Reviews

9 July 2025
I am proud of my achievements and my abilities. Check out what people are saying about me and how I can help them be successful.
Hopefully you can be part of my story, too.
Thx, m

Midyear Performance Reviews Q2 2025:

Manny has been an incredibly supportive manager for the entire time I have worked under him, and always ensures we have the resources and tools available to complete tasks. I have always felt able to bring concerns up to him, knowing that he will take action to help resolve any issues I may be facing, with a clear customer focus on the results delivered. Manny truly has embraces our team as he works across multiple teams on a wide variety of issues not only related to the products that I support, but the other products that our whole team supports. Our team greatly appreciates all that he does for us and are very thankful to have a manager like him. Thank you for all that you do Manny!

Manny consistently champions his team and demonstrates a keen attentiveness to our daily concerns. His success in helping us resolve issues and encouraging us to excel as engineers is evident. Manny has cultivated a deep sense of trust within the team by consistently delivering on his promises. For instance, when the team identified specific topics they wanted addressed—topics that other leaders may not have supported—Manny stood firm as our advocate. His dedication ensured that these important discussion points were included in the summit agenda.

Manny is consistent about communicating the importance of customer needs and Minimum Viable Product. Minimum Viable Product (MVP) refers to understanding customer needs and product requirements and where those intersect at the most efficient solution. Manny always understands and executes on customer needs for MVP and understands when to draw the line at the necessary requirements.

Manny has been a great resource for me on the M&P team, both for technical direction and manager-type advice. He readily answers my technical questions and provides advice on how to proceed. Specifically this year, he helped me improve my reporting documentation/presentation and has helped me navigate how to respond to requests for additional support when bandwidth is limited except for critical needs. He has also be more than willing to support me for manger-type advice even though I am not one of his direct reports. He is willing to take on the extra effort to make sure I feel supported and part of the team both with and without me asking. I am looking forward to being an "adopted" member of his team through the rest of this year!

Send-Off Notes After ~10 Years Service Q3 2025:

Colleague A
M&P is hard to understand, you always made it easier.

Team Member B

I saw your email from last week and wanted to wish you the best in your new adventure! I have always loved learning from you and working the times we have. Best of luck!

Engineering Partner C

I guess I need to get out of the habit of reaching out to just you when I have M&P related questions

Project Team Member D

Hey Manny! I read your departure email - not going to lie. I am sad to see you go. I always saw you as the Blue guy. And the minute I heard your name or saw your face - my trust in the information grew exponentially. I am a background type of person but I wanted you to know how much your work and team positively affected me. I am so grateful for the resources you created and the team you built. They have been invaluable to me in this weird space called Lunar. Whenever I found a road block or struggled with something I would find a "Manny Cua" doc or wiki lol. As I watch so many talented people leave blue it does make me sad and wonder who will be our experts to turn to. But in the same breath, I want you to be happy in the new space that you will get to create. I will miss you.

Leadership Team Member E

Just like Bilbo Baggins said "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to". And this "Go back? No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!"

I feel so sad to hear that you're leaving, Manny. You are a wonderful leader and incredibly respected, and I'm happy and excited for you and your next chapter. I wish you all the best in your next endeavor(s)!

Former Interview Candidate F

Manny – In moments like this I wish I was so much better with words so I can adequately express how grateful I am to have worked with you and have learned from you.

Throughout my career/life I have found the most personal and professional growth when surrounded by people smarter, faster, more driven, and mentally stronger than myself. From the challenges you posed during my interview to the consistently high bar you set as an Engineer, Leader, and Communicator – you have been one of those people for me. I benefitted immensely from our brief experience, and I am grateful for both the specifics - like the finer art of Supplier Audits - and the intangibles - like graciously sharing international treats or gracefully leading people into finding the errors of their own ways.

I am sincerely sorry to see you go. You have been what's good, fighting for what's right, around here and the company is worse off without you. I wish you all the success and happiness. Please stay true to who you are.

Thanks for everything. Hoping our paths will cross again.

Safety Team Colleague G

Hey Manny,

So sorry to see you go, but I sensed you were itching to try something new when we had dinner during my visit. I wish you the best of luck in your new position, whether it's with your own gig or with another employer. Let's stay in touch on LinkedIn!

