Stories That Build: A Journey Built Through Work, Knowledge, Family and the Purpose of Preserving Lives

Preface

There are stories that are born from comfort. Others, of necessity. But there are those who flourish from the courage to change their own destiny.

This is the story of a simple man, born inside the Paraná, who learned as a child that hard work shapes character, but that knowledge transforms lives.

From family plantations in the redlands of Salto do Itararé to major industrial projects, from military discipline to the mission of preserving lives through Labor Security, this walk was built with effort, faith, resilience and love for the family.

More than a professional trajectory, this is a human journey marked by challenges, recommencements, losses, learning and achievements.

Chapter 1 — Roots inside Paraná

I was born in Salto do Itararé, inside the Paraná, bordering with São Paulo, in a simple family, where family farming was the basis of our sustenance.

My childhood was marked by work in the field. There were no modern machines, staff or facilities. We depended on our own hands. My parents, my siblings and I worked together daily to ensure the sustenance of the family.

The strong sun of the red lands of the Pioneer North was part of the routine. Every planting, every harvest, and every loaded sack represented survival.

It was in this environment that I learned values that would go on to accompany my entire walk:

Work dignifies;

The family union strengthens;

Simplicity teaches;

Difficulty can turn into strength.

As a child, I began to realize that this reality could not last forever. The field demanded a lot from our little family, and opportunities were limited. Even without fully understanding the future, something within me said that it would be necessary to seek new paths.

Chapter 2: At 14: Responsibility Before Time

Over the years, agriculture has become unsustainable for our family. My parents decided to leave in search of new opportunities in another city. Before we could meet again, my brothers and I were responsible for completing the sale of the last bags produced.

I was only 14.

At that age, many young people are still discovering the meaning of responsibility. I already needed to deal with important decisions and help my family in a decisive moment. It was there that I learned that maturity does not always depend on age, but on circumstances.

Even in the face of difficulties, there was never a lack of hope and faith in the home. My parents believed that better days would come, and that hope also became part of my essence.

Chapter 3 — Ponta Grossa, SENAI and the first new paths

When we finally arrived at Ponta Grossa, I found the opportunity to start a new story.

My uncle Gentil was one of the most important people in this phase. His name represented exactly who he was: a humble man, hardworking, generous and dedicated to the family.

It was he who encouraged me to pursue professional training and to believe that I could build a different future.

By your guidance, I joined SENAI. Vocational training represented a concrete change of perspective and started a transformation that would mark my entire trajectory.

Chapter 4 — Military Service and Military Police of Paraná

Soon after, I joined the military. The experience reinforced values that I had already begun to develop since childhood: commitment, organization, respect, discipline and responsibility.

Later, I joined the Military Police of Paraná, initially acting as a soldier and then as a cable. I was crowded in Guarapuava, a city where I stayed for about five years.

Acting in the Military Police of the Paraná.

In the Military Police I lived intense experiences, with moments of courage, tension and great learning. During an armed confrontation involving bus robbers, three colleagues were shot. In the midst of chaos and extreme risk, I needed to act quickly to help them and contribute to the organization of a safe response.

That episode deeply marked minha vida. It was an experience that taught me, in practice, the meaning of responsibility and leadership under pressure.

Chapter 5 — Guarapuava, Sandra and a decision that changed minha vida

It was in Guarapuava that I met Sandra, my wife. More than a life companion, she has become one of the greatest pillars of my career.

Sandra saw in me possibilities that I often couldn’t see myself. Realizing the difficulties of the police routine and believing that I could build a new career, he began to encourage me to seek other paths.

Initially, resist. I already had a stable career, built with effort and discipline, and starting over seemed too much of a risk.

Until one day I found out that my enrollment in the Occupational Safety Technician course was already done. Sandra had taken the initiative.

The course, offered at a state public school, lasted three years. At first, I was upset. But the first few stages in the industry were enough for something to change inside me.

For the first time, I realized that Occupational Safety was not just a profession. It was purpose.

I understood that preserving lives, promoting well-being and helping people work safely was a mission of enormous value. From there, my professional outlook changed completely.

Chapter 6 — 1995: The Courage to Start Again in Occupational Safety

After completing my training as an Occupational Safety Technician, I made one of the most difficult decisions of minha vida: I asked for the Military Police’s exoneration.

I left behind a stable career to start practically from scratch in a new area. It was a leap of faith, driven by courage, the desire for growth and the desire to build a trajectory aligned with the purpose that he had discovered.

