County Administration Announces Key Appointments

County Administrator Bertha Henry announced the appointment of Gretchen Harkins and Alphonso Jefferson, Jr. as assistants to the county administrator.

Harkins comes to County Administration from the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Professional Standards, where she served as director since October 2009. Previously, she was the director of Grants and Governmental Relations at Barry University, where she was also part of the adjunct faculty with the sociology and criminology departments. Harkins attended Wake Forest University, but earned her bachelor of arts in English literature and juris doctorate from Florida State University.

Jefferson comes to Broward County from Brevard County, where he was the director of the Budget Office since 2010. Other prior positions include Support Services administrator and director of Financial Services with the Orange County Clerk of Courts, administrator of the Orange County Public Works Department and Capital Improvements coordinator with Orange County Office of Management and Budget. Jefferson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and master’s from the University of Phoenix. Both degrees were in business administration. He is also a Navy Reserves veteran.

County Administration also announced the promotion of Eddie Labrador to director of the Office of Intergovernmental and Professional Standards. Labrador has been with Broward County for 17 years and his most recent position was legislative counsel for Intergovernmental Affairs and Professional Standards, representing the County’s interests before federal and state legislative and executive branches of government. He has also served as the director of the Civil Rights Division and as an assistant county attorney. Labrador received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Florida International University and his juris doctor degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.

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Traffic Engineering Welcomes New Director

Scott Brunner has been named director of the Traffic Engineering Division. Brunner became part of the Traffic Engineering team in 2007 as a signal operations engineer and was promoted to assistant director in 2010. He is one of the key players in the implementation of the County’s Green Lights Program, a high-priority initiative to reduce vehicle delays, reduce greenhouse emissions and improve system efficiency through optimized signal timing on major roadway corridors. Prior to joining Broward County, Brunner held a variety of transportation planning positions. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from Vanderbilt University in 1987.

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Powell Named Water Resources Manager

Natural Resource Planning and Management recently welcomed Barbara Powell to its staff as a water resources manager. Powell comes to the Division with more than 16 years of water resource experience in the areas of water quality, water supply planning, policy and regulations and environmental protection. Her career includes positions with the South Florida Water Management District, the Everglades Regulatory Department and the Seminole Tribe.

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Vialpando Named Assistant Director of Permitting, Licensing and Consumer Protection

Leonard “Lenny” Vialpando has been named the new assistant director for the Permitting, Licensing and Consumer Protection Division. Vialpando is a registered professional engineer with 15 years of experience in permitting and licensing. Most recently, he was the manager of the Environmental Engineering and Licensing Section, where he supervised the issuance, compliance and enforcement for more than 1,500 surface water, domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater, wetland and tree removal licenses/permits annually.

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Cummings Joins Planning and Redevelopment

New to Environmental Protection and Growth Management is Albert Cummings, who will serve as an administrative assistant with the Planning and Redevelopment Division. Cummings comes to Planning and Redevelopment by way of the Parks and Recreation Division. Prior to moving to South Florida six years ago, Cummings enjoyed a 20-year career with the U.S. Postal Service in New York, where he moved up the ranks from carrier, to office clerk, to executive assistant and finally to office administrator.

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Pine Chosen for the Wellfield Protection Program

Pollution Prevention, Remediation and Air Quality Division Director Jeff Halsey recently named Cary Pine, Natural Resource Specialist II, as the new field inspector for the Wellfield Protection Program, which protects the public drinking water supply from potential threats from regulated substances such as hazardous materials. For the past 10 years, Pine has been performing field inspections in Broward County for the Pollution Prevention Program. His focus with the Wellfield Protection Program will be on performing hazardous material facility inspections in the protected areas of the public wellfields.

Port Honors Medina with Compass Award

Port Everglades selected Regina “Regi” Medina, administrative coordinator in the Port Director’s Office, as the recipient of the Compass Award. Medina began her Port career more than 31 years ago with the then Port Everglades Authority, starting as the executive assistant to the Foreign Trade Zone director. After 10 years, she transferred to the Port Director’s office, holding several administrative support positions.

Medina is being recognized for her outstanding leadership ability and dedication. She has chaired the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day Committee and has been a member of the Port’s Employee Recognition Committee since its inception. She is an integral part of the Port Everglades United Way Committee, chairing the very popular and successful Latin Lunch event, which was her brainchild. Medina was a key player in other United Way events including the annual Dunk Tank and BBQ and garage sale. Thanks in great part to Medina’s efforts, Port Everglades raised nearly $16,000 for the 2011 United Way Campaign.

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Kontax Receives Award for Outstanding Emergency Planning Service

Nick Kontax, natural resources specialist with Pollution Prevention, Remediation and Air Quality, was recently honored with the Thomas Yatabe Award for his contribution over the years to the Local Emergency Planning Committee in the areas of hazardous materials planning and response. The Thomas Yatabe Award recognizes an individual, agency and/or organization for outstanding performance in the implementation and support of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. He received his award at this year’s annual State Emergency Response Commission meeting.

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Henry Achieves National Certification

Gerald Henry, Permitting, Licensing and Consumer Protection Division, recently earned national accreditation as a Certified Zoning Inspector from the American Association of Code Enforcement and the International Code Council. To earn this professional credential, Henry had to pass a rigorous certification examination testing his knowledge of codes, standards and practices necessary for professional competence.

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Becht Receives Prestigious Arts Award

Cultural Division Director Mary Becht was recognized for her outstanding service to the arts community at the annual Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s theater and arts honