A big “O-Hi!” goes out to Destiny Cortez, the administrative coordinator at OHI and an essential part of our team. She has enriched our association and the members we serve over the past year with her special combo of skills and energy. Let’s learn more about her and how she’s helping shape OHI’s future.
Destiny has been with OHI for a year now, and what a year it has been. Her professional career began in administration and human resources in 2021, where she quickly advanced to become a People Operations Specialist. This position gave her invaluable expertise in organizational effectiveness and employee achievement. But since she was a teenager, Destiny has been busy. At the age of 15, she started working as an office assistant for an insurance firm and her work ethic and enthusiasm for administration were shaped by these early experiences.
Destiny was ready for a change of pace and to make a bigger impact after her work in healthcare administration. She knew very little about OHI and the Outdoor Hospitality Industry as a whole, but the more she learned and explored, the more she was impressed. From OHI’s advocacy work in Washington, DC, and beyond, to our mission supporting our members success, the team’s enthusiasm and dedication left its impact. She was sure that she had to be a part of this group. Destiny is sincere in her gratitude for her teammates, and integrating into the team has been a breeze. Every day is made easier by the support and camaraderie, and she is appreciative of the chance to develop professionally within this space.
And most of all – Destiny finds meaning and purpose in being a part of the OHI community. (You might’ve even spoken to her on the phone or on OHI.org chat.) She handles many responsibilities, from operations to member services, and she ensures OHI members receive the best support possible by bringing her administrative knowledge to the table. Her objective is to foster a culture of collaboration within the team by promoting personal connection and “brain breaks”. Destiny fills the team’s communication channels with family and pet photos, finding out about the weekends of her coworkers, and acknowledging and applauding both small and large victories. And she brings the sunshine as a lead of OHI’s confetti committee, an internal group that allows the team together time to celebrate, of course. We celebrate holidays, birthdays, wins, and “just becauses”.
And with her having the most “face time” with members, that sunshine is important. She enjoys learning about members’ accomplishments and watching their dreams come true. Seeing the results of members’ labor and sharing in their journey is uplifting. She says, “OHI wouldn’t be OHI without our members!”
And what makes Destiny Destiny? She was born in Miami before moving to Valdosta, GA, where she spent most of her life. She purchased her first house with her husband Miguel in Valdosta after graduating from high school and still lives there with their almost 3-year-old son Mykel, and their new puppy Maui (namesake from the great Disney movie Moana). The town is small but growing, giving Destiny a close-knit community that she treasures.
Destiny loves the Yankees and one of her fondest memories is her and her family attending their spring training at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. They all dressed in Yankees attire, enjoyed some popcorn and ice cream, and had a great day cheering for the players in pinstripes.
If she could master one skill instantly it would be cooking. She enjoys experimenting with new dishes and loves cooking all different types of food from various cultures.
Resilience, loyalty, persistence, and a desire to learn are some of her best traits. Destiny has a deep passion for both music and travel. She developed a deeper love for God and music while serving on the worship team of her youth group, playing the piano and picking up the clarinet. She even used to dream of becoming famous one day! (and she still has plenty of time)
Her family means the world to her, and they inspire her daily. Whether it’s her home filled with laughter from hosting, being outdoors with family, or chasing her toddler and puppy around the house, her family is her everything and they are her “why” behind why she does all that she does. She is excited for what the future holds and is thankful to contribute to such an impactful team. We are thankful to have her and know our community feels her warmth daily.
