Carlos Cardenas

In the spring of 1993, I went to a job fair at the University of Illinois, seeking a summer internship. At the HACE booth I met this very nice professional Latino Gentleman (the executive director, as it turned out). I briefly described my background and my work history. He was genuinely interested and seemed incredibly engaging. He offered a “mock interview” on the spot, giving me pointers on my presentation, my speech, my posture, etc. He extended me an invitation to interview for an internship at McDonald’s.

My internship with McDonald's Corporate Finance Department was a great experience, and I owe it to the HACE executive director, who saw something in me and gave me a little nudge to compete for a position in an organization I knew little about.  That placement aslo later helped me gain access to Arthur Andersen for my first full-time position.

What I like most about my current job is talking to business owners about their strategy, their growth plans, and the challenges in their business, and then coming back with ideas and solutions to help them reach their goals.  My team solves problems and delivers great customer service.  We have fun.  It is challenging.  It is competitive.  But we stick to our principles, and ultimately we help our company grow revenue, which generates profits and an acceptable return to our shareholders. What is there not to like?