As chief executive officer, Hilda Fernandez leads a complex system of care serving more than 34,000 men, women and children each year through over 40 programs and services. A passionate advocate for the homeless, Ms. Fernandez was the former executive director of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust where she oversaw an annual budget of more than $49 million, allocated to over 80 providers of housing and services to the homeless throughout the county.

More recently, Ms. Fernandez served as vice president for advancement, marketing and communications for St. Thomas University. She has also served as an assistant city manager in Miami Beach, executive director of the Citizens’ Independent Transportation Trust, and as director of the Miami-Dade County Communications Department.

A graduate of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Miami Class of 2000, Ms. Fernandez served on the Miami Beach Employees Retirement Pension Board and has been a member of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program Board. She has also served as treasurer of the Florida Coalition for the Homeless and is a member of Miami Homes for All (formerly known as the Miami Coalition for the Homeless).

Ms. Fernandez received a Bachelor of Arts in telecommunications from the University of Miami with minors in English and Sociology. She is a Certified Pension Trustee.