Gonzalo Macias, a biker by heart
Published 29.8.2024
The Project Purchasing Manager in Cuenca Neuquina has been a motorcycle enthusiast for as long as he can remember. He says that riding his bike is “his way to unwind,” but that his family is his “passion.”
Knowing how to enjoy work and make the most of downtime to share quality moments with his family as well as nurture a hobby is something at which Gonzalo Macias, Project Purchasing Manager in the Neuquén Basin, excels.
Born in Mendoza, Argentina, he joined Techint Eengineering & Construction in 2012, when the company was building the Potasio Río Colorado potassium chloride mining complex for the Vale mining company. He worked both in the Mendoza offices and on site until the project was put on hold and he was transferred to Buenos Aires for a while. Then he was assigned to a number of other major projects, such as the Northeastern Gas Pipeline (2015) and Fortín de Piedra (2017) in Argentina, and the Dos Bocas Refinery (2020-2021) in Mexico.
Although he’s collaborated with other companies, Gonzalo confesses that it’s at Techint E&C where he really feel at home. “For me, it’s incredibly interesting to be able to learn and grow as I’ve had some amazing teachers and friends over the years,” he says.
Combining life passions
Gonzalo returned to Neuquén in July 2021 to take up a post at the Group’s Neuquén Basin offices where he’s based at the moment. Every other week, he returns home to Mendoza, where Eugenia, his wife (a doctor) and his three children, are waiting for him: Luna (17), about to finish high school and start medicine, Fausto (6), the “scientific inventor” who dismantles and reassembles everything he can get his hands on, and Juana (4), who loves dancing. “I'm very much a family man. The best moment is when we’re all together, no matter where we are or what we’re or doing; it’s a very special feeling,” he says with conviction.
Revving up the engines
In Gonzalo's life, motorcycles have always held pride of place. He explains that when he was a kid, his father would go off touring with his friends on the weekends. “He would put on this big leather jacket, helmet and gloves, and his friends would come round on their massive bikes and then they’d all roar off together. It was marvelous to watch. I still remember the noise they made as all left, the deafening sound of those exhausts!” he recalls.
At the age of seven, he started borrowing his sister’s wheels—in fact, it was her own scooter that later became his, and at 16, he got his motorbike license.
“When I was a teenager, I used to go out with my dad and his friends on ENDURO dirt bikes to ride trails up in the mountains. Then, when I was around 30, and due to life circumstances, I managed to buy my own bike, so I started riding it and found instant happiness on two wheels. I used to travel around with friends, organize races and, in my free time, I’d tinker around with my bikes and fix them as well as mending other people’s,” he reminisces. Before the kids were born, he used to take off at weekends on a Honda Shadow VLX with his wife riding pillion and some other mates.
Now that there are five of them, plans have changed: they’re still traveling, but now it’s in a van—and sometimes they even take their grandparents along. “At some point, I looked up and realized that my family was growing, and a bike only has two seats, so in a way it’s quite a solitary activity. I slowed down a little and nowadays I enjoy it in a different way. My passion is my family, but I can't completely switch off my interest in motorcycles,” he confesses.
Currently, Gonzalo has three motorcycles he’s christened with different monikers:
- Yamaha XJ6N – 2013. “The reliable motorcycle”
- Kawasaki KZ650 – 1978. “The never-ending project” (because he’s always finding new things to add to it)
- Honda Express SR – 1981. His first-ever motor scooter, and one which he was only able to recover a short time ago.
His oldest daughter sometimes accompanies him and they go around the block with the younger ones. “I have no doubt that these motorcycles will be a family legacy for my children someday,” he says proudly.
The mantra
“Feet 10 cm from the ground and head 1,000 km away” are the words that Gonzalo repeats to himself, and he explains: “The further away I am from everything, the closer I am to myself.”
Mendoza's scenic plains and mountains are great allies for getaways. The foothills of the Andes mountain range rise up a bare 60 km from his house. “It's my way of staying grounded. It’s where I find myself. It doesn't matter whether it's summer or winter, riding out on my motorcycle is sure to always give me pleasure,” he says.
Safety as a flag
Safety is key in all areas of life. Gonzalo makes a point of saying this: “I’m super careful. You always have to watch out when riding a motorcycle. You never know where danger can come from.”
On this topic, Techint E&C has provided many lessons. “In the company we have a ‘post-grad’ in daily safety. They instill care and caution in us until it’s second-nature. Safety is in our DNA. Every project meeting starts with an update on safety as it’s a crucial pillar for all of us in the company,” says Gonzalo before explaining that his biking essentials include wearing a helmet, visor, gloves and appropriate clothing—and always carrying out a prior thorough check of the vehicle.
Finding enjoyment at work
Thanks to Techint E&C, Gonzalo has been able to travel and expand his horizons, which has allowed him to grow both professionally and personally. This is why he advises young people to “get out of their comfort zone, shift their desks to one side and take advantage of any opportunities that present themselves.”
“Techint E&C is a terrific company. We must recommit to pursuing our existential objective, which is to create projects in places where there’s nothing and we have to build everything from scratch—constructions and relationships—and bring added value to communities. Being assigned to a project and traveling are opportunities that everyone should grab with both hands,” he advises.
And he adds: “Work is a really enriching place, where people from different areas, countries and cultures coexist. You can learn so much, there’s all this knowledge and it boosts your growth enormously as well as forging relationships with others that become stronger over time.”
Lastly, he observes: “Our hobbies come with us wherever we go, we don't leave them behind. Although we may all want to travel for pleasure, in fact we have to find pleasure in our work, because that’s the key.”
Gonzalo's story is an inspiration as it shows that it’s possible to continue enjoying your passions and adapt them over time, while advancing in your professional career and building a family.
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