María Méndez

• Conducted comprehensive literature reviews focusing on urban and regional planning, with an emphasis on sea level rise and climate resilience, ensuring awareness of the latest advancements and best practices.
  
• Developed and implemented effective strategies for collecting relevant data related to sea level rise, coastal vulnerabilities, and community demographics, applying advanced analytical tools for insightful decision-making.
  
• Employed scenario modeling techniques to simulate potential impacts of sea level rise on urban areas, helping anticipate challenges and devise adaptive strategies relevant to diverse populations.
  
• Identified and engaged key stakeholders, including local communities, businesses, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations, ensuring diverse perspectives were considered in planning efforts.
  
• Organized and facilitated community workshops and public awareness campaigns to educate diverse populations about sea level rise, its potential impacts, and the importance of resilience planning.
• Assigned as Project Manager in collaborative study "Leveraging Earth Observation Data to Support Environmental Justice: A Puerto Rico Case Study." Managed in collaboration with the Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University and the PR Science Technology & Research Trust. This includes managing logistics, grant processes, as well as budgets and a team of coordinators.

• Played a pivotal role in delivering research and data analysis services to Estudios Tecnicos, Inc., supporting the development and execution of Municipal Recovery Plans in accordance with the funding requirements of the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.
• Showcased expertise in evaluating community needs, vulnerabilities, and priorities, guiding the recovery planning process with the goal of implementing comprehensive and targeted strategies for resilient urban development.
• Worked closely with multidisciplinary teams, incorporating data-driven insights into recovery planning by considering aspects such as land use, transportation, and infrastructure, and offering data-informed recommendations for the planning program.
• Contributed to tasks related to data collection, entry, and management, ensuring the accurate and thorough input of data for planning and monitoring purposes.

• Engaged in dynamic collaboration with over 15 community stakeholders to craft robust resilience plans, synthesizing valuable input from residents, local officials, and organizations as part of the innovative CDBG-DR Whole Community Resilience Planning Program.
• Led in-depth research and analysis, employing regional planning principles and leveraging disaster recovery best practices, resulting in the development of top-tier resilience plans.
• Contributed significantly to the formulation of resilience strategies and guidelines, with a keen focus on critical areas such as land use, housing, infrastructure, and social services, ensuring a holistic and effective approach.
• Furthermore, actively participated in the procurement process by issuing RFPs and RFQs, meticulously selecting qualified vendors and consultants. This strategic involvement played a pivotal role in the seamless and successful implementation of the comprehensive resilience plans.

Delivered project management, writing, and research services to Foundation for Puerto Rico, showcasing expertise in the following areas:

• Supported the successful execution of a destination planning program, overseeing the implementation of 10 program activities and coordinating 5 external stakeholder meetings or events.
• Conducted thorough research and analysis for strategic planning, delving into key tourism indicators and researching emerging trends from five distinct destinations.
• Played a pivotal role in stakeholder engagement efforts, organizing and facilitating 8 stakeholder meetings or workshops to gather targeted input.
• Actively contributed to destination marketing strategies, participating in three marketing campaigns or initiatives, and aiding in the development of a comprehensive branding strategy.
• Demonstrated experience in working with economic development programs under the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the United States of America.