At a recent Fort Worth Tri-Chamber mixer, Larry Anfin walked up to a gentleman, shook his hand, bowed his head and with laughter they embraced. The level of respect both men had for each other was evident in their greeting. The man Anfin greeted was John Hernandez. They previously worked together when Hernandez was president of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and they collaborated on other projects in the community.
Today that level of respect in the community is what makes Hernandez a perfect match for CME Consulting, LLC and Christie Eckler.
Eckler is Founder and Principal Strategist for CME Consulting, LLC, a firm that serves nonprofits, service-driven for-profit businesses and community leaders serving in their community. The company offers strategy development, fund and resource development and training and capacity building.
Hernandez recently joined CME as a Senior Strategist. With over 25 years of experience in diverse industries such as business strategy, construction, entrepreneurship, wealth management and nonprofit management, he has worked hard to create valuable contributions throughout the community. He has been a champion of education, business opportunities, community engagement and financial literacy throughout Fort Worth. “My expertise has allowed me to hone my ability to approach business and professional development holistically, while finding unique solutions that leave a lasting impact,” says Hernandez.
When asked how he and Eckler became partners, Hernandez said, “I’ve known Christie for several years. She has been a great friend, colleague and trusted mentor. When we spoke about our respective businesses it was very apparent that we had similar goals and values and more importantly, we both had very distinct expertise that if combined, could really bring value to a client.”
As for consulting, his passion was born 20 years ago. As a banker – helping businesses understand what made them bankable, as an MWBE consultant – helping subcontractors navigate through the system, as a chamber president- advocating for workforce development, building capacity and small business and as a former nonprofit president and advisor- helping bring practical business tools and strategies to for-profit and nonprofit organizations seeking advice, training and direction. “With my experience and what CME is about, it was a no-brainer” said Hernandez.
To read the full story, click on the cover of the August 2023 issue of the magazine
