David Espinoza, senior human resources business partner at the Port of Long Beach, started working for the City of Long Beach in 2015 after moving from Texas. His position there involved staff recruitment, often for the police and water departments. Early this year, Espinoza was offered an opportunity with the human resources department at the Port of Long Beach. He is currently assigned to the security division and works on site at the port’s Joint Command and Control Center. His position covers a myriad of duties, including recruitment and addressing the concerns of more than 100 employees in the security division. Espinoza recruits armed special services officers, which involves a lengthy background process. “Human resources is typically known as being like the principal’s office,” Espinoza said. “And under [Port of Long Beach Director of Human Resources Services] Stacey Lewis’s leadership we have been able to change that culture and that idea.” One such change to the culture of the department is the practice of referring to workers at the port as “contributors” instead of “employees,” according to Espinoza. Although workers at the port are occupied with their own duties, Espinoza makes sure the team understands the bigger picture of what other divisions are doing. Espinoza, who has a master’s degree in counseling, pulls from his educational background when listening to individuals who come to him with issues. “What I enjoy is helping people and being a conduit and connecting people,” he said.