We are pleased to announce that Richie Hernandez has joined the company to lead our Southwest Water Initiative as Water Programs Marketing Director. In this role, Richie will support strategic growth efforts across the Southwest while helping expand water program development throughout the region.
Richie brings an exceptional combination of leadership, public sector expertise, and hands-on experience in water infrastructure, floodplain management, and community engagement. His extensive background in water policy, funding, and stakeholder collaboration throughout Texas and the Southwest makes him a strong addition to the Volkert team as we continue expanding our water programs.
Richie brings nearly 25 years of experience in water resources, grants administration, regulatory compliance, public outreach, and executive leadership. Most recently, he served as Texas’ State NFIP Coordinator for the last three years and made Texas a model for other states to follow when implementing strong floodplain management principles. In addition, he led statewide coordination efforts between FEMA and more than 1,200 participating communities in the National Flood Insurance Program. In that role, he managed a team responsible for technical assistance, compliance audits, floodplain management training, and legislative support related to flood mitigation and resiliency initiatives.
Prior to that position, Richie served as Grants and Contracts Manager for EP Water in El Paso, where he successfully secured millions of dollars in federal funding through agencies including the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Department of Defense to support critical infrastructure projects. His career also includes leadership roles with the Texas Water Development Board, Lower Valley Water District, the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, and several nonprofit and/or community-based organizations focused on housing, infrastructure, and public service initiatives.
Richie’s experience working across water utilities, state agencies, and community organizations provides a strong understanding of both the challenges and exciting opportunities within water programs in the Southwest. His collaborative leadership style and commitment to public service will support the company’s continued efforts to build strong partnerships and deliver impactful solutions for clients and communities.
Richie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with a Pre-Law major and English minor from The University of Texas at El Paso. He has also remained actively involved in civic and community organizations throughout his career, serving in leadership roles supporting housing, education, youth programs, and regional development initiatives.
Please join us in welcoming Richie to the team and congratulating him on this new role.