Page 8 - April 2013 Gears & Ears

Member Spotlight

Alex Hernandez

Alex Hernandez, “an unapologetic idealist.” and member of Lake Buena Vista Rotary, is
featured in the current issue of Hispanic Executive magmzine. The following excepts
from the article about him contain his philosophy of life, the challenges he’s faced, and
successes he’s achieved, as told to Tima Vasquez.
“Diversity isn’t just about business,” Hernandez says. “The world is getting smaller and
we have to be able to work together, learn from each other, and embrace our differences.
I want to pass on a better world than the one I inherited. That’s what my dad wanted me
for me and that’s what I want for my children.. .”

My father came from Colombia on a study visa and he couldn’t have me hanging around the house all day while
studying for his master’s, so at 10 years old I began working for a family friend that was a builder and property
manager. It didn’t seem strange to me. In our house, everyone was expected to work. I mostly used my size to my
advantage, running wires where no one else would fit. By the time I was in high school, I was the builder’s right-hand
man; I was analyzing projects and performing other advanced tasks. That lead to studying finance and real-estate
analysis at the University of Florida and, eventually, to a position at Prudential Financial Services.

I’ve been with SunTrust for over 13 years and I’ve learned that being successful in this industry isn’t about being good
at one thing; it’s like a recipe, it’s a combination of many ingredients. ..The key is that no one attribute should stand
out, all of your skills should come together seamlessly. The deciding factor for success is the competitive spirit; it’s
knowing that you will fail many times before you succeed, but it’s continuing on despite that knowledge. . .

What my family experienced coming to this country still motivates me to succeed. We were very poor and if you’ve
ever been very poor, you fight to not return to that. To see wealth and opportunity all around you, but to have it be out
of your touch can be difficult, but you learn to channel that energy into hard work. You make whatever sacrifices you
have to because you want the things others have and you want those things for your family. . .

My father tried to instill in me that learning was not work. Improving oneself and increasing your knowledge should
not be defined as a labor, but rather seen as a constant process of life. If you believe that, every day—no matter what
you do—is a learning process subject to improvements. You should never get rid of your desire to improve.

When I first got into this industry, I spent a lot of time wishing
I knew more wealthy people. In the short-term, a great deal
of getting ahead is about who you know and the connections
you have. Your connections make a difference—at first. Maybe
I’m an idealist, but I believe that in the long run, it’s your hard
work, your studying, and your knowledge of the industry that
will make you a long-term success. Your hard work and
dedication will always serve as your wealth.

To read the complete article, please go to:

http://hispanicexecutive.com/2013/suntrust-investment-services-inc/ Alex participating in the 18th Annual IOA
Corporate 5K in Orlando