Joel Fernandez is a human resources business partner at The Chicago Community Trust.
Joel is a strategic human resources leader with more than 15 years of experience. Prior to joining the Trust, Joel worked for the Chicago Cubs, Portillo’s, and Verizon Wireless—guiding people strategy, transformation initiatives, and equity‑centered HR practices.
A bilingual communicator in English and Spanish, Joel excels in supporting multicultural teams and creating inclusive environments grounded in empathy, clarity and accountability. His degrees from the Universities of Illinois and Arkansas are complemented by his certifications in Human Resource Management, Adult Mental Health First Aid, and CliftonStrengths Coaching.