Also thanks for the safety award nomination. That whole incident was a kick in the pants for us to improve safety protocols and try as hard as we can to get out of using certain materials.

Best wishes!

Team Member H

Manny, I'm sorry to see you go, but I'm also excited for you. Thanks for being a good coworker and friend. Good luck with your next chapter, and don't be a stranger.

Till next time!

Department Leader I

Manny,

I'm sad that you're leaving, but I wish you the best in your future endeavors. Your leadership and contagious optimism will be missed by all your colleagues.

Manufacturing Partner J

Manny --- WHHHAATT?!

Although I am super sad to hear of you leaving, I am thankful to have met and worked alongside you, especially at Alloy Processing. That CA trip alone was one of the craziest moments I've witnessed during a work trip and will not be forgotten.

I wish you success in your future developments! All the best,

Program Team Member K

Hey Manny! Great farewell note written up here. It was a pleasure working with you on New Glenn. You were always so smart and knowledgeable and brought a lot to the table for the program and the company. I wish you the best in your next adventure and keep in touch on LinkedIn!

Take care!

Operations Colleague L

Well that wasn't the message I was expecting to receive this morning!  It has been a true pleasure working with and learning from you. I wish you well on your next endeavor! Looking forward to witnessing your next steps through our LinkedIn connection.

Quality Team Member M

Noooo!

Manny – I truly hate to see this but completely understand. I hope you end up at a place where your skills can truly be utilized to full potential. Thank you for the immeasurable help you have provided for the NDT community here.

Our world is a small one and I'm sure we will cross paths again at some point. Until then, take care and please keep in touch.

Good luck and god speed,

Senior Team Member N

Noooooooooooooooooooooooo! Who said you could leave?!

Thanks for the great note and more so the sentiment as it is felt and echoed back to you. You are an amazing person Manny and I'm happy to have met and had the opportunity to work with you. Unfortunate that my duties after the reorg last year have limited our interactions, but none the less.

As we've discussed before our upbringings under immigrant parents seems very similar, so I'll share a conversation I had with my dad when I told him I was leaving my first 'real' job after undergrad for a new job after being there less than 4 years. He was pretty upset with me and felt it was the wrong move, understandable coming from a man who spent 41 years working for the same company. I explained the financial reasons to stay, pay, pension, seniority, etc. are not the same any longer and are outweighed by the monetary gain in going to a new company who will pay a premium for the experience and allow for even more growth. Not sure he really ever agreed but he stopped badgering me about it. Subsequent job changes came and went without any further commentary from him, so he must have at least understood.

You'll do great in whatever challenge you're headed into because that's what great people do. I took note of your contact info and hope to cross paths again, preferably sooner than later.

Good luck and God Speed!

Engineering Colleague O

Hi Manny I am sorry to see you go, I hope your next adventure is super fulfilling and I wish you the best!

Project Partner P

Sorry to see you go Manny, but it's been a pleasure working with you. I hope you've found a great opportunity, because whoever nabbed you scored!

Longtime Colleague Q

Oh boy,

So many good engineers are moving on to other things right now. You're a good egg, I shall miss our not-often-enough encounters.

All the best for the future. I'll see you back here in about a year 

Team Member R

Bummer. Its been a pleasure working with you. I can honestly say that when finding you in attendance of a meeting i was going to find, objectivity - honesty and competence. I will miss these interactions and I know how much of an impact you had on your reports. Best of luck Manny. I hope we cross paths again.

Direct Report S
Manny,

I was walking to my car the other day and I stopped in my tracks because I was hit with the feeling of how much you have impacted my last year. To me, you served as an example of a hard worker, someone who cares, someone who sees a need, and someone who is really, really, really focusing and giving it their all (in their job). When I encountered hard problems, I would always think "what would Manny do?"

You brought me onto the team, and made me feel included. But also, you gave me the space to grow. You put your ego at the door and let others shine bright.

I will always remember our exciting adventures and workplace drama. You will be so missed.

You will probably leave this place with many lessons and memories. And, I hope one of them is that you have changed my life for the better.

Ciao.