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Stessy Cocerez Headshot 2024.jpg

Stessy ​Cocerez is the Director of Palm Beach County's Built Environment Risk Reduction (BERR) Division, where she leads the County's resilience planning, risk reduction, and grant management efforts. In this role, Stessy oversees the development and implementation of strategies that protect the community, its property, and its infrastructure from a range of hazards, while advancing the County's broader resilience goals. Stessy brings a strong background in strategic planning, data analysis, program evaluation, and grant management to her role. Prior to being appointed Director, she served as Interim Director and as a Resilience and Sustainability Analyst for BERR, where she contributed to the development of resilient and sustainable solutions for the community. Stessy holds a B.S. in Geography, with a concentration in Environmental Studies, from Florida State University, and an M.S. in Geographic Information Systems from Johns Hopkins University. Originally from New Jersey, Stessy has called Palm Beach County home since childhood. That lifelong connection to the community continues to shape her commitment to its resilience today.

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Megan Houston - Resilience Director.jpegMegan Houston is committed to implementing resilient policies, programs, and practices in Palm Beach County (PBC). As the Chief Resilience Officer, Megan oversees the County's climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and sustainable development strategies. She has a broad background in energy efficiency, environmental law, and community development.

​Prior to her role with the County, Megan was a Program Manager for the non-profit Institute for Market Transformation in Washington, DC, where she developed the organization's multifamily buildings program to remove market barriers to energy efficiency. Megan holds a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, a M.S. degree in Urban Environmental Systems Management from Pratt Institute, and a Bachelor of Design degree from the University of Florida. Megan is a South Florida native, having been born and raised in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.​

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Valentina Alvarez Headshot 2025 Valentina Alvarez is the Resilience Program Supervisor for the Palm Beach County Built Environment Risk Reduction (BERR) Division, where she helps secure and manage funding for climate resilience and sustainability initiatives across Palm Beach County. Raised in South Florida, Valentina is passionate about using science, collaboration, and community partnerships to protect the region’s unique ecosystems and enhance its long-term resilience. Valentina’s career spans government, research, and nonprofit work, grounded in her commitment to conservation and sustainability. Her projects have focused on wildlife conservation, invasive species management, and community-based resilience. Valentina holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida, and an A.A. in Environmental Studies from Florida Gulf Coast University.

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Javian Green Headshot 2024.jpg Javian Greene is a Resilience and Sustainability Analyst for the Palm Beach County Built Environment Risk Reduction (BERR) Division with a background in grant management, finance, and accounting, as well as coursework in and a passion for sustainability. He utilizes his background in finance and sustainability to build community resilience to climate impacts by managing resiliency grants, overseeing clean energy finance programs, and assisting with resilience and sustainability projects. Javian holds a B.S. in Business Administration–Management with a minor in Sustainability from the Florida Institute of Technology and an M.S. in Sustainability from Everglades University. He earned his credential as a LEED Green Associate from The U.S. Green Building Council. Prior to his role with the County, Javian was the Director of Finance for the YWCA of Palm Beach County. He has a passion and commitment to helping others and building strong and resilient communities through social, environmental, and economic action.​