Employee Spotlight: Maria Rodriguez celebrates 17 years with El Salto of Munster

Maria Rodriguez is many things: a caretaker, a loving daughter, a proud sister, a friend, and a dedicated manager. Her countless years in the service industry have not only shaped her work ethic, but also earned recognition for her commitment to the local business community as a longtime employee of El Salto in Munster. Rodriguez is approaching her 17th anniversary with the company.

Rodriguez’s story may have taken shape in Northwest Indiana, but it didn’t begin here. Rodriguez was born in Guerrero, México, and her family moved to Cuernavaca, Morelos when she was just two years old. She was brought up in Cuernavaca until she was 12.

During her youth, her family traveled and explored the United States, where they would get a taste for what the country had to offer.

“It was really my brother who told my parents, ‘Come on, it’s better here,'” Rodriguez said.

Soon after, the Rodriguez family found better opportunities on their own. Later, the Rodriguez family were able to settle in Calumet City, a move that marked a significant turning point in their future.

The permanent relocation to the United States forced Rodriguez to grow up more quickly than her peers. At 13, the youngest Rodriguez started working. She bussed tables, ran food, and supported serving staff, while learning the ins and outs of the restaurant world. She waited patiently for father time to come, and age allowed her to apply for liquor licenses. This helped her transition to a waitressing position officially — now an easy feat for a young girl, making her way in a new country, and learning a new language.

Two years into the service industry, still young and impressionable, a friend asked about her schooling and urged her to complete her high school requirements here in the United States. Rodriguez went on to graduate from high school, further establishing her roots and residency in her newfound home: the Region.

She is the youngest of nine siblings, and with 20 years between her and her oldest brother, the family grew and expanded before she was even alive.

“I even have nephews that are my age, that’s how much of an age gap there is between us,” she said.

The memories her family created before her time live on in pictures and oral stories. Her life exists here, and her family is still at the core of what she does. Across her 17-year tenure at El Salto, Rodriguez has climbed the ranks. Starting from the bottom of the restaurant, she worked her way up, from serving to managing an entire restaurant.

Over that time, she has built lasting professional relationships working alongside Rosendo, Robert, and Jose Mendoza, leaving an impression on the family-owned business to last a lifetime.

“We are like family, joking and messing around,” Rodriguez said.

While the restaurant industry is not easy, working relationships like theirs make the days, shifts, and years fly by. Mendoza, who has stepped in to continue his father’s legacy, recognizes her resilience and commitment to the El Salto name. The owners, the community she serves, and her team play a huge role in maintaining that recognition.

Family in and out of the restaurant play a massive role in Rodriguez’s life. Her mother, Primitiva Perez, and her father, Juan Rodriguez, are now in their 80s and in need of full-time care. As the youngest of her siblings, Rodriguez is caring for her parents into their golden years. And though her siblings live close by, their lives have gone off in different directions, as each of them cares for their own families and lives.

Rodriguez is looking for new opportunities and remaining positive throughout the process. She spends what little free time she has away from the restaurant and her home with friends, enjoying the little pleasures of life. In her downtime, she remains committed to her future and is even investing in herself for a change. Her side hustle is content creation and promoting healthy, well-balanced lifestyles.

Rodriguez is also building an audience on TikTok and Instagram. Her focus: detoxification, health and wellness, and to remain true to her roots – it is all in Spanish.

“It’s something that I started about a year ago because I found myself working,” she said. “Anyone in the industry knows it’s hard to take time for our wellness with a service industry schedule,” said Rodriguez. “I am promoting overall health.”

With goals and ambitions of her own beyond the service industry, Rodriguez’s story is far from over. She is working tirelessly to care for her parents, build her online accounts, and reach wellness herself.

To follow her along her journey, and maybe change your own course, follow her TikTok account @mariarodriguez_asesora, or stop by El Salto in Munster to support her and her team in ways everyone can enjoy: drinking margaritas and enjoying delicious Mexican cuisine.