Home fires are a serious and deadly problem in the United States. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), last year more than 330,000 fires occurred in home properties, including one- or two-family homes, apartments and other multifamily housing. While home fires only accounted for 25% of all fires in the U.S., they were responsible for three-quarters of the civilian fire deaths (2,850) and 76% of injuries (11,172). In addition, these fires caused nearly $13 billion in direct property damage.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the U.S. Fire Administration, home fires are so lethal and destructive because they are fast, hot and dark. What starts as a small fire can fill a house with smoke and flame in minutes. That same smoke produces poisonous gases and is often more lethal than the fire’s heat. Room temperatures in a fire can rise to 600 degrees at eye level, resulting in injuries and deaths as the smoke makes escape difficult and rescue a challenge.

The good news is that a bit of preparedness goes a long way in preventing home fires - limiting death, injury, and damage if they do occur. Ready.gov recommends a series of preparedness activities to help prevent home fires:

Plan Ahead

Step one is to prepare for the worst. Everyone in your home should know what to do if a fire starts. Keep fire extinguishers accessible in the home. Ensure exits from each room are clear, windows can be opened, and screens can be removed. If someone in the home has a disability, ensure all doorways can accommodate their wheelchair or walker. Practice your escape plan twice per year. 

Maintain Smoke Alarms

A smoke alarm is the best early warning system if a fire has started in your home. According to the NFPA, nearly three out of five home fire deaths were caused by property fires with no smoke alarms or smoke alarms that failed to operate. Every level of a home, including the basement, should have a smoke alarm. Replace smoke alarm batteries twice a year and regularly test alarms to ensure they’re in good operating order. 

Closely Monitor Stoves and Grills

In the kitchen, don’t leave a stove on unattended. Open flames and hot electric burners present a high risk of a home fire. On the patio, keep grills at least ten feet away from siding and deck railings and out from under gutters and overhanging branches. Never grill inside a garage or other structure. 

Carefully Operate Fireplaces, Woodstoves and Space Heaters

Homes with fireplaces, woodstoves or portable space heaters can face a heightened risk of home fires. Clean fireplace and woodstove chimneys annually and use a fireplace screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening to stop flying sparks. Don’t leave the house or go to bed without extinguishing the fire first. Only buy space heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and make sure it has a thermostat control mechanism to switch off automatically if the heater falls over. Keep combustible objects at least three feet away from portable heaters and only use them in well-ventilated rooms. 

Watch the Kids

Children are fascinated by flames, so protect them and your home. It is crucial to demystify fire and educate them that fire is a serious tool and not something to play with. Keep matches and lighters out of children's reach and sight. Don’t leave children unattended by open flames like a gas stove or candles, even for a moment.

After A Fire

Even with careful preparation, accidents happen, and home fires occur. The preparation and presentation of your property insurance claim is your responsibility and is a time consuming and arduous process, especially when you’re simultaneously trying to care for your family. Using a public adjuster can make the claims process easier for a policyholder. Professional public adjusters document the home’s damage, including any hidden damages the insurance company’s adjuster may have missed, and account for the damaged and destroyed contents.

Should you or someone you know experience a fire or other loss at their home or business, the professionals at Adjusters International are here to help them receive the best possible settlement from their insurance coverage. With our team handling your insurance claim preparation, you are freed to focus on your family or business, knowing your financial settlement will be fair and just.

Despite only being classified as a Category 1 hurricane, its effects have been devastating and prove the point that, even in quiet years, it only takes one storm to bring catastrophic disaster.

When it comes to disaster-related injuries, studies have shown that most of them occur after a disaster, when people venture out of their homes or shelters to access the damage. Below are several tips from the CDC and Ready.gov to stay safe after a hurricane:

• Pay attention to local officials for information and special instructions
• Stay out of floodwater. The water can contain dangerous pathogens, debris, chemicals, waste, and wildlife. Underground or downed power lines also can electrically charge the water.
• Never use a wet electrical device
• When the power is out, use flashlights, not candles
• Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
• Be careful near damaged buildings
• Stay away from power lines and treat them as if they are “live”
• Protect yourself from animals and pests
• Be careful during clean-up. Wear protective clothing and use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris.
• Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to do so, turn off electricity at the main breaker or fuse box to prevent electric shock.
• Save phone calls for emergencies. Use text messages or social media to communicate with family and friends.
• Document any property damage with photographs. Contact your insurance company for assistance.