Since 1995, I have been dedicating professional minha vida to strengthening Occupational Health and Safety.

I joined Unilever – Gessy Lever, unit of Ponta Grossa. Here began one of the most important stages of my professional history.

Throughout almost 25 years in the company, I had the opportunity to learn from great professionals, develop people, implement projects and grow continuously.

My trajectory was built step by step:

Technical in Occupational Safety;

Divisional Coordinator;

Corporate Coordinator for Health, Safety and Meio Ambiente;

Responsible for new projects and strategic processes.

In this period, I participated in the creation and deployment of tools, processes and systems aimed at building safer work environments, including inspection forms, Work Permits for Critical Activities, procedures for confined spaces, safety operating procedures, audit systems, PPE control, occupational health management, emergency preparedness and engineering controls on new projects.

More than systems and documents, these initiatives have contributed to strengthening a culture of prevention. Over the years, I have understood that Occupational Safety goes far beyond the norms: it represents care for human life.

Chapter 7: Knowledge as a Path of Transformation

In parallel to my professional career, I returned to studies. The experience accumulated on the factory floor and in management aroused in me a constant need to better understand the processes, the risks and the technical solutions.

Throughout this journey, I completed and developed trainings in the areas of:

Technology in Processes;

Civil Engineering;

Postgraduate degree in Occupational Safety Engineering;

Audits and training in DNV and DuPont systems;

Other specializations focused on management, security and human development.

I learned that studying doesn't just open doors. Knowledge changes destinations.

Chapter 8 — Leadership, Formation of People, and Sharing of Knowledge

I've always believed that no one grows up alone. Throughout my career, I have had leaders and mentors who have believed in me and contributed to my training.

Among them, I highlight Cosmo Palásio, a great reference in the area of Occupational Safety and Health. With him I reinforced a conviction that I would carry for a lifetime: knowledge should not be kept; it should be shared.

Therefore, I sought to develop teams, encourage people and prepare professionals to grow. One principle I have always taught is:

“Push me that I pull you too.”

For me, true leadership is not just about authority. It is in the ability to inspire, guide, share experiences, and open pathways for other people to move forward as well.

This conviction also led me to the academic training of professionals, through the performance as a postgraduate professor in Occupational Safety.

Chapter 9 — Engineering, Judicial Expertise, CREA and associative performance

With consolidated professional experience and expanded academic training, my trajectory began to bring together different fronts of technical action, always related to engineering, prevention and professional enhancement.

I began to carry out activities as a Civil Engineer and an Occupational Safety Engineer, in addition to acting as a Judicial Expert and a Postgraduate Professor in Occupational Safety.

I also started to contribute institutionally with the engineering, through the acting as Inspector of the CREA and the Presidency of the Association of Security Engineers of the Campos Gerais, in addition to other activities aimed at strengthening the technical area.

These activities represent a natural continuity of everything that started in the red lands of the interior: work, learn, share knowledge and contribute to other people find safer work environments.

Chapter 10: The Legacy I Want to Leave

When I look back, I see that my trajectory was built on simple but extremely strong values.

Work dignifies, but knowledge transforms

I want my story to show that study changes lives and creates opportunities where there were limitations before.

No one comes alone

I am deeply grateful to the people who helped me along the way. My Uncle Gentil, my wife Sandra, my parents, my siblings, colleagues, leaders and mentors were part of this construction.

Protecting lives is a non-negotiable value

The greatest mission I carried in my professional life was to help workers return to their homes safely.

It is possible to get out of a little and build a lot

My story began in the simplicity of the field. It was precisely from this simplicity that my strength, my discipline and my will to grow were born.

Family is the basis of everything

It was for the family that I fought. It's the family I started from. And it was in it that I found the strength to continue.

Chapter 11: Phrases that represent my walk

“Work dignifies, but knowledge transforms.”

“No one grows alone; when we help someone to climb, we grow together.”

“Protecting lives is not just a profession, it’s purpose.”

“It doesn’t matter where you came from, but the courage you have to follow.”

Final Message

From family farming to engineering, from military discipline to occupational safety, from industrial experience to the training of new professionals, each stage had its time and its meaning.

Today I understand that the seemingly different paths have always been linked by the same purpose: to learn, to grow, to serve and to preserve lives.

From the red lands to the purpose of preserving lives: a story built step by step.

 

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