Congratulations, Diane! WWCE selected you because Chef Leon had so many wonderful things to say about you:

Diane Padua has been with Loews Portofino Bay Hotel since October 1, 2018. She has continued to grow and excel with her performance. Diane is a star employee at Sal’s Market Deli - she is reliable, hardworking and always positive! She is a fast learner and her positive attitude makes her very approachable to her teammates. Diane is rotating throughout the kitchen and mastering each station, producing great quality and adhering to the highest standards. 

Diane is motivated, hardworking and focused. Her enthusiasm during her training has made her capable of producing pizza dough from scratch, start to finish with little supervision. She has a good attendance record and is always pleasant.

Diane is involved with the company’s community service and donation charity. She practices team work and creates a positive work environment while setting high standards and being a role model for other Exchange Visitors as well as our fulltime team members.

Her passion shows through the work she provides. Diane continues to excel in her training program and we are so proud of her!

Name: Diane Padua

Position: Culinary Trainee

Location: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel (Orlando,Florida)

Fun Fact About You: I love to explore new things, I like to going places (travel), and I like to try food in different places. 

Why did you choose to come on a Cultural Exchange Training program? How are you hoping to apply this program once you’ve returned home? To gain more experience and knowledge in the kitchen and to apply what I learned and share my experience to other people that I can work with in the future.  I was hoping that all that I learned and experience here in my training program will be a very big help to have my own business. It is one of my stepping stone to my dream. 

What do you like the most about the town you're living in? I’m so lucky that there are so many attractions you can go to as a Loews team member. It’s so easy and convenient to go places here in Orlando. 

What has been the most surprising thing about American culture? As I can see to the Americans they thinking is so big - they are practical, compact and concise. As I work in the kitchen I notice that they are "to-go" people most of them like eating on the run always on the go. And also they are approachable and as you can see to them they are independent and their diversity is different when they have a party they have a potluck so you can taste every food that they bring.

What experience has impacted you the most since you have been in the US? I learned to be           independent. Just believe in yourself no matter what. I learned so many things and being appreciated at work especially my co workers and my chefs.