EDITOR’S NOTE:
Mahomet Chamber Award Winners
Business of the Year–P&P Heating and Cooling
Emerging Business of the Year–Core Concepts
Community Impact–The Open Room
Ann Paul Community Servant–Mark Kesler
Lyn Ferdinand Volunteer of the Year–Michael Hernandez
Ambassador of the Year–George Schoonover
NOTE: The Mahomet Daily has featured each of these winners in recent days.
BY FRED KRONER
Michael Hernandez grew up in Naperville, one of the western suburbs of Chicago and later lived in the city, not only during the four years he attended the University of Chicago, but also for 20 years thereafter.
He now feels equally at home in the area he has called home since August of 2017: Mahomet.
“I really like the small town feel of Mahomet, which is something I never imagined I’d enjoy after mostly living in an urban area,” Hernandez said. “We really love our home and neighborhood. There are so many other growing families on our street alone.”
He has made an impact in Central Illinois. On Thursday (March 31), he was honored as the Lyn Ferdinand Volunteer of the Year by the Mahomet Area Chamber of Commerce at its annual banquet, at the Champaign Holiday Inn.
“I was quite surprised that I was nominated,” Hernandez said. “There are so many people in the community that give their time, I don’t know how one picks just one ‘volunteer of the year.’
“I am humbly grateful that I get to do something so rewarding for the benefit of others.”
Hernandez has immersed himself in his new community.
He has volunteered at community events put on by various organizations, including the Music Fest, the Craft Beer Fest, the MAYC race, the 2018 Illinois Triathlon Championship at Lake of the Woods, and the Soda Fest, for which he is a past President.
“I like volunteering for event set-up because I think my organizational skills and planning abilities are an asset,” Hernandez said. “Mostly my choices are driven by my availability.
“Any time I have been asked by Walter (Pierce, Mahomet Chamber executive director) to help out, I try to make time.”
With two children under the age of 4 and a full-time job as Senior Project Manager at Broeren Russo, Hernandez has no lack of obligations on his plate.
“I think one of the challenges I have is finding the time to devote with my work, and commitments that come from raising a family,” he said. “Thankfully, Broeren Russo and my family are very supportive of my volunteering.
“Another challenge I see is it is hard to know exactly what each event will need and there never seems to be enough hands to help. Another challenge is people sometimes have a different level of commitment when volunteering vs. when they are paid for an activity.”
Hernandez’s introduction to Mahomet was through work. His impressions were so positive that he and his wife, Trisha, decided to relocate.
In the 5 ½ years that he has worked for Broeren Russo, Hernandez has helped lead teams on building large commercial projects, including the construction of an addition to Middletown Prairie Elementary in east Mahomet.
“Over the last four years I have primarily worked on elementary school projects with $12-25 million budgets,” Hernandez said. “My main duties involve client management, and I am ultimately responsible for completing projects in time and in budget.
“In addition to being the point person on specific projects, I also assist in operations leadership of the company.
During the unveiling of a new phase of Middletown Prairie, Hernandez was one of the speakers.
“Walter Pierce first contacted me after speaking at the dedication of the newest addition to Middletown Prairie,” Hernandez said. “Walter asked for Broeren Russo to join the Chamber and also encouraged me to be an active member.
“I thought that this would be a good opportunity to both serve the community and meet other community members.”
Hernandez said he is fortunate that his employer sees the value in volunteering.
“I was encouraged by Broeren Russo to become active in my community,” he said. “Volunteering gives me an outlet to use my planning and organizational skills to serve the community.
“I get a great sense of accomplishment from helping give these opportunities to our community. I also think it is a good example for my children that they see community engagement as important and devoting time and energy to help others.”
Hernandez’s career path was influenced by what he liked most in school.
“I had always been interested in Math and Science as well as the arts,” he said. “I was inspired by Renaissance artists/creators like Leonardo Di Vinci that excelled at both science and art.
“When I graduated high school (from Benet Academy), I knew I wanted to pursue a field that utilized both my math and creative skills.”
He studied Architecture at the University of Illinois/Chicago.
In 2016, he and his wife moved to Champaign County. The timing was less than ideal.
“Figures after being a lifelong Cubs fan they would win a World Series within months of my moving away from the City,” Hernandez said.
He was attracted to Mahomet while working on the Middletown Prairie addition.
“My wife and I were really drawn to the community and decided to build a home, which we moved to in August of 2017,” Hernandez said.
Their family was quickly expanding.
“We moved there while expecting our first child (Rose) who was born in 2018,” he said. “We have really enjoyed being a part of a growing neighborhood and community as our family has grown with the arrival of our second daughter (Grace) in 2019.”
The location is ideal, whether he needs to get to work or make a return trip home.
“With easy access to the expressway, Mahomet is really convenient for us to get to Champaign/Urbana for work and to visit family up north,” Hernandez said. “I have always loved community events and gathering with others.”
In his free time – when not volunteering – Hernandez enjoys working on projects at home, traveling, cooking, and listening to music.
“When I have time off, I mostly enjoy spending time with family and friends,” he added.