Additional Hurricane Resources:

English - CDC and Ready.gov  

Español - Listo.gov y Cruz Roja Americana  

The six-month project required the integration of a wide range of activities, including developing the actual United Nations claims forms, establishing field claim offices, receiving over 150,000 individual claims from Kuwaiti citizens and the preparation of consolidated claim verification reports.

… I would like to seize this opportunity to thank you and all the … staff for their commitment in terms of time and resources to ensure that the tasks were accomplished in a timely fashion. 

As an authority, we have yet a long way to go, however, I am sure with the transfer of Adjusters International’s specialized skills and knowledge to PAAC adjusting counterparts, we will overcome any hurdles.

On behalf of the PAAC Management and the other Authority staff, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the members of the Adjusters International team, who have proved by their perseverance, endurance and specialized skills, that almost nothing is impossible …  

Dr. Adel Asem
Director-General
Public Authority for Assessment of Compensation for Damages Resulting from Iraqi Aggression

Our staff handled property insurance, business interruption and extra expense claims from our regional and catastrophe offices in close proximity to the damage. Subsequently, we did this for hurricanes Marilyn, Luis and Opal in 1996; Charlie, Francis, Ivan and Jeanne in 2004; Katrina and Rita in 2005; Gustav and Ike in 2008; Irene in 2011; Isaac and Sandy in 2012; and Maria in 2017. Working with our sister company Tidal Basin, we provided FEMA grant management as well. It's a proven approach that has allowed us to be most helpful and productive for our clients.

Read the full press release below.

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Utica, NY (August 03, 2022)….Rising Phoenix Holdings Corporation (RPHC), parent company to Tidal Basin Group, announced that it has reached an agreement with Utica, NY based Capraro Technologies, Inc. (CTI), to acquire the technology firm. The transaction is subject to completion of a standard due diligence review and is expected to be finalized late in the third quarter of 2022.

“The addition of CTI to the Rising Phoenix family of companies will accelerate our technology solutions and expand the service offerings to our clients,” said Daniel A. Craig, Chief Executive Officer of Rising Phoenix Holdings Corporation. “We are excited to bring CTI’s talent and expertise into our growing portfolio of services.”

The addition of CTI aligns with RPHC’s strategic vision for its family of companies to provide current and new clients with increased technology solutions, including data management, help desk, cybersecurity, case management and project management software, and IT disaster recovery. These offerings will better serve client needs and support programs within the disaster management industry.

“Providing value through technology and knowledge has always been the mission of CTI. Since our inception, we pride ourselves on the IT support and software solutions provided to our clients," said Gerard T. Capraro, Ph.D., President and owner of Capraro Technologies, Inc. "Now we look ahead to the future as part of the Rising Phoenix organization. Our existing customers, along with Rising Phoenix’s customer base, will continue to receive the same great services. With the combination of our extensive technology solutions and RHPC’s family of companies, we will move forward providing significant opportunities to expand our offerings."

# # #

About Rising Phoenix Holdings Corporation (RPHC)

Rising Phoenix Holdings Corporation is the parent company of the nation’s leading emergency management and disaster recovery firms, Adjusters International and Tidal Basin Group. The RPHC family of companies provides public insurance adjusting and emergency and disaster management consulting services to government, private sector, non-profits, healthcare and educational systems, and transportation clients. RPHC’s range of services are rooted in a position of advocacy to help make clients resilient through deep-rooted experience in the full lifecycle of disaster management including preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery solutions. For more information, visit rphc.com, tidalbasingroup.com and adjustersinternational.com.

About Capraro Technologies, Inc.                                                                           

Founded in 1993 and based in Utica, NY, Capraro Technologies, Inc. is a technology firm that specializes in research and development (R&D) and information technology solutions. CTI’s technology solutions include managed IT solutions, cloud consulting and hosting, software development, disaster recovery, surveillance, and VoIP. CTI is deeply rooted in providing the highest customer service and best value to its clients. They take a consultative approach to every engagement to gain a clear understanding of the client’s current challenges and future goals to develop a solution that best suits the organization.

Read on Cision PR Newswire.

This issue of Adjusting Today® examines some of the most critical of these concerns, the understanding of which can be indispensable to protecting an organization’s stability and security.

