A Dream Come True

On August 21, 2000, I began my professional career in the most iconic hotel in the world, The Waldorf-Astoria New York. I have been fortunate to be part of the Waldorf Astoria security department for twenty-two plus years. Several weeks later after my career started at the Waldorf Astoria, I experienced my first UNGA (UN General Assembly) where I met world leaders, including our 42nd US President Bill Clinton. The list includes Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donal Trump and Joe Biden throughout the years.

The Waldorf Astoria is filled with iconic history. I have been a part of major historical events/dinners such as the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Nascar Awards, Explorers Club, Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner, etc. I have also witnessed the filming of movies such as Maid in Manhattan with Jennifer Lopez and Taking of Pelham 123 with Denzel Washington. Keeping a secure and safe environment for our VIPs, actors, actresses, global leaders, princes, kings, and guests was a job duty of mine.

On March 1, 2017, the Waldorf Astoria closed for renovation. We called it “The End of an Era”. I was appointed to lead the security operations of the hotel during its renovation phase. The Waldorf Astoria is my home away from home, where my colleagues have become family and where I met my wife. The Waldorf Astoria plays a significant role in the stories I share with my children both professionally and personally. Experiencing the Waldorf Astoria in its glory days, its current renovation days, and soon enough, its reopening is a dream come true.