Carmen Acosta-Baez serves as a Project Coordination Manager, with 12 years of professional experience in delivering complex programs and leading multidisciplinary teams. She currently oversees the state term contracts for Florida and Georgia, as well as the contracts with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), ensuring adherence to the stipulated terms and conditions. Additionally, Carmen is responsible for keeping the Hazard Mitigation Grant Management (HMGP) training and guidance current, covering the entire grant life cycle from application intake to closeout.

Carmen’s background includes experience in supporting disaster mitigation operations and managing large-scale grant initiatives. She acted as the Disaster Lead for Hurricane Irma, where she coordinated resources, supervised staff performance, and aligned strategies with FEMA and state mitigation objectives. Moreover, she managed over 25 mitigation projects across various counties during Hurricane Irma, totaling $108 million. Earlier in HMGP, Carmen supported state project managers across multiple disasters by preparing grant documentation, assisting with contracting and reimbursement processes, and conducting internal audits for program monitoring purposes.

In addition to her expertise in mitigation, Carmen offers industry experience in operations, logistics, and continuous improvement, gained through her role as an Industrial Engineer at Nissan. Her professional background includes conducting operational audits, standardizing processes, tracking customer satisfaction, and implementing Lean and 5S methodologies to enhance efficiency and service quality. Carmen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and is proficient in both English and Spanish. She has undertaken extensive training focused on FEMA and mitigation.