Horacio Paludi has been working at Cestari Metallurgical Industries for 25 years. For 18 years, he has been in charge of the company’s Purchasing Department and works with our suppliers.
«Cestari is my family, literally my family,» says Horacio, adding with confidence and humor: «I’m a family member, and they must have trusted me and shown some compassion.»
Do you have any notable anecdotes from the company?
I have many anecdotes, but one is my favorite. It was back in 1997. Menem was President. We were at the Rural Hospital in Palermo with my friend Negrini (It’s important to tell you that Aníbal Negrini was a long-time Cestari employee, known to everyone as «Negri,» or simply Negrini. He remains in the memories of many of our collaborators). He was driving the tractor, and the hopper was loaded with caps, and we were throwing them out, and there was joy. We were going at a snail’s pace, and people were asking us for caps. Suddenly, security came and said, «Please don’t stop at the official box.» And Negrini was looking at me because we had planned to stop. But security was standing next to him. When we passed the official box, Menem was there, and Negrini smiled and didn’t stop, but he slowed down so much that it was practically the same thing, and then I threw a cap that went like a tube and landed in the President’s hands, and he grabbed it and put it on. I wanted to die. Aside from the crowd, there was applause and laughter. The President himself was smiling and waving at us. Security made us move the hopper, and it almost killed us, but we had achieved our objective. Everyone called us saying they had seen the President wearing the Cestari cap on television. It’s an unforgettable anecdote for me, not only because of the situation but also because of my colleague, Negrini. He was a very cheerful person and a very positive coworker, always trying to find a solution. He was an excellent colleague, and we will always remember him. Regarding the passing of the years at the company, Paludi analyzes: “In recent years, the company has received an injection of young people, and it continues to grow. Not to mention the fourth generation of Cestari. I believe that Néstor Cestari’s good fortune that his children have dedicated themselves to the company the way they have, with the responsibility they have, greatly benefits the company.”
Horacio Paludi wears the Cestari jersey and represents the factory wherever he goes. His outlook on the future is very hopeful: “I see everything that’s coming for the company in the future as very positive; I see it as very solid. Of course, it’s used to what companies go through here in Argentina, but since Cestari always takes steps as quickly as it can, it’s very solid, very well equipped, and has invested heavily in machinery.”
“I think the new Cestari generation will make it stronger and grow even more,” he says, closing with emotion: “I am very happy to have spent so many years in this company.”
Horacio Paludi: A Cestari fan with great anecdotes
«Cestari is my family, literally my family,» says Horacio, adding with confidence and humor: «I’m a family member, and they must have trusted me and shown some compassion.»
Do you have any notable anecdotes from the company?
I have many anecdotes, but one is my favorite. It was back in 1997. Menem was President. We were at the Rural Hospital in Palermo with my friend Negrini (It’s important to tell you that Aníbal Negrini was a long-time Cestari employee, known to everyone as «Negri,» or simply Negrini. He remains in the memories of many of our collaborators). He was driving the tractor, and the hopper was loaded with caps, and we were throwing them out, and there was joy. We were going at a snail’s pace, and people were asking us for caps. Suddenly, security came and said, «Please don’t stop at the official box.» And Negrini was looking at me because we had planned to stop. But security was standing next to him. When we passed the official box, Menem was there, and Negrini smiled and didn’t stop, but he slowed down so much that it was practically the same thing, and then I threw a cap that went like a tube and landed in the President’s hands, and he grabbed it and put it on. I wanted to die. Aside from the crowd, there was applause and laughter. The President himself was smiling and waving at us. Security made us move the hopper, and it almost killed us, but we had achieved our objective. Everyone called us saying they had seen the President wearing the Cestari cap on television. It’s an unforgettable anecdote for me, not only because of the situation but also because of my colleague, Negrini. He was a very cheerful person and a very positive coworker, always trying to find a solution. He was an excellent colleague, and we will always remember him. Regarding the passing of the years at the company, Paludi analyzes: “In recent years, the company has received an injection of young people, and it continues to grow. Not to mention the fourth generation of Cestari. I believe that Néstor Cestari’s good fortune that his children have dedicated themselves to the company the way they have, with the responsibility they have, greatly benefits the company.”
Horacio Paludi wears the Cestari jersey and represents the factory wherever he goes. His outlook on the future is very hopeful: “I see everything that’s coming for the company in the future as very positive; I see it as very solid. Of course, it’s used to what companies go through here in Argentina, but since Cestari always takes steps as quickly as it can, it’s very solid, very well equipped, and has invested heavily in machinery.”
“I think the new Cestari generation will make it stronger and grow even more,” he says, closing with emotion: “I am very happy to have spent so many years in this company.”