Randal Hernandez is Director, External Affairs for Southern California for Verizon focused on Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Orange counties. Randal is responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing government and community affairs initiatives that promote the company’s wireless broadband networks and advanced technology strategies.
Randal formerly served as Managing Director, Government Relations for Union Bank where he was responsible for building relationships with government officials, civic leaders, community-based advocacy organizations and multi-cultural leaders across California. Hernandez led the bank’s legislative advocacy and overall outreach to elected officials at every level. He led the bank’s engagement with mayors across the state on a variety of community-based economic development initiatives.
Prior to joining Union Bank, Hernandez was Senior Vice President and Senior Public Policy Executive, California for Bank of America. In that role, he was responsible for the bank’s overall external affairs including developing partnerships with California government officials, community advocates and business leaders to drive the bank’s strategic public policy initiatives and community partnerships.
He served as a member of the senior staff to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as his first Appointments Secretary responsible for recommending appointments to administration positions including cabinet secretaries, state commissions and other senior level positions.
Randal was Chief-of-Staff to former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill. On behalf of the mayor, Hernandez directed staff and focused on economic development, international trade, city budget and the mayor’s legislative agenda. He also managed the mayor’s intergovernmental relations activities including engagement with the administrations of President Bill Clinton and Governor Pete Wilson, as well as with mayors from across California.
Randal played a leadership role in the establishment of the Long Beach Economic Partnership, a 501c3 non-profit economic development corporation. The “LBEP” is composed of cross-sector leaders whose mission is to advance economic equity opportunities, attract new investment and promote Long Beach as a great place for business. He is the former chairman of the city’s Economic Development Commission, appointed by Mayor Robert Garcia, where he led the development of a new citywide strategic plan adopted by the full city council in 2017. Randal was appointed by new Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson as co-lead for the mayor’s economic development task force. Randal is a member of the board for the Santa Barbara – South Coast Chamber, REACH and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
Among his past civic activities, Randal was a Schwarzenegger appointee to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and a former Long Beach planning commissioner. He has served as a senior advisor to the California Latino Economic Institute (a partnership of the State Latino Legislative Caucus and the California Business Roundtable). He is formerly a board member of the Long Beach Community Foundation and CORO, a public service leadership training organization.
Randal is a graduate of Leadership Long Beach and Leadership Southern California. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Masters degree in Public Administration from CSU, Long Beach. He has received the “Distinguished Alumni Award” from the Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration, CSU Long Beach. Randal and his wife Tracy Hernandez (Founding CEO of the LA Business Federation “BizFed”) are proud residents of the Santa Ynez Valley and Woodland Hills in Los Angeles.
