Bernie Moreno
Bernie Moreno is a United States Senator from Ohio, serving since January 2025. He is a member of the Republican Party and is known for his strong advocacy in the crypto and blockchain sectors, as well as his previous career in the automotive industry and technology entrepreneurship. [1]
Early Life and Education
Bernardo Francisco Moreno Mejía was born on February 14, 1967, in Bogotá, Colombia. He moved to the United States at the age of five, settling in Florida where he was raised. Moreno is a naturalized U.S. citizen, having obtained citizenship at the age of 18 when he also renounced his Colombian citizenship. He attended the University of Michigan, where he graduated with a Bachelor's in Business Administration. [3] [2]
Career
Automotive Industry
After graduating from college, Moreno worked at General Motors as an analyst and field consultant for the Saturn Corporation division. In the early 1990s, he moved to Massachusetts and became general manager of a Saturn dealership operated by The Herb Chambers Companies.
In 2005, Moreno moved to Ohio and purchased a Mercedes-Benz dealership in North Olmsted, near Cleveland. He later served as president of Collection Auto Group. By 2016, he owned more than a dozen automobile dealerships, primarily in Ohio. In 2019, he began selling some of his dealerships and shifted his professional activities toward the technology sector.
Blockchain and Technology
In 2016, Moreno became involved in the blockchain industry and later founded Ownum, a blockchain-based technology company. In 2019, he continued his transition from the automotive business by selling several dealerships and focusing on the operations of Ownum.
Business and Community Activities
In 2018, Moreno established the Sales Center for Excellence at Cleveland State University. In 2019, he was inducted into the Cleveland Business Hall of Fame.
Moreno was appointed to the board of trustees of the MetroHealth System in October 2019. He remained on the board until February 2021, when he resigned while preparing to seek public office.
Legal Matters
In 2023, Moreno settled more than a dozen wage-related lawsuits and agreed to pay more than $400,000 to two former employees. Court records indicate that a state judge criticized the destruction of documents that were considered potentially relevant to the litigation.
In March 2024, reports noted that Moreno had been named in two lawsuits alleging age and gender discrimination. His campaign stated that the former employees involved in the cases supported his Senate campaign. [1] [2] [4] [3] [5] [6] [7]
