April 6 , 2017 The SEGway News Page 3
April 6 , 2017 The SEGway News Page 3
Personality Eric Hernandez : Advocate for economic change
by Alexis Dierker
Eric Hernandez is an advocate for positive economic change , and is walking with students to explore what this looks like through entrepreneurship .
Eric was born in Mexico City , Mexico , and spent his growing-up years in Monterrey . Mexico has a fast-growing economy and Monterrey specifically prides itself on cultivating creative and hard-working engineers . After learning from this industry-minded culture , Eric came to Bethel College in Mishawaka , IN to study Accounting , where he met his wife . After some time working for a nonprofit in South Bend , Eric and his family moved to Houston , Texas where he worked fifteen years in accounting in the Oil Industry .
Eric explained that besides the numbers , accounting is focused on improving things from where they are , to make the process more efficient and operationally excellent . Eric understands that people can be one of the best opportunities and also one of the biggest obstacles in positive change . “ Accounting within the Oil Industry differs from some types of accounting in the fact that it is extremely international . Working with people all over the world can bring up problems that require a lot of creativity to solve ”.
Accountants are unique — speaking “ the language of business ”, which few can interpret . Eric likes to explain accounting work as detective ’ s work — taking data and boiling it down , simplifying and finalizing . They can understand the deeper roots to what is going on within a business , and must learn how to communicate this with the decision-makers . “ Working together , knowing how to talk to each other respectfully while bringing out the personal differences — this is what brings productivity . It ’ s easier to get business done when there is a relationship — without trust , it ’ s much harder to make things happen .”
Three years ago , Eric and his wife began to be intrigued by the idea of working with students . They knew about Taylor , and found an opportunity to fill a role . “ So we packed up , sold the house , and made a path to Grant County .” Eric is thankful to be the Assistant Accounting Professor at Taylor , and enthusiastic to lead students in Enactus and Promising Ventures — two entrepreneurship programs at Taylor .
The teams have developed projects with a heavy focus on collaboration and brainstorming . Eric is excited to be a part of these programs as they grow . His experience in project management , world-relations , and communication is a valuable source of wisdom , but finds the students to be an encouragement to him as well . “ I teach something , but I also learn some things — I ’ m inspired by their energy and drive , and am happy to share this experience with them .”