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Darlene M. Fernandez, P.E., Executive Director of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX), was recently nominated as 2022 Chairwoman for The American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides against Breast Cancer.”
“This cause is very personal to me because I lost my mother to this terrible disease at a very young age and it has affected other women in my family,” said Fernandez. “Cancer directly or indirectly impacts every resident of Miami-Dade County and we have all lost a relative, a friend or a co-worker to this disease. Helping other families and bringing awareness to the forefront by sharing my personal experience to the community is a priority for me and I am honored to be able to join the team on this fight.”
Every October, Miami-Dade County comes together to raise awareness around breast cancer. Making Strides against Breast Cancer is an opportunity to unite as a community to honor breast cancer survivors, raise awareness about what citizens can do to stay well from breast cancer, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with breast cancer research, information and services, and provide access to mammograms for women.
According to research, every 30 seconds someone calls the American Cancer Society, and breast cancer is the number one reason people call. The American Cancer Society is a phone call away 24 hours a day at 1-800-227-2345. More than 23 million people annually visit cancer.org, which provides some of the most comprehensive and helpful information about cancer and how to triumph over the disease.
Darlene Fernandez is the first woman to lead MDX and the third executive director in its 30-year history. As executive director, Fernandez manages and directs the operations, management, and expansion of five local expressways within Miami-Dade County. Prior to joining MDX, she served as the Assistant Director of Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works. She previously served in the Florida Department of Transportation and worked in the private sector for major engineering firms and the City of Miami Beach. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Florida International University and has been a Registered Engineer since 2005.
Fernandez is an active member in the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Florida Engineering Society. She recently received the In the Company of Women Award 2022 – Government & Law Non-Elect from the Miami-Dade County Commission on Women & Parks Department.
