Gerald A. Fernandez, Sr. '76, '99 HDR

As president and founder of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), Gerry Fernandez has been promoting the social and economic benefits of diversity and inclusion in the foodservice and hospitality industry, since 1996. By effectively conveying its overall mission and values, this nonprofit organization has garnered the support of premier sponsors like the General Mills Corporation, Nation’s Restaurant News, Cargill, PepsiCo, Inc. and the Coca-Cola Company.   

From the beginning of his career, Fernandez became aware of the lack of diversity and advancement opportunities that were available for minorities in the food service and hospitality industry. After spending ten years opening and operating fine dining restaurants throughout the country with RARE Hospitality, and four years as the Account Manager of Foodservice Sales for General Mills, Fernandez began think outside of the box. Due to his immense involvement in the community, he desired to create an industry forum that would promote and support diversity. With the support of General Mills, Fernandez followed his passion and eventually developed the MFHA in 1996.

As a young man, Fernandez grew up in a primarily white suburb in Boston. After years of lacking direction and ambition in high school, he quickly became motivated after visiting a friend at JWU. It was here that he received a bachelor’s degree in foodservice management, a culinary arts degree and an honorary Doctorate in business administration. Aside from embracing a cooking internship at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York, Fernandez also met his wife during his stay at the Providence campus.