February 22, 2007 Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
Family and friends paid their last respects to Joel Amilcar Hernandez, who was buried yesterday in his native Panama. Hernandez, who was general manager of the Inter-American Health Food Branch in Navojoa, Mexico, was shot to death inside his home on the campus of the Seventh-day Adventist school in Navojoa on Feb. 15. Police are still investigating as the shooters remain at large.
Hernandez’s colleagues and staff are still in shock.
“Those of us who knew Mr. Amilcar we know that the Church has lost a great leader, but only God knows the way in which He leads us…we only have to trust in Him,” said Genaro Corral, Colpac’s Marketing director.
Church leaders joined more than 300 friends and co-workers to pay tribute to Hernandez during a special Feb. 16 memorial service on the school campus church.
This incident comes as a shock to the IAD Health Food Company and its 11 branches across the territory, says Joel Zukovski, IAD Health Food Company director.
“We are unaware of any causes that may have led to this tragic incident,” said Zukovski.
“We simply have no answers to why this happened.”
Zukovski went on to say that he fears that Hernandez was just an innocent victim of the violence that exists today.
“We are still waiting for an official report from the local police once they complete their investigation,” he said.
Zukovski adds that additional security personnel have been added to Colpac Foods and the college campus.
Hernandez was appointed as general manager of Colpac Foods in 2001. According to Zukovski, the organization enjoyed tremendous growth during Hernandez’s tenure.
“Amilcar did wonderful work in the food factory, creating a marketing department, increasing the sales, establishing a structure to cater throughout Mexico, established four warehouse facilities on a national level and managed Colpac’s finances very well,” went on Zukovski.
Previous to managing Colpac Foods, Hernandez worked as bookkeeper and later general manager for Cetebedi Food Company in Costa Rica for 15 years. He completed a master’s degree in business administration in 1995 and an additional master's degree in marketing a few years later.
Hernandez is survived by his wife, Ruth, and three sons from ages seven to 14. He was 43 years old.
