Must Read: The Future of SHPE is at Stake
Manny Hernandez for President
I was elated when Manny told me he was running for President! This is a very natural step for someone that has been a key leader over the last 20 years in the organization and has been the innovator and driver for many of SHPE most successful programs. As a lifetime member of SHPE and a fellow National Board of Director I have seen his commitment and dedication first hand. This started when I first met Manny as an undergraduate student at the University of New Mexico and over the years working with him and the rest of the board on numerous projects.
Many of our most successful programs can be attributed to his leadership.
· Championed the creation of the Industrial Partnership Council (IPC) – This is one of the most important programs for SHPE today as it funds many of the programs for SHPE.
· Created and implemented the SHPE Executive Director role –this was the organizational lead outside of the National Board of Directors until the creation of the CEO role a few years ago.
· SHPE Professional Development Series
· SHPE National Conference
- Manny has chaired or co-chaired the last 6 of the last 16 National SHPE conferences, and actively championed the rest. If you have attended one of the events in the last 10 years you know these events have been top notch.
- Manny chaired the committee that proposed moving the national conference out of Los Angeles in 1991, a very important and difficult task.
- As in 1991, when a mature leader was required for a difficult task, Manny again rose to the occasion again to spearhead moving the conference from the winter to the fall, facing strong opposition, and it was a resounding success resulting in unprecedented growth.
- Oversaw a special project that became the framework for strategic planning of the conference in terms of site selection, vendor selection and programs.
· Launched the SHPE Magazine – drove the efforts to change the format from a newsletter to a magazine to put us on the same level as other minority organizations and serve as a new source for revenue.
I can spend hours talking about all the great things that Manny has done for the organization but there is more to him than just accomplishments. We all go thru life changes and some of us drop out of SHPE…NOT Manny Hernandez…. He has truly made SHPE a part of his life and consistently served in key roles. His dedication and willingness to take SHPE in new directions when others may not have is a testament to his leadership. I invite you to join me in supporting Manny Hernandez for President.
Manny is the only one who can do the job.
