By combining his authentic experience with a passion for communication and service, George Fernandez helps clients build positive, profitable, and sustainable connections with the Latino community.
At eight years old, Fernandez moved to Harrisburg from the Dominican Republic. His mother spoke no English. Fernandez quickly learned to navigate American life and overcome the language barrier that made daily living a challenge. After college, Fernandez began his career as a management executive in the hospitality industry, and later landed a position as a bilingual benefits educator with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. With Highmark, Fernandez assisted the organization’s 5.4 million members understand and navigate their health insurance coverage—and it was during this time that he made a critical observation. The growing Latino community was drastically underserved in many areas including healthcare, education, and employment services. Many Latinos felt like outsiders within their local communities. With quality translation services both costly and lacking in specialized markets, Fernandez stepped out on his own to turn a life-long dream into a reality. And it paid off.
In 2014, George Fernandez founded Latino Connection— a strategic communications firm that helps organizations serve the Spanish-speaking community in Pennsylvania and beyond. The company possesses a dual mission: to effectively connect clients with their Latino stakeholders and to deliver high quality translation and interpretation services. Fernandez also published Latino Connection Magazine, a bimonthly bilingual publication that supports the Latino population through community engagement and education.
With Fernandez at the helm, Latino Connection and Latino Connection Magazine have served millions of Latinos and helped hundreds of organizations maximize their reach and protect their core operations. Clients range from billion dollar, private sector businesses such as Integrity Staffing Solutions and UPS, to non-profit entities and government agencies like Capital Blue Cross, Capital Area Head Start and The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Since its inception, Latino Connection has been certified by the Eastern Minority Supplier Diversity Council and is recognized as a Hispanic Business Enterprise by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and as a Minority Certified Business by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
A servant leader at heart, Fernandez remains heavily involved in the local community. He is a loyal supporter of various causes including The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and The Boys and Girls Club of Central PA. Fernandez also participates in numerous community leadership projects as a member of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg. He serves on the executive boards of LHA, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, and the Family Health Council of Central PA. Beginning in 2017, he will serve as President of the Tri-County Community Action Agency. Fernandez is a graduate of Leadership Harrisburg Area’s Community Leadership Series and The Foundation for Enhancing Communities’ Emerging Philanthropy Program. He has received many prestigious honors including the Jefferson Award and Central Penn Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40.”
George Fernandez, the dreamer and the doer behind Latino Connection, is truly an advocate—and an inspiration—for the Latino community in Pennsylvania and beyond.