Terri Hernandez is an award-winning communications leader with a proven track record of driving strategic public relations initiatives and managing high-profile media campaigns. With expertise spanning television, media, entertainment, philanthropy, and corporate communications, she seamlessly navigates diverse industries to create compelling brand stories that maximize visibility for her clients.

As an independent communications consultant, Hernandez has years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, major media organizations, and nonprofit institutions. She specializes public relations strategy, executive positioning, internal communications, media relations, crisis management, talent relations and community affairs. Her deep understanding of the evolving media landscape, paired with a well-established network of journalists, producers, and other influencers, enables her to secure meaningful coverage and craft narratives that resonate with stakeholder audiences.

Hernandez spent more than a decade as Vice President of Communications at NBCUniversal, where she led strategic public relations campaigns for two of the company’s flagship news stations in Los Angeles. Reporting directly to the President and serving as a key member of the senior leadership team, she played a vital role in elevating the brand, fostering meaningful partnerships, managing executive positioning, and leading on high-impact external and internal communications campaigns. She was instrumental in driving award-winning community investment initiatives and strengthening talent relations for more than 30 on-air journalists and lifestyle show hosts. She created immersive consumer-facing experiences, executing cause-marketing promotions and special news programming; some highlights of her work included captivating audiences through the creation of the Olympic Games' Village events at the now Crypto Arena, Help for the Hungry food drives and Clear the Shelters pet adoption campaigns, establishing the NBCUniversal Foundation grant-making challenge, community partnerships, co-producing culturally-relevant history months television specials, and the strategy and implementation of political forums, special events/red-carpets and town halls. 

The Back Story

Before joining NBCUniversal, Hernandez held senior communications roles across various industries. At LAUP, a $600M start-up organization, she implemented a nationally recognized public awareness campaign for early childhood education. During her tenure at Nissan North America, she implemented corporate communications strategies across the US, Japan and Mexico, including press junkets. She also managed cause-related marketing campaigns and provided executive counsel on high-profile belonging and inclusion initiatives through the Nissan Foundation. She began her public relations career at Fleishman-Hillard International, leading consumer marketing campaigns for blue-chip clients, including Levi Strauss & Co., Anheuser-Busch Companies, Nestlé, Avery-Dennison and the California Milk Advisory Board. She was part of the crisis communications group successfully managing high-risk issues and supporting the growth of the agency’s Hispanic Communications practice. While at the agency, Terri earned the prestigious Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America for her ground-breaking consumer awareness campaign for the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

The Person

Recognized for her contributions to the communications industry, Hernandez has received numerous industry accolades. In addition to her prestigious Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America, she has also been honored by the Radio, Television, and News Association for her work on NBC’s newscasts and television specials, to name a few. 

Beyond her professional achievements, Hernandez is deeply committed to philanthropic efforts. She has held volunteer leadership positions with the American Heart Association’s Go Red campaign, the 50/50 Women on Boards, and the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, among other organizations. She has established numerous goodwill initiatives supporting local communities in California, Texas and Tennessee and brings a vast professional network to her work.

Now, as an independent communications practitioner, working across Los Angeles, New York, and Canada, Hernandez continues to leverage her expertise to support private and public companies and nonprofit organizations in their strategic communications efforts. Passionate about storytelling, community and brand elevation, she is dedicated to helping clients navigate the ever-changing media landscape and amplify their impact through innovative communications strategies.

The Impact