Speakers

Brian Hernandez serves as the Chief Storytelling Officer (Chief Storyteller) for Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA). He is responsible for creating value for Texans by generating brand awareness of WSRCA's services for employers and job seekers, and cultivating effective media relationships and partnerships with community and industry leaders throughout the nine-county Rural Capital Area of Central Texas. Previously, Brian served as the first Digital Media Coordinator for the Texas Workforce Commission, developing creative marketing and communications solutions for the agency statewide, and leveraging these across all platforms, with a strong emphasis on digital innovation and value. Prior to delivering workforce solutions for Texans, Brian served as multimedia journalist and digital content leader for more than 14 years, with news organizations in more than a dozen top 50 markets, including Denver, San Diego, Orlando, and Austin. His efforts have earned him and his teams multiple regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, Associated Press Awards, as well as an Emmy Award nomination for an in-depth special feature he directed and produced on teachers training to take down active shooters in schools. Brian's stewardship of WSRCA's story has led to nine global communications awards for the Board in the past year, and many more recognitions that help build advocacy for the Board's mission to empower its communities. Brian holds both a Master of Organizational and Professional Communication Degree in New Media and Internet Marketing, and a Master of Liberal Studies Degree in Creative Writing from the University of Denver, as well as a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Communication from Rollins College. Brian is a Muppets fans who resides in Georgetown, Texas, and has a full heart and gray hair, thanks to his marriage of 16 years, his teenage son, and his identical twin daughters—who will be turning 5 this year and find new ways to make him cringe and smile every day. 

Rich is a retired U.S. Army officer who served on active duty for 20 years, including battalion command in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. Following retirement, he worked for nearly 17 years in the defense contracting industry, managing a variety of technology and logistics programs for companies including AT&T, L-3 Communications and Kellogg, Brown and Root before retiring again in 2010. Rich and his wife, Diana, have been married 46 years. They have one son, Richard, who lives in Austin. Rich holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, a M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Kansas State University, and an MBA from the University of Mary Harden-Baylor. Rich is a member of the Rotary Club of Temple-South where he is currently their President-nominee. As a member of his previous club (Killeen Heights), Rich served as Club President in 2003-04, was selected as Rotarian of the Year in 1998 and is a recipient of Rotary International’s Avenues of Service Citation in 2000 and the Service Above Self Award (2019). At the district level, Rich has served as District Governor; Vice Governor; District Secretary; Assistant Governor; Finance Committee Chair; District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair; Grants Subcommittee Chair; Annual Fund Subcommittee Chair; Endowment/Major Gifts Subcommittee Chair, GSE Team Coordinator; a member of the Ambassadorial Scholarship Selection Committee, and Registrar for ten District events. Rich is currently serving as District Chief of Staff. He is a recipient of the Rotary Foundation’s District Service Award (2006) and the Citation for Meritorious Service (2011). Rich was inducted to the District 5870 Roll of Fame in 2003. Above District level, Rich served as President of the Zone 25b Rotary Multi-District Training Institute (2019), as a member of the Lone Star Multi-District P.E.T.S. board of trustees (2018-21) and is currently serving as Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for Region 36 which is comprised of 23 Districts stretching from Windsor, Ontario, Canada to the US-Mexican border. Rich and Diana are members of the District 5870 Paul Harris and Polio Plus Societies. They are both members of the Arch Klumph Society and the Legacy Society. Rich’s community activities have included stints as Chairman of the Board, Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce; Vice President, Fort Hood-Central Texas Chapter, Association of the United States Army; and 1st Vice President, Central Texas Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. He is currently serving as the President of the 1 st Cavalry Division Association. He has served as a member of the board of directors for numerous local agencies including Families in Crisis, Killeen Food Care Center, Leon Valley District Boy Scouts of America, Armed Services YMCA, Mid-Tex Chapter American Red Cross, and Fort Hood Area Habitat for Humanity. Rich is a Lifetime Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Association of the United States Army, and the Associations of the 9th Infantry Division, 11th Cavalry Regiment, and the 1st Cavalry Division.