FERNANDO MARTINEZ

South Santa Fe Street Development Group, LLC

Fernando Martinez, a seasoned business executive with more than three decades of experience in sales and operations, founded South Santa Fe Street Development Group in 2023. Committed to equity in contracting, the organization is dedicated to advancing Supplier Diversity through research, program development, and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) growth.

Fernando most recently served as Senior Vice President of Network Success for the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). He was responsible for building a collaborative network of Affiliate Councils across the United States, effectively supporting MBE and Member growth initiatives through Supplier Diversity.

Before joining the NMSDC, Fernando was the President and CEO of the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council for 15 years. Fernando spearheaded the Council’s growth and economic impact strategy in the Northwest Mountain region. He played a key role in developing Minority Business Enterprises into companies to address the specific needs of the Council’s corporate and public agency members. He also collaborated with Council members to identify opportunities and integrate minority suppliers into their strategic supply chains, enhancing customer value and satisfaction.

Fernando chaired the National MSDC’s President’s  Council in 2013, guiding 36 regional Council presidents through a national strategic restructuring. In 2015, he received the inaugural NMSDC Vanguard Leadership Award. He has also notably served on the City of Seattle Mayor’s WMBE Advisory Committee, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Volunteers of America of Western Washington Board of Directors. Currently, Fernando supports the launch of Supplier Diversity processes for several corporate members, while expanding their understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices.

Before his work with the Councils, Fernando led and managed business units at companies such as Xerox Corporation, Starbucks Corporation, Westin Hotels & Resorts, and the former Washington Mutual, Inc. His efforts fostered successful collaborations between operations and sales, resulting in consistent year-over-year increases in efficiency, revenue, and profit. Fernando holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at El Paso and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. He resides in Seattle, Washington, with his four children and five grandchildren.