Get to know a staff member! Ernesto Madrid
How long have you been working at The Salvation Army Torrance Corps?
Going 7 years now by November this year. Although I’ve worked as a seasonal Bell Ring Coordinator for the Torrance Corps back in 2009 and 2010.
What do you do at the Torrance Corps?
I coordinate and supervise the Corps’ social services center called the Stillman Sawyer Family Services Center in Harbor City.
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite is this unique opportunity to offer assistance or service to anyone seeking help. It’s a rewarding mission to be like Jesus, and reach out to those that have the ability to share and give, as well as to the needy and to the struggling. The job can be an instrument in narrowing that gap in any broken relationship, either with the Lord or with life in general.
What’s one thing people don’t know about the Torrance Corps?
That it is a welcoming church.
What’s your favorite thing about Torrance, California?
Torrance is where my family started: I proposed to my wife here; got married here; my son was born here; my first home in the USA was here. Torrance has basically nurtured my family growing up.
If you weren’t living in Torrance, where would you be living?
Outside of South Bay, I would like to live (or retire) in a small quiet old town country side community that has lots of Christian values, seasonal traditions, everyone greets with a smile, and lots of nice off-road driving to picnic or camping areas.
What’s your favorite pizza topping?
I’m a foodie, and an obsessed man in the kitchen. For Pizza, a good 50-50 share of either Romano/Parmegiano and/or Fontina and Scamorza cheese over marinara sauce that has tiny slices of toasted sun-dried tomatillos. Add basil leaves before baking in a wood fired oven. Any other topping like Italian sausage bits or grilled chicken is secondary.
What was your favorite TV show growing up?
Star Trek, Starsky and Hutch, Mission Impossible
Which “superpower” would you rather have: the ability to speak any language or the ability to function without sleep?
The ability to function without sleep!
What’s a secret talent you have that (hardly) anybody knows about?
Back in the days, I did voice talent like simulating animal or weird sounds both as a hobby and for fun and getting small pay for it. I would be invited to host like an emcee or moderator to events and shows. My favorite thing was using my voice for interpretative reading in promotions and commercials. That voice is gone now, and I guess my sense of humor is also no longer relevant.