there specific programs or initiatives you are eager to introduce or expand?
Oscar Perez: My primary goal is to inform and educate the Veteran community that Exodus is a proven name you can trust and depend upon. By showing true commitment through community involvement, support and follow through to meet their moving needs. Such as Healing Warriors and Health4Heros, which are both local organizations.
Interviewer: In what ways do you believe your military background will help you succeed in this role and make a difference in the lives of the veterans we serve?
Oscar Perez: I have no difficulty in speaking to large crowds, making new friends, promoting Exodus by committing myself to community activities and supporting Veterans and their programs. I am able to relate and speak with veterans on a mutual level of respect and understanding.
Interviewer: Looking ahead, what are some of the challenges you anticipate facing in this role, and how do you plan to address them?
Oscar Perez: The challenges I face are informing and supporting the Veterans by volunteering my time in supporting the Veterans groups and programs in the local region and eventually to the state level. I am never afraid to ask for support and guidance from my co-workers in accomplishing our goals
Interviewer: Lastly, what message would you like to share with the veteran community about the services and support they can expect from Exodus Moving & Storage?
Oscar Perez: Exodus has been a locally owned and operating company for nearly 30 years with strong ties to the community. Exodus is Silver certified in moving our older adults as being the only moving company to receive the Torch Award for ethics from the Better Business Bureau. You can be confident with the entire staff from Operations, Sales and Marketing, moving estimators, move coordinators as well as our moving team.