Ramon Gomez is the most unlikely internal award recipient in the 15-year history of the RMD Group’s company-wide Rookie of the Year program.
Climbing the wooden stairs to the second floor of Storyhouse Spirits in East Village, Gomez doesn’t realize a very special surprise party awaits. He can’t see that the big bosses from RMD and dozens of employees are here. As well as the San Diego Rescue Mission official who recommended RMD take a chance and hire a formerly incarcerated drug user.
Gomez gets to the top of the stairs, sees the crowd and is immobilized. The loft is emanating with kindness and love. In front of his workplace peers, and even his parents, Gomez forces himself to hold back tears.
“I feel like I’m in a dream,” he says, After a moment, he says it again.
Tim Marusic is an alumni ambassador with the San Diego Rescue Mission near Banker’s Hill. He connected Gomez and RMD, one of the bigger restaurant conglomerates in downtown San Diego.
RMD Group owns Huntress, Lumi, Swing Social and Rustic Root restaurants, all in the Gaslamp Quarter. They also manage events at a dozen other venues that span Southern California from San Diego to Long Beach.
“I’ve run and owned many businesses over the years and my frustration is that sometimes businesses don’t engage with this need in the community,” Marusic says. “RMD Group has not only opened doors, but they’ve got people hired here and it’s changed their lives.”
Marusic says sometimes it takes having workplace needs, then showing people respect and giving men and women the dignity they deserve.
“You may be temporarily homeless, addicted, broken or running from spousal abuse,” Marusic says “People can end up spiraling. At the Rescue Mission, we believe that when you’ve fallen hard, if you stand up and look for a greater purpose in life, have grace for others and grace for yourself, miraculous stuff will happen.”
RMD co-owner Dana Shertz says his partner Mike Georgopoulis suggested they look at alternative ways to hire people.
“Rather than working with search firms or going on Indeed or typical search methods,” Shertz says. “To give back to the community. We reached out to Catholic Charities, Rescue Mission, Kitchens For Good and other groups that rehabilitate homeless people or that bring refugees here from Haiti and Ukraine.”
Through that outreach and with training, RMD has been successful at hiring for kitchen roles and in maintenance, like Gomez.
“It’s been a little more rewarding than the typical process,” Shertz says. “We get good people who appreciate the job much more, often work harder and are more committed to making the job work.”
Gomez’s journey from living in a park to getting a job and acquiring an apartment was two decades in the making.
He talks about having been in a long relationship that ended years ago.
“I was young and I didn’t know how to live,” the 38-year-old says. “I didn’t go to church. I got myself into the wrong crowds. And I started using. When my relationship ended I was just trying to numb myself for a long time.”
He went to the Rescue Mission when he finally decided that wasn’t the life he wanted to lead, or the example he wanted to set for his two daughters, now 18 and 14.
“When Ramon came to us he identified more with prison,” Marusic says. “But he truly dropped his guard. He leaned into his faith. We encouraged him to slow it down and find new contacts in his life. He did. He wound up walking the halls of the Rescue Mission with other men who were safe, encouraging and men who had real leadership.”
There were several conversations between Marusic and RMD Group’s HR Manager Shelly Gibbons before Gomez got his job opportunity.
“From the moment he joined our team, Ramon has consistently gone above and beyond in his role,” Gibbons says. “His commitment to excellence is evident in his approach to maintenance and repairs.”
Gomez remembers his first day vividly. “I was at Swing Social, praying and singing worship music,” he says. “I felt a positive energy.”
His RMD boss, Facilities Manager Stephen McKinnon, was recognized by the Rescue Mission for his mentorship.
“Ramon was right on time the first day,” McKinnon says. “We’re a two-person team. The few times he’s asked for time off was to do volunteer outreach.”
Through the Rescue Mission, Gomez helps out with holiday grooming programs that boost the spirits of other folks still looking to find their way.
“I’m pretty good at cutting people’s hair,” he says. “Mostly for men. I’ve cut hair for people with court dates or job interviews. I do shaves for some older gentlemen who have shaky hands.”
Asked what it feels like to be named RMD Rookie of the Year, Gomez says he’s still trying to snap out of it.
“It feels amazing the way they showed me love, you know what I’m saying?” he says. “ I was recognized. They invited the Rescue Mission here, and my Dad.”
Ramon Gomez Sr. was indeed on hand with his wife, Elise. “Never lose hope in your children,” Gomez Sr. says. “This day makes me feel proud. He messed up but now he’s where he belongs.”
Gomez, who earned a brand-new e-bike as Rookie of the Year, admitted he was still holding back tears.
“I put in the hard work – not using, and having positivity with the Lord,” he says. “They say when the light shines upon you it shines out, too, and that’s what I feel like.”
Vicki ORourke, director of the volunteer program at the Rescue Mission also attended Gomez’ party. She’s watched his progress, and works with so many others that might benefit from opportunity and such a role model.
“Homelessness is a trauma issue,” she says. “To do what Ramon has done you have to be strong enough to have a heart change.”
And be surrounded by a few big hearts, too. SDSun
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