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| L to R: CEFLER director Natt Gantt, Dr. Rob Martinez, Associate Dean Patricia West, and Dean Michael Hernandez |
On October 29, 2015, the Center for Ethical Formation had
the privilege of hosting Dr. Rob Martinez, Vice President of Business
Development and Real Estate with Norfolk Southern Corp.
Dr. Martinez shared in law
chapel service his amazing story of being a child of the Cuban
Revolution. His family recognized that Communism was coming, and fled the
country a year and a half following the takeover by Fidel Castro when Dr.
Martinez was just four years old. This experience, said Dr. Martinez, has
in some ways defined his life. He saw his father do whatever was necessary
to protect his family, including being labeled a traitor. Dr. Martinez
also learned that the majority can often be wrong.
Dr. Martinez was the former Associate Deputy of
Transportation in President George H. W. Bush's administration, and later the
Secretary of Transportation for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The lessons
of integrity and always speaking the truth stayed with Dr. Martinez even in
these high profile positions, including interviewing with former Senator George
Allen. He warned against being a “yes” man to anyone in life. “If getting through
is what you’re looking to do in life, you’ll probably achieve it. But
will you have succeeded in integrating your ethical dimension with your
professional life?”
Martinez consented that disagreeing with someone in authority may be challenging, but can be maneuvered by first asking permission to offer a different point of view. Answering truthfully may sometimes mean respectfully disagreeing, but is always the right response. He encouraged students and faculty to “reflect an ethical integration of one’s principles with one’s professional life” with boldness rather than remaining silent.
Martinez consented that disagreeing with someone in authority may be challenging, but can be maneuvered by first asking permission to offer a different point of view. Answering truthfully may sometimes mean respectfully disagreeing, but is always the right response. He encouraged students and faculty to “reflect an ethical integration of one’s principles with one’s professional life” with boldness rather than remaining silent.
Currently, Dr. Martinez is the Vice President of Business
Development and Real Estate with Norfolk
Southern. We are blessed that he
shared wisdom from his success with our community.
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