Dennis served as a U.S. Navy corpsman from 2000 to 2009. He was a so-called “Devil Doc” providing medical support to the U.S. Marine Corps. That’s how he met his wife, Jennifer, who still serves as a Navy hospital corpsman.
Hoping his military career would last for decades, Dennis served tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. But after a standard post-deployment screening with a psychologist, it became clear transitioning to civilian life would be a better move for Dennis.
Becoming a Schneider driver
With Jennifer still on active duty, they moved around the country several times in the ensuing years. Dennis worked briefly as a retail electronics manager before going to school for his Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
Dennis ended up at Schneider in 2015, where he’s worked in many intermodal roles, including:
- A driver.
- A support planner in Pennsylvania.
- A driver team leader in Baltimore (his current position).
Fostering inclusivity at Schneider
Over his years at Schneider, Dennis has met more people than he expected with the same cultural background. Celebrating diversity is something Dennis picked up in the military and continues to do today.
“It surprised me a bit to see the many cultures within this company and even see others from the islands – especially this far from the west coast,” Dennis said. “It made me appreciate the fact that Schneider lives up to its goal of being open to everybody.”
Bringing a piece of his culture to work
When closing a Schneider email, Dennis always includes “Mahalo nui loa ia ‘oe,” a Hawaiian phrase meaning “Thank you very much.” It’s often shortened to, “Mahalo.”
He also went online and found a yellow safety vest with some palm trees and orchids for a little extra flare.
Yet getting the true Filipino flavor starts with one thing, according to Dennis.
“The biggest thing I’d say is to respect everyone and get to know people,” Dennis said. “You never know where they’re coming from or what they’re going through. A smile from you could be just what they need.”
