Allow me to introduce to you Marvin Sandoval, March 2024’s promotional spotlight employee.
Marvin’s journey at Penny Lane started in April 2023 as a temporary Intensive Services Facilitator at our Lancaster site. From the start, Marvin demonstrated strong leadership skills, and because of his hard work and dedication, he was recently promoted to TAY Program Manager in January 2024, now managing five direct reports.
Marvin has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and an MBA in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Let’s congratulate Marvin on his achievements!
-Lori Reid, Penny Lane Centers
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and only moved to the AV 4 years ago. I went to Taft High school. I played soccer all four years, and then I joined the Marines right after graduating. I served for four years, came back home, and then went to college where I received my BS in Criminal Justice and my MBA in Business Administration. I worked one-on-one as a Behavioral Intervention Implementer for about two years, while going to school, and then became a stay-at-home Dad for seven years before joining Penny Lane. I joined the Penny Lane team in April of 2023 and have been enjoying every day so far.
I heard about Penny Lane from community events but then I learned more about the company once my wife started working here. I got to know more about how Penny Lane operates and the work they do daily with the community regardless of who or where they are, and how they approach everything with a heart-centered focus. This made me want to join and contribute at least a small amount to what the company already does on a larger scale.
My favorite aspect of working for Penny Lane is the interactions between the families, the community, and the staff. Every day is something different and new that really shows you how much Penny Lane does for the people of the community, and how diverse and welcoming it is.
I feel like my path to promotion was very supportive from coworkers and supervisors alike. Everyone has helped me get to where I am and has always been supportive and helpful and continues to be so even now. I would like to thank them again for helping me whenever I needed it.
The PLC team has been very supportive by answering all questions I have had, providing support and guidance and just being there when I needed them.
I have not taken advantage of any of the benefits that Penny Lane offers, but I know that there are many. I know they offer many resources for furthering education and career as some of the benefits, and I have investigated maybe furthering my education. That may be one of the benefits I take advantage of soon.
I would say that the most difficult part of my new role has been trying to get familiar with a whole new system, but the staff has been amazing and very helpful and patient with me. They have made the transition a lot easier, and I want to thank them again for being so patient with me.
I think that people would be surprised to know that I like to draw, work with my hands by doing carpentry, I really like dragons, and that I have been a San Francisco 49ers fan since I was six. I get more stressed watching the games than I do with work or life.
I think there have been two great events that have helped shape me into the person I am today. The first is when my siblings and I went to Guatemala to visit our grandmother for what we thought was going to be two weeks, but it ended up being three years. We were always told that we would be going back soon, and we just learned to live with the uncertainty of whether we were going to be back home with our mother. The second would be the military. I always say that those four years were the best worst years of my life.
The best piece of advice I ever got was from my mother. She has always told me that no matter what job I do, whether it is big or small, to always give it my best and to do it to the best of my abilities. She has always taught us the value of hard work and how important it is to be able to say that you did and gave it your best.
I appreciate how you can count on your coworkers, supervisors, and other staff to support and help guide you in the direction that you need to go. There is a family aspect of Penny Lane which is shown not just through the staff but also with the families and clients that we serve.
I am grateful for my wife and kids, my siblings, parents and for all the staff at Penny Lane that have helped me get to where I am today. I am also thankful for the opportunity I have been given and I hope to live up to the expectations.
