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MARIA FERNANDEZ-PORRATA
<br />PUBLIC RELATIONS / PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
<br />PROFILE
<br />Maria Fernandez-Porrata is a bilingual Public Information Officer with more than 33 years of experience
<br />in transportation infrastructure and over 20 years specializing in public involvement for complex roadway
<br />and transit projects in Miami-Dade County. She has served as PIO for high-profile initiatives including
<br />the Venetian Causeway PD&E Study, the City of Miami Flagler Street Reconstruction and Beautification
<br />Project, and FDOT District Six's SR 968/Flagler Premium Transit PD&E Study, leading community
<br />outreach, stakeholder coordination, and media relations. As CALTRAN's lead for Public Relations, she
<br />ensures transparent, proactive, and culturally sensitive engagement that supports each community's
<br />mobility goals and strengthens trust with its diverse residents.
<br />KEY PROJECTS
<br />Ms. Fernandez-Porrata's experience spans serving as lead Public Information Officer for high-profile
<br />transportation initiatives, developing and implementing public outreach campaigns, managing
<br />construction-phase communications, facilitating public hearings, and building strong relationships with
<br />local businesses, residents, elected officials, and government agencies including FDOT, MDX, and
<br />Miami-Dade County. Her work emphasizes clear, bilingual, and community-centered communication
<br />throughout every phase of project delivery.
<br />2016 – Present | FDOT District Six, SR 968 / Flagler Premium Transit PD&E Study, Miami-Dade
<br />County, Florida | Public Information Officer. Assists the lead Public Information Officer for this
<br />extensive project consisting of transit improvements along SR 968 / West Flagler Street in Miami-Dade
<br />County. Staffed multiple public meetings and disseminated project information to attendees. Reference:
<br />Marie-Elsie Dowell, P.E., Project Manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff, 305.514.3125.
<br />2015 – 2016 | City of Miami Flagler Street Reconstruction and Beautification Project, Miami-
<br />Dade County, Florida | On-site construction Public Information Officer. Led all public participation and
<br />developed collateral materials for multiple meetings, maintained the project database, produced weekly
<br />construction updates, and disseminated information to abutting vendors,property and business owners,
<br />residents, visitors, and government agencies. Coordinated presentations and meetings and addressed
<br />all project inquiries as part of the outreach for this $13.6 million contract. Reference: Wilfredo Suarez
<br />Mulkay, APCTE, 786.299.1583.
<br />2014 – 2015 | Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) General Engineering Contract (GEC-B)
<br />— Miscellaneous Construction Projects, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Florida | On-site
<br />Public Information Specialist and day-to-day contact for the community and client partners. Developed
<br />and implemented public information strategies for major infrastructure, transportation, and construction
<br />projects, coordinating public involvement across three construction teams and agencies including
<br />FDOT, MDX, and Miami-Dade County. Reference: Jose Gonzalez, MDX CES, 305.219.3324.
<br />2014 – 2015 | Miami-Dade County Venetian Causeway PD&E Study, South Bayshore Drive to
<br />Purdy Avenue, Miami-Dade County, Florida | Public Information Officer of Record. Developed and
<br />implemented all public involvement efforts, managed communication and dissemination of project
<br />information, responded to stakeholders and elected officials, and addressed media inquiries. Oversaw
<br />public information for the bridge reconstruction and coordinated the June 2015 Public Hearing and
<br />Intergovernmental meeting. Reference: Dat Huynh, FDOT District Project Development Engineer,
<br />305.470.5217.
<br />2004 –2014 | Multiple Contracts — Public Relations Manager, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties,
<br />Florida | Public Relations Manager for a local engineering firm, responsible for interdepartmental,
<br />agency, and client relationships, project development, transportation planning, and public involvement.
<br />Notable assignments included the award-winning Old Cutler Roadway Improvements from SW 97 Ave
<br />to SW 87 Ave (2011–2014; APWA Regional/State and C-AACE awards) and the Miami-Dade Parks
<br />(MDPROS) Biscayne Trail Segments C and D PD&E Study (2008–2010). References: Alfredo Quintero,
<br />Public Works Director, 305.234.4262; Adelfa Martinez, Project Manager, 305.755.7815.
<br />EDUCATION
<br />BS Civil Engineering,
<br />Florida International
<br />University, 1984
<br />Negotiations & Consensus
<br />Building
<br />MIT–Harvard Public
<br />Disputes Program,
<br />Cambridge, MA, 1998
<br />YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
<br />Total 33 years
<br />2020 - Present - CALTRAN
<br />CERTIFICATIONS
<br />ƒMIT–Harvard Public
<br />Disputes Program
<br />ƒMutual Gains Approach to
<br />Resolving Disputes
<br />ƒDealing with an Angry
<br />Public
<br />PROFICIENCIES
<br />ƒPublic Involvement
<br />ƒPublic Information (PIO)
<br />ƒCommunity Outreach
<br />ƒStakeholder Coordination
<br />ƒMedia Relations
<br />ƒPublic Hearings
<br />ƒConstruction
<br />Communications
<br />ƒBilingual (English/Spanish)
<br />ƒCrisis Communications
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