Beyond the Office: Legal Manager Reaches Academic Milestone

Congratulations to Valerie Cruz, REPKON USA’s Legal Manager, who graduated in December 2025 with her bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of South Florida.

Valerie is a proud Air Force veteran who completed her military service in the legal field. Following her 11 years in the Air Force, she earned her Associates of Arts from Hillsborough Community College in 2017 as a mother of two and in the Air Force reserves.

“I come from a long line of strong, educated women who taught me to relentlessly chase my dreams,” said Valerie. “I wanted to make them proud.”

Majoring in criminology felt like a natural next step in that dream. In 2023, Valerie began her bachelor’s degree journey while working full-time. Though she understandably found multi-tasking to be a challenge in the first semester, she leaned heavily on the unwavering support of her family and REPKON USA.

“I cannot overstate how much I relied on my family,” said Valerie. “My daughters’ constant love and belief in me became a source of strength. That kind of support meant everything.”

In addition to the invaluable family encouragement, she found staying organized and treating every day as a fresh start, regardless of the previous day’s challenges, kept her focused on her goal.

Valerie looks forward to applying her knowledge and skills gained from her bachelor’s degree directly to her role as REPKON USA’s Legal Operations Manager. Her self-declared to-dos at REPKON USA include enhancing efficiency, supporting in-house counsel, and improving processes while managing risk.

“I cherished every moment of the journey that led me to graduation,” she said. “This degree has enabled me to make informed decisions that benefit both the legal department and the organization.”