Mike Hernandez

Bio

Mike Hernández is the President of Panther Consulting, Inc. and a Partner with LSN Communications. He has 20 years experience, expertise, and knowledge in the fields of Communication and Government Relations. His areas of focus are crisis communication management, corporate and political messaging, public relations and advocacy. From 2019-2024, Mike also served as the on-air political analyst for WTVJ NBC 6 and WSCV Telemundo 51, the top-rated newscast in all of South Florida regardless of language.

Prior to joining LSN, Mike was the Senior Vice President at Mercury Public Affairs, a prominent nationally recognized consulting firm. During the 2020 election cycle, Mike provided live analysis on the elections for both Telemundo and NBC audiences. In 2018, Mike served as a strategist and communication consultant for two victorious congressional candidates. Simultaneously, Mike provided communication consulting and media relations services for clients involved in two of the most covered South Florida crises.

Before entering the private sector, Mike served as Senior Advisor and Director of Communications for Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. Mike’s extensive experience helped him deliver an exceptional communications operation for the Mayor while concurrently overseeing the 200-employee Miami-Dade County Department of Communications, the 311 Contact Center, the Aviation Department, Port of Miami, and the Water & Sewer Department. He also had direct oversight of an annual budget of $21 million.

Mike became well known as a seasoned public relations and public affairs operative long before joining Mayor Gimenez. Mike was a Senior Director at Penn Schoen Berland, a global research consultancy from 2010-2014. Working under former Clinton White House political director Craig Smith, Mike worked throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and Middle East providing strategic consulting to heads of state, and presidential and parliamentary candidates.

In 2008 Mike assisted Barack Obama’s team with Hispanic media messaging. He also served as an on-air surrogate for President Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012.

A proud Panther, Mike earned two degrees at Florida International University in Miami — a Master’s in Public Administration and Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He served as the President of the Alumni Association and is currently an adjunct professor at the university’s School of International & Public Affairs and College of Communication.