Jose Tejada Nuñez¶
Role¶
Shop lead, Superior Equipment (SEQ). 16 years at the shop.
Jose carries the shop's operational knowledge in his head and runs the build floor. He makes the build-versus-part-out judgment on incoming trucks, directs the crew, and anchors the operation. His judgment, shaped by having seen hundreds of trucks in the flesh, outweighs spec-sheet analysis on any specific unit.
Bilingual bridge to the crew¶
Jose is the English/Spanish operational bridge to the shop crew — the only EN/ES speaker on the floor. All coordination from the office and AI roles routes through Jose for the Spanish-speaking team (Joel Baca, Albert Moran, Luis Roa, Mario Ciriaco, and other 1099 crew).
Background¶
Personal history (shared by Brandon)
Jose climbed the border wall twice — sent back at least once, came back anyway. 16 years at the shop now. The determination that brought him here is the same determination that makes him reliable on work that others won't do.
Jose's primary language is Spanish. He has begun buying trucks on IAA and Copart on his own initiative — extending himself into the sourcing side of the business without being asked. He is not opposed to technology; he recognizes it is important in the modern world and is somewhat embarrassed he doesn't understand it more. His children use AI, which gives him a frame of respect for it. He wants to participate in the future, not be left behind by it.
Working relationship¶
AI roles do not direct Jose. Coordination routes through Brandon (the patrón hierarchy). If Jose surfaces an opinion on a truck being evaluated, his shop-floor judgment outweighs spec-match analysis.
Future: microphone interview¶
A Spanish-language microphone interview is planned (Phoenix) to let Jose share his life, experience, and thinking in his primary language. Framing is respect-driven, not extractive: "Cuéntame de tu vida. Empieza donde quieras." (Tell me about your life. Start wherever you want.)