José González '91 - Magis
(This article first appeared in the Belen Jesuit Alumni Magazine, Winter 2022 edition)
As our community moves past the difficult times that have befallen us over the last year, we look to those individuals who embody the MAGIS to guide us. These individuals are leaders who understand what it means to be selfless and put the needs of others before their own. José González, an alumnus from the class of 1991, exemplifies these values to an extraordinary degree.
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As our community moves past the difficult times that have befallen us over the last year, we look to those individuals who embody the MAGIS to guide us. These individuals are leaders who understand what it means to be selfless and put the needs of others before their own. José González, an alumnus from the class of 1991, exemplifies these values to an extraordinary degree.
González came from humble beginnings. He is a first-generation immigrant from Cuba who arrived here with his parents when he was young. In his first year at Belen, tragedy struck his family when his father passed away. Facing financial difficulties, his future at Belen was uncertain. However, the administration was there to support his family and allowed him to continue studying at Belen Jesuit.
After Belen, his professional career began when he was still studying in college. He began working in building and zoning with Miami-Dade County while studying political science at FIU. Balancing his job and studies, his college experience was not the traditional 4-year path. Ultimately he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 2000. He jokes that he went to school for 9 years but isn't a doctor. While he worked at the county, he met developer Armando Codina ’65, who was featured in the last issue of MAGIS. This connection led to González’s involvement in the planning and approval of Dolphin Mall.
Today, he works at Florida East Coast Industries, the legacy company of American industrialist Henry Flagler. Among his more exciting developments is the new Brightline rail system that runs from Miami to Orlando, which is changing the face of transportation in Florida. He is currently working on a rail project connecting Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
In any project or business transaction, González lives by a set of basic principles. He establishes an environment of respect and inclusion. The janitor deserves just as much respect as the CEO. When he starts a project he meets with the community it will affect, he listens to their voices and makes sure their input is acknowledged. In his personal life, he does just the same. He says, “if you can’t get it right at home, you can't get it right anywhere.” He sets an example for his family, recognizing that you have to practice what you preach.
Belen was there for him, and now he is there for Belen, committed to helping others with the success with which he's been blessed. He gives so that those who need it, have the ability to attend regardless of their circumstances. When both of his sons began attending Belen, his bond with the school became stronger, and he became more involved. Now, he sits on the board of advisors at Belen. González has contributed his knowledge in the field to help Belen complete its Master Plan. He was pivotal in the several approvals needed for the Master Plan, from the stadium lights to the chapel.
Beyond his support for Belen, González has become very involved in helping the homeless community in Miami. He began volunteering at the Chapman Partnership years ago with his family, serving meals to the homeless. Now, although he sits on their board and contributes philanthropically to the organization, he continues to serve the homeless community. He believes you can’t just write a check because the human connection is pivotal to making a difference. “It's important for people to feel that they matter.”
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba, by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school's property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit is situated on a 34-acre site in western Dade County, just minutes away from downtown Miami.