I am Amalia Hernandez. I studied Civil Engineering and have worked in the design and construction industry for 20 years. Over the past decade, I have also focused on business development and marketing. My experience includes working with government programs in the Northeast Region, where I helped small and minority-owned businesses obtain certifications, access capital, and connect with city, state, and federal resources to support their growth. In the private sector, I have collaborated with architecture and engineering firms to manage and design both public and private projects.

When I began my career, I faced many challenges as a young woman entering a male-dominated industry. But through perseverance, a strong foundation of respect and empathy, the support of outstanding mentors—both women and men—and my ability to communicate clearly in both Spanish and English, I was able to overcome those obstacles. Many doors of opportunity opened along the way.

Beyond my professional path is my personal story. I have found success by maintaining balance between the two. I am a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend—and above all, a believer. I was born and raised in Ecuador, the youngest of three children in a loving, hardworking family. At 14, I came to the United States to reunite with my parents, who had arrived earlier in search of a better life. Starting over in a new country, with a new language and new people, was not easy—but this land offered opportunity, not only for me but also for my family.

At 18, I married my wonderful and supportive husband, who is originally from Colombia. That same year, I began my career in design and construction, working alongside my father in a manufacturing shop in Brooklyn, New York. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to grow personally and professionally.