By Mimi Teller/American Red Cross
The American Red Cross LA Region’s workforce relies on five chapter offices, one regional headquarters and 35 disaster response vehicles to carry out its mission to the county’s 10 million people across 88 cities. The workforce also relies on Daniel Gutierrez to keep all those resources in working condition.
Daniel joined the Red Cross in his mid-twenties, working in the kitting department making the supply kits used for blood drives. Fifteen years later, Daniel was promoted to Fleet and Facilities Manager for the LA Region, managing all vehicles and facilities for the region.
While Daniel’s parents come from Mexico, Daniel was born in Carson City, NV, then moved to Southern California when he was five. Growing up and to this day, Daniel incorporates many customs of his heritage into daily life, but among his favorite traditions is celebrating Semana Santa every year before Easter, by wearing brightly painted masks in the same manner celebrated in his father’s hometown of Purisima, Mexico.
On account of his affiliation with the Red Cross, Daniel has on occasion received feedback from people in LA’s Latino community. Through these dialogues, Daniel sees the difference the Red Cross has made in so many lives, especially around the Sound the Alarm Campaign that installs smoke alarms in the homes where none exist.