Kristina Hernandez became a new member of the Palmetto Bay Village Hall staff on Apr. 25 and will be working as administrative assistant to village clerk Meighan J. Alexander.
Hernandez previously worked at a law firm as an administrative coordinator for a little over a year, and for three and a half years at Florida International University, where she earned her master’s in Public Administration. She is planning to start working toward her PhD in Public Policy. She attended Coral Reef High School and the School for Advanced Studies.
“I’ll be training in the area of public records, so I can better assist Meighan, and be learning more about Florida statues regarding records,” Hernandez said. “I’ve worked with records before at the law firm and at the university so I know how that works. It’s just a little bit different working for the village.”
Hernandez had applied to several other cities but was hoping to get a job with Palmetto Bay because that was her preferred choice. She is happy that worked out.
“I just like the area,” Hernandez said. “I like the people. It’s a lot different from other cities. It’s closer to home and I grew up in this area. It’s close to Pinecrest, Cutler Bay and Florida City, and I love being on US1.”
The May 2 council meeting was the first one she attended, and it made a good impression on her.
“I enjoyed it,” she said. “It was kind of what you see on TV, as I have set in on meetings for Miami-Dade County at the Stephen Clark Building.
“Here, when you see the residents raising their concerns, voicing their opinions, it makes you feel you’re in a place where you’re protected, where you’re heard, because you kind of get lost when you’re in other locations where it’s too big,” she said. “I’m very happy to be here. I’ve wanted to work in government for a long time. I want to see Palmetto Bay develop. I’ll have to focus on my position and do a good job, so I can contribute like everybody else has.”
