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Things to do
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Photo by Lisa Hughes
Ivette Torres has always found joy in spending time with her 10-year-old Rottweiler, Nena, who sadly passed away recently.
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Personal: 50, married, two stepchildren.
Occupation: Public Affairs Lead Analyst at Rochester Gas and Electric, working with a team of outreach professionals to provide a communications link on energy-related topics and issues. I also work with RG&E’s Spanish-speaking community and key influencers.
Community activities: Professional Advisory Committee for HCR (Home Care of Rochester) and chair for its Project ¡EXITO! Council; member of DEPAUL’s Hispanic Prevention Education Program Task Force, the Ibero American Action League Scholarship Team, Latinas Unidas and a Junior Achievement volunteer.
My favorite thing to do in Rochester: Exploring new places to eat sushi with my husband — we both love sushi and have a tradition of going out to eat it on the 10th of each month, which coincides with our wedding anniversary (June 10). Right now our favorite Sushi restaurants are The Golden Port and California Rollin’. I also love taking my nieces and nephews to the Strong — National Museum of Play. The look of amazement and excitement as they walk in never ceases to make my heart swell.
What I’m reading now: Chasing Life by Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Biggest challenge I’ve overcome: Making lemonade out of lemons. When lemons disguised as challenges or problems cross our path, it is natural to focus on the negative. However, I have learned that by searching for and focusing on the positive, greatness and goodness can indeed result, often surpassing our hopes and expectations. It is not an easy process, nor do I take the bitterness of those lemons lightly. Nonetheless, I do know that when there is a genuine desire to find good, to grow and to learn, that blessings often do start out as problems.
The best advice I ever received: My parents often told me that speaking [two] languages would open doors for me when I got older. My parents always expected their children to excel in English while at school, but once we got home, we would only speak in Spanish. I learned to read by sitting with my father while he read the Spanish newspaper El Diario. He would point to words and explain to me how to pronounce them. My parent’s advice was a good one. Being bilingual has been an asset in both my professional and community life.
One thing I’ve always wanted to do but never have: Swim. I almost drowned as a teenager and then as an adult while on vacation in Mexico a few years ago. In Mexico, I was standing close to the shore when suddenly I was pulled in by an enormous wave. I remember floating helplessly. The water was surrounding me and the waves just kept dragging me in further and further. My husband, a great swimmer, dove in, found me and pulled me out. It was such a frightening experience that should have at least encouraged me to quickly take swimming lessons, but I have not made that call yet.
Something people don’t know about me: I did not learn to drive until I was 30 years old. I was raised in New York City where taking the subway and the bus was a much better alternative than driving in endless traffic jams. When I moved to Rochester, I lived right off a bus line and found it equally convenient to take the bus to my downtown office. It was only when my husband took a temporary job out of state that carrying grocery bags on a bus in the middle of winter was not very appealing. I quickly learned to drive and surprised him with my license (and new car) on one of his trips back to Rochester.
What I do to relieve stress: Call my sisters. They help me “keep it real”.
My biggest guilty pleasure: Tortilla chips and salsa. I am craving them now!
The one thing I can’t live without: My family.
As a child, I always wanted to be: A teacher. I remember playing school with my sisters and brother. Since I was the oldest, I was always the teacher. I loved reading to my siblings, teaching them new things and grading their homework. I think that is why I enjoy my Junior Achievement participation so much. Each year, I get to play teacher with an incredible group of kindergarten students at School No. 9.
The song that best describes my life: “Livin’ La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin.
What people say about her: Louise Woerner, founder, chair and CEO of Home Care Rochester: “Ivette is a totally extraordinary woman. Her commitment and professionalism in everything she takes on is way above of what anyone would expect … She’s [part of] our advisory committee for Project Exito, and her leadership ... is really going to bring about improvement and health in the community.”
