As general manager for Sears Optical, Denise Santiago-Sorino has the distinction of being the only Hispanic employee there.

Santiago-Sorino manages the sales representatives and sales supervisor. As a licensed optician, she also takes measurements, reads prescriptions, dispenses eyeglasses and provides customer service. Santiago-Sorino knows how to use about 30 tools to adjust eyeglass frames. She takes care to prevent eyeglasses from breaking from everyday wear and tear.

Being bilingual was a big advantage when she applied for the job. She translates for Spanish-speaking clients, and sometimes employees ask her to help translate.

Santiago-Sorino works along with Dr. Brook Bader, an independent optometrist who also speaks Spanish.

Prior to working at Sears, she worked at LensCrafters for four years as a licensed optician. She started working and training on the job as an apprentice. She studied to be an optician at Cuyahoga Community College. Then she took the state board exam and became licensed. She found the opportunity to be a manager at Sears.

Santiago-Sorino was born in New York and moved to Lorain when she was 2. Her parents, Milagros and Luis Santiago, moved to New York from Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Her mother didn’t speak English, so Santiago-Sorino had to translate for her while she was growing up. She strongly believes that if you know both languages, you should use them.

“The new generation needs to learn to speak another language, and they’ll be a step ahead when looking for employment,” Santiago-Sorino said.
Santiago-Sorino has another job as a wedding planner. She started the business 10 years ago while planning for family and friends. She handles the floral arrangements, books the reception hall, chooses party favors and coordinates dress fittings for the bride and bridesmaids.
She learned how to make crafts from her mother, who made and sold crafts to buy clothes for the children when they were in school.

When she isn’t working, Santiago-Sorino spends time with her young sons, Dominic and Dimitri.

Santiago-Sorino attended Lorain schools and graduated from Lorain High School in 1993. I am very proud of my former student. I taught her English as a second language when I was her bilingual teacher.

Hispanic leadership
The 13th Annual Hispanic Leadership Conference will present the movie “Bella” 8 to 9:30 p.m. April 25 at the Lorain Palace Theater, 617 Broadway. Admission is free.

Birthdays
April 15, Edna Carrion; April 20, Evanessa Cordero.

This is Awilda Ramirez’s final column. 

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here.
If you are registered, click here to log in.
Need help? Email Us.