Hernandez joined Hormel Foods as an industrial engineer in 2008, analyzing workflows and optimizing processes at the Austin (Minnesota) Plant. That was his first role with the company. Today, he’s serving his 10th in 17 years. Now an assistant director of finance for Hormel Foods, Hernandez optimizes the company’s finances, translating market trends and performance data into clear, strategic guidance.
His career journey is a shining example of internal mobility done right. Since joining Hormel Foods, he’s ascended the ranks not because he followed a predetermined path, but because he had the vision and backing to create one for himself.
In marketing, Hernandez helped lead integrated media strategies that aligned brand campaigns with business goals. He applied the same analytical tools he’d used in engineering, this time to optimize strategies like budgeting media placement and measuring consumer resonance.
Beyond metrics, Hernandez brought a humble, inquisitive approach that set him up to thrive in a new field.
“John never came in like he had all the answers,” Selk said. “He wanted to learn from others. That humility, paired with his sharp thinking, helped him connect across teams in a really authentic way.”
That kind of trust doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built over time, shaped by moments that matter. In 2024, Hernandez was asked to step away from his day-to-day finance role and spend two weeks focused on evaluating the company’s co-manufacturing partnerships from a business-unit perspective. In that short window, he pulled together a simple but powerful analysis that brought together supply chain and business-unit insights to pinpoint where co-manufacturing made the most sense. The result? A smarter, more strategic approach to decision-making — precisely what he was asked to deliver.
“He’s the kind of person who brings clarity to complexity,” Annis said. “If we’re dealing with something challenging, I want John in the room. He listens, he thinks, and when he speaks, it always moves the conversation forward.”
That steady presence has become a hallmark of Hernandez’s career. He’s not one to seek the spotlight, but when there’s a big challenge on the table, he’s often a person that company executives turn to — not because he’s the loudest voice, but because he’s consistently one of the most thoughtful.
When you put John on a problem, you know it’s going to get solved, and it’s going to get solved in the right way.
Nathan Annis, vice president of corporate development at Hormel Foods
No matter the context, Hernandez looks for ways to lift others up, just as so many others have done for him.
“I didn’t get here on my own,” Hernandez said. “So many people have taken the time to mentor me, to challenge me, to give me new opportunities. That’s why I try to do the same for others, to pay that forward.”
“I’ve learned just as much from John as he’s ever learned from me,” Annis said. “He brings such a grounded perspective. It’s been a privilege to watch him grow.”