Adjusters International Firms are available to assist businesses and organizations in reviewing their insurance coverages and potential exposures from a claims perspective. Free subscriptions to Adjusting Today^® are one of the many ways that we work to help policyholders and industry professionals alike. For those who have suffered a property loss, we assist in measuring, documenting, and presenting property damage and business interruption/extra expense claims to insurance carriers, helping the policyholder who has sustained damage in securing financial recovery.

To read and download "Avoiding a Double Disaster," click HERE. To request this or any of our previous issues in print format to be mailed to you free of charge, please visit AdjustingToday.com. There you can also sign up to be added to our free subscription service to receive future editions of Adjusting Today^® by mail, email, or both.

We appreciate your readership and hope you find this new issue to be insightful. As always, your comments and suggestions for topics you would like to see covered are welcome. You may contact our editor directly at Editor@AdjustingToday.com.

Shareen Jordan

When Shareen Jordan isn’t with family or overseeing the digital marketing for Tidal Basin and Adjusters International, she is giving her time to help others in her community. “We all have something to give. Some people have time, others have money, and some smile and offer a friendly “hello,’” said Jordan. “For me, I like volunteering.” For Jordan, two charitable organizations share a special place in her heart: Pets for Vets and Lasagna Love. 

Once a year, Jordan and her husband participate in a fundraiser for Pets for Vets, a nonprofit that connects military veterans with rescued animals.Every Memorial Day, participants compete in the Murph Challenge, a workout used by Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient Michael Murphy, honoring the men and women of the armed forces that lost their lives in defense of our nation’s freedom. The workout consists of a mile run, 300 air squats, 200 push-ups, 100 pull-ups, and ends with another mile run. The money raised benefits Pets for Vets local chapters.

Many brave troops return home with scars – both seen and unseen – which makes the transition back to civilian life difficult. At the same time, millions of wonderful animals wait in shelters for a forever home. Pets for Vets is the bridge that brings them together.

When Jordan isn’t training for the Murph, she’s in the kitchen making lasagna. 

Jordan loves to cook and frequently uses her kitchen talents to help people in need. Jordan is a member of Lasagna Love, a global nonprofit and grassroots movement aimed to connect neighbors with neighbors through homemade meal delivery.Every month Jordan makes lasagnas for local families in need – any kind of need. “They could be having a hard time. They could be feeling sad. They could just want a lasagna. It is a way to spread kindness,” said Jordan.

Jordan believes that volunteering comes in a variety of ways. “We are all in this world together, trying our best to make it through each day. Some days are a breeze, others a challenge. When we give what we can, when we throw it out there in the world, we make someone’s day a bit easier. In turn, our day becomes brighter, and everyone wins.

Susan Currie 

When Susan Currie learned that 60% of students in a suburban Buffalo school district live below the poverty line and over 40% receive reduced cost or free meals during weekdays, she knew she had to help. Currie and a handful of church members got together and brainstormed a solution. That was 2015. The following year, Daily Bread food truck, Buffalo's only nonprofit food truck, was hitting the pavement. 

"We began working with social workers in the district to identify families in need," said Currie. "Those families were the first to benefit from our free food deliveries."

The Daily Bread food truck provides meals to food-insecure families in the Amherst, NY area by employing a "get one, give one" philosophy. Daily Bread sells meals prepared by volunteer chefs in summer and fall and delivers meals to those in need during the colder months. When the pandemic hit in 2019, Currie and the team shifted their business model to provide 100% free meals right from the truck, thanks to donations from area restaurants and truck volunteers. 

Similar to her role at Tidal Basin and Adjustors International, Currie flexed her creative marketing muscle and assisted with the food truck's branding, website, social media, and video production. She also walked the routes for meal delivery, helped to fundraise, and once even drove the truck to an event and worked as a short-order cook!

"Being out in the community and talking to the people benefiting from our free meals really shows first-hand what a difference we make for struggling families," said Currie. "The outpouring of help from our community has been an eye-opening experience, especially during these difficult times."

Riding with Purpose

After months of training, Team Tidal Basin packed their bags, their bikes and met up in the Sunshine State for the Pan-Florida Challenge Cancer Bike Ride. This annual event raises much-needed funds for the Moffitt Cancer Center, cancer research, patient support, and food for children impacted by food insecurity.

