Dear SHPE Member:

I am requesting your vote for National President. As a SHPE lifetime member, I have seen firsthand the legacy of hard work and dedication of the members in our outstanding organization. I know what we can achieve when we join together. We have taken SHPE to great heights never before imagined by our founding fathers.

As a veteran National Board member, I am proud to have contributed to SHPE's many successes and long term growth. This tenure has given me a wealth of experience in handling all facets - financial, administrative, personnel, and policy issues - of a major national non-profit organization. I am eager to continue offering my time-tested experience to work for our organization at the national level. I have always enjoyed serving the membership on the National Board of Directors (NBOD).

Many serious challenges lie ahead for our country, the Hispanic community and for SHPE. Doubtless, many of you have been affected by the financial uncertainty and tumultuous employment market that has our country in its grasp. In times such as these, it falls on organizations like SHPE to provide for its members. We must ensure that our organization is efficient and managed by professionals to optimize service to our members and stakeholders. Three years ago, the NBOD undertook a redesign of our internal management structure. I pledge to push this structure to maturity such that our organization will be as efficient as any Fortune 100 corporation. In so doing, we will improve our IT infrastructure and provide our members with powerful tools, such as the ability to connect into a vast network of contacts anytime and anywhere.

My goals for the next two years are:

• To ensure that every member has the skills, training, and opportunities to reach the highest levels of professional achievement. Let no member be discounted in their career.
• Open SHPE's IT infrastructure to enable members to connect and collaborate without borders and allow the regions and chapters to create applications to promote themselves and the members.
• Complete the transition to SHPE Inc.'s new model for optimal CEO/Staff Operations to provide high quality benefits for our members and support for regions and chapters.

The growth of SHPE is critical. I pledge to significantly increase the size of our network through increased membership and make this network a powerful resource for each of our members. Being in SHPE will mean being well connected. I will task SHPE's management with the goal of 10,000 members by 2011. To this end, it will be necessary to focus our efforts on rapidly extending awareness of our brand (SHPE) through innovative marketing as well as attracting, developing and retaining new and returning members. SHPE has always worked to provide resources for our students. SHPE must also provide resources for our professional members at all levels of their careers, entry level, mid-level and executive level. I will endeavor to lead SHPE to reach its fullest potential, and to fulfill our mission: SHPE -- The Source for Quality Hispanic Engineers and Technical Talent.

SHPE governance requires dedication, vision and strategic thinking. The road ahead is full of uncertainty. As many as you know from my track record, I get things done. We have taken SHPE from the good organization it has been in the past to the great organization it is now. I want to take SHPE to the greatest organization it can be for our members, our community and our country. Please examine my accomplishments, and base your decision on this record. I ask for your support and vote in electing me as your SHPE National President.

Manny Hernández

PUBLICATIONS

• SHPE Magazine August/September 2006
• SHPE Magazine October/November 2006
• SHPE Magazine January/February 2007
• SHPE Magazine March/April 2007
• SHPE Magazine Fall 2007
• SHPE Magazine Fall 2008
• SHPE Magazine Conference 2008 - 1
• SHPE Magazine Conference 2008 - 2

© Manny Hernández