From Temp to Team Leader: Dante Finds a Future in Finance at Tessenderlo Kerley
What began as a temp job has turned into a thriving career for Dante Cervantes.
“I was supposed to work here for two months, and then I was offered an opportunity to stay, which I took right away,” said Dante, who became Tessenderlo Kerley’s Cost Accounting Manager in 2025.
A San Diego native and USD alum with deep roots in Mexico, Dante brought cross-border accounting experience and a background in manufacturing and agriculture when he joined the team. But it was Tessenderlo Kerley’s people and culture that stood out.
“The quality of the employees here is just fantastic,” he said. “The attention to detail, the focus on the process and on doing it right the first time is refreshing and inspiring.”
Tessenderlo Kerley equips its team members with the latest technology to help them perform their very best. With cutting-edge Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and a commitment to accuracy, Dante found a Finance team driven by integrity and collaboration.
“At Tessenderlo Kerley, there’s that drive, that camaraderie of working together so that our numbers are complete, timely and accurate. Our integrity is our numbers, and we help each other succeed.” he said.
When he came on board, Dante quickly tapped into the company’s deep well of experience – where the average tenure exceeds nine years – and embraced a culture of learning and support.
“I've been fortunate to work with some great people that have been working here for many years,” he said. “There’s that support and that culture that allows for you to have your processes and procedures to promote teamwork and increase productivity.”
Tessenderlo Kerley was founded on principles of people, safety and sustainability - and Dante can attest that those principles are still at work today.
“There's a big focus on safety and the environment. They’re part of the core values of the company,” Dante said. “They’re not just words. They put their money where their mouth is, and that's very impressive.”
For those interested in turning a job in finance into a career? Dante says his journey is a prime example of why Tessenderlo Kerley should be your next destination, as well.
“It’s a phenomenal opportunity,” Dante said. “Tessenderlo Kerley spends a lot of time in training, and there's always that focus on integrity – on doing it right. Everybody wants to be as accurate and as complete as possible.”