"We have had family, friends, and coworkers battling cancer and have experienced firsthand its impact on our loved ones," said Laura DeLoach, Vice President, Resource Management. "We wanted to help our local community fight cancer, and the Pan-Florida Challenge Cancer Ride was a way for us to raise funds that provide meaningful support."

Team Tidal Basin included Laura DeLoach, Carlos Castillo, Chief Development Officer and Senior Vice President; Bill Slater, Vice President, Public Assistance and Recovery; Melissa Gordon, Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer; and Arthur Glickstein, Associate Project Manager. Collectively, they rode 386 miles for charity."Living a purposeful life is both fulfilling and rewarding when we make time to support and help others in need," said DeLoach.

Riding for a good cause isn't something new for Castillo. "I enjoy getting exercise and helping others at the same time," said Castillo. Over 12 years, he has ridden in many cycling events, raising funds for diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer research, and various nonprofit organizations. Most recently, Castillo rode side-by-side with 200 other riders to support orphans in Ukraine.

"Helping people is something I love doing," said Castillo. "Whether it is giving your time or resources, it is humanitarian to give back to others."

Daina Ocaña

For Daina Ocaña, any child diagnosed with cancer is one too many. That is why she has dedicated her time and energy to bringing support and funds to help young patients beat cancer. When the Tidal Basin Caribe case manager isn’t working with her Community Energy & Water Resilience Installation Program team in Puerto Rico, she participates in events to raise money for CAP Foundation. CAP is a local nonprofit focused on providing young Puerto Rican patients with the best treatment available in pediatric oncology.

“This charity is so special to me,” said Ocaña. “I want these children to know that they are not alone in this fight.”

Once a year, CAP hosts Uniendo Cabezas (Joining Heads), a hugely popular event that draws thousands of Puerto Rican business leaders, celebrities, elected officials, patient families, and friends to participate in an act of solidarity – to shave their hair off. And for the past four years, Ocaña has been there and looks forward to doing it again soon.

“One hundred percent of the funds raised are invested in purchasing state-of-the-art medical equipment and improving the University Pediatric Hospital facilities at Centro Médico,” explained Ocaña. The CAP Foundation also provides emotional support services to aid young patients in their treatment and recovery.

Ron Cuccaro

For Ron Cuccaro, being involved in his upstate New York community – where our company was founded – has been a lifelong passion and endeavor. For the Rising Phoenix Holdings Corporation Executive Chairman, his philanthropy work is rooted in reinventing the formerly industrial, now rust belt community into one of commerce, innovation, and opportunity. And how does he do that? By helping the underserved population. “The rising sea floats all boats,” explained Cuccaro. “Help the people, and all else will be well.” 

At a young age, Cuccaro got to experience firsthand the kindness of others and credits the local Boys Club for that. The “Boys Club kept me out of trouble,” explained Cuccaro. “They were pretty good at keeping me busy, and that impacted my life.”

Years later, at the beginning of his career, Cuccaro started his volunteer and philanthropy work and joined his local United States Junior Chamber. As a Jaycee, Cuccaro received leadership and volunteer training and was called upon when a civic organization needed help. One of his first projects was to fundraise for Arc, which serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “We sold Christmas trees in the winter and hosted its annual carnival,” recalled Cuccaro. “We raised enough funds to help Arc buy their first community home. Since then, more than 30 community homes have been built, but we purchased the first one. The home still stands today. I drive by it often, and I feel a sense of accomplishment.” Ron went on to serve as a board member and president of Arc.

While Cuccaro volunteered with the Jaycees, he got involved with the Downtown Utica Development Association and connected local businesses with nonprofits to improve the community. He met with legislators, councilmen and women, and other elected officials and coordinated its annual summer festival to raise funds for improvement projects. 

He brought about change when he saw that the local government didn’t reflect the ethnic diverse community it served, so he created a coalition comprised of a diverse group of community members, including minorities, garnered petition signatures, and made legislative changes to redistrict representation.

Cuccaro later served as a trustee at Utica College for 24 years and chair for four years. 

For the past 10 years, Cuccaro has dedicated his free time to the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and currently serves as a trustee. The Foundation supports its counties by pooling donations and creating permanently endowed funds to address current and future community needs.Some of the initiatives the Foundation support include: the COVID-19 relief fund for impacted families, funding for two new affordable all-service residential buildings equipped with childcare and senior center, a local flood recovery campaign, and The Center – a robust hub that provides resettlement, education and community resources and services to refugees, immigrants and the residents of Utica and Mohawk Valley. The Foundation has transformed decades of donor generosity into $100 million invested in social impact initiatives, collaborative leadership, grantmaking, and scholarships – an initiative of which Cuccaro is proud to be a part.

“Addressing systematic issues in my community is very rewarding,” said Cuccaro. But sometimes, his volunteer work is more personal. His granddaughter Isabel was born with a congenital heart defect. “Thanks to the swift action of the medical team, they saved her life.” Isabel, now 23 years old, was Cuccaro’s North Star when he participated in the local American Heart Association Heart Runs and served on their board for nine years.

“Volunteering is incredible,” said Cuccaro. “You always get more than you give. It’s gratifying to see the people you help accomplish wonderful things.”

Antonian joins RPHC from a research and development company that supports clients in the Intelligence and Department of Defense sectors. While there he served as Chief Information Security Officer and Information Systems Security Manager. He previously served as Chief Technology Officer of the Department of Interior’s Chief Information Technology Branch and as Chief Cyber/Information Systems Security Engineer with the Department of Labor. He has also supported various corporations through FEMA contracts with physical security intelligence as a Senior Security Analyst.

He holds a Master of Science in Systems Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Security Resource Management, and various certifications including Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO), Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), and Certified Ethical Hacker.

We’re very pleased to have him on board! 

Before joining us, Joel developed and managed a marketing team and led content and digital marketing efforts for a developer of online donation tools for non-profit organizations. Prior to that, he worked with a DC-based industry association organization leading their digital marketing programs.

With nearly a decade of professional and digital marketing experience, Joel brings a unique skill set to our company. His knowledge of developing go-to-market strategies, paid advertising and content marketing will help build our digital presence in support of our corporate growth initiatives and our projects and programs.

We’re very pleased to have Joel join the team! You can reach him at jrichardson@rphc.com.

The Adjusting Today edition on “Contingent Dependent Properties Insurance: Understanding the Basics” referenced in this new Insights for Your Industry article can be accessed HERE.

Shareen is a website and marketing technology strategist with more than 23 years of experience working in professional services industries and with marketing agencies. She comes to us from a national Am Law 200 firm where she oversaw all aspects of digital technology and online marketing as a senior strategist.

Her role with us will be to assist the team in our brand and website refreshes for both Adjusters International and Tidal Basin. Shareen will develop and execute a strategic digital marketing plan that will enable us to elevate our brand and presence across all digital channels and grow revenue through effective digital marketing campaigns. She will utilize her deep expertise with web analytics tools, website development, digital brand development, search engine marketing (SEM) and search engine optimization (SEO) campaigns, customer relationship management (CRM) platform implementation, account and project management to help build our internal capabilities, resources and digital marketing technology solutions in support of both our corporate growth initiatives and our projects and programs.

Cynthia is a nationally recognized communications professional with more than 20 years of experience. She joins us from a strategy and marketing consulting agency where she served as a communications consultant for several years. In addition to supporting clients with executing their communications strategies and creating marketing content, she has also coordinated with development teams and government affairs agencies to secure donations and research grants on behalf of her clients.

Her prior work includes roles as Senior Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs for a major healthcare and medical research organization, National Senior Officer of Hispanic Public Relations and Communications with American Red Cross, and founder of her own strategic communications and public relations agency. Over the years, she has expanded her skillsets in brand messaging, crisis communications, media relations, thought leadership, and more. She is also bilingual in English and Spanish.

Cynthia has a B.S. in communications with a concentration in broadcasting, a M.S. in management, and a digital marketing certification.

Maria started with us in 2007 as a staff accountant, shortly thereafter being promoted to the role of Financial Controller upon earning her license as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and acquiring her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Technology Management. She later earned a Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) credential. When the organization expanded in 2017, she was promoted to Director of Tax and Treasury and a Vice President of Rising Phoenix Holdings Corporation. In addition to her new position as Deputy CFO, she also continues to serve on the Board of Directors for Adjusters International, Ltd.

Maria has been involved in a wide range of financial facets of the company, from high level claims analysis to serving as a senior team member in support of the implementation the company’s expanded finance and accounting system. She was instrumental in the corporate reorganization of the company and has most recently managed the treasury and tax functions and led the company’s corporate compliance.

Maria was the recipient of a New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) 40 Under 40 award in 2020. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the NYSSCPA and is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

We’d like to thank Maria for the dedication and excellence she has contributed to our company over the years and extend our congratulations to her on this well-deserved promotion to Deputy CFO!

Joel has been with RPHC for nearly three years beginning as a database support analyst, working with our finance, IT, and HR teams during that time in support of our company’s continued growth.

Joel’s experience includes over a decade of database analysis, report development, systems management, and process optimization. Before joining RPHC, he supported various organizations as a software engineer, client services engineer, database administrator, and computer specialist. Since joining our team, he has played a critical role in identifying, analyzing, and interpreting trends and patterns in complex datasets. He has developed financial and operational reports and communicates this information regularly to business leaders in the company.

Joel works closely with all business and financial departments to prioritize business and information needs. He identifies and defines new process improvement opportunities across the company, coordinates with the financial systems software developer to incorporate new features and functionality within the software, and is integral in the rollout of these updates. He has successfully optimized the finance department’s processes by creating and implementing new procedures to move data from multiple data systems into a singular financial software system.

LMV is a ten-month program that allows participants to connect with institutions in the community to learn more about the challenges they face and the work that’s already being done to overcome those challenges. More importantly, though, the program offers the opportunity for its participants to explore ways they can take on leadership roles in their own professional realms by addressing the issues the local organizations are up against. We’re proud to announce that RPHC’s Project Finance Chief and Vice President Frank Sardelli is a graduate of the LMV program.

Frank shared, “LMV does an outstanding job of bringing local talent together to collaborate and learn from each other’s experiences, as well as provide opportunities to engage with community leaders on various initiatives in our area. For anyone who is presented the opportunity to be a part of LMV, I would highly recommend participating.”

The Community Foundation’s latest newsletter included an article about the community’s dedication to developing and supporting strong leaders. Click here to read the article.

Congratulations to Frank on his initiative and dedication to participating in the LMV program! It’s leaders like him who are helping to build a better tomorrow.

Justin has a well-rounded background in both marketing and sales. He understands very well how the two integrate and interrelate to best align marketing initiatives with sales objectives. With more than 14 years leading teams in marketing, sales, and project management for both B2B and B2C companies, he is passionate about connecting hands-on marketing efforts to bottom-line results.

Justin worked in the insurance industry for more than six years, giving him keen insight on the claims process, the role of public adjusters, and how public adjusters serve their clients’ best interests. His other previous employers include sports agencies and organizations and a major university. He has also been the recipient of multiple Emmy and Addy awards for various branding campaigns.

Justin will work remotely from the Cleveland, Ohio area and will be reporting to Heather Stickler. He will be working closely with our corporate marketing and communications team in support of our Adjusters International marketing initiatives. We are excited to provide this additional level of service to our AI firms and look forward to partnering with each of them to continue to develop and implement strategic marketing initiatives.

Daylen comes to RPHC from the Office of the City Attorney in Hialeah, Florida, where she served as Assistant City Attorney since 2014. Her areas of practice while with the City of Hialeah included contract, corporate, and municipal law and procurement. During her time there, she represented and provided legal advice to the City in all matters related to its operation with special focus in the purchasing, emergency management, planning and zoning, code compliance, and public works departments, among others. She has experience with drafting and negotiating city agreements of all kinds, including those necessary to secure needed resources for the efficient operation of the municipal government, as well as overseeing the bidding process for those resources in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Prior to her work with the City of Hialeah, Daylen was an associate attorney at a law firm servicing the residential mortgage default and foreclosure industry where she represented national lenders, servicers, and creditors in residential foreclosure cases. She also has experience as a legal extern and clerk with a major international television channel based out of Latin America.

While completing her juris doctorate at Florida International University’s College of Law, she served as a certified legal intern at the Immigrant Children’s Justice Clinic and as a student attorney at the Health, Ethics, Law, and Policy Clinic. Daylen is a member of the Florida State Bar and the City, County, and Local Government Law Section of the Florida Bar.

We’re very pleased to welcome Daylen to the team! 

To read the article in full, click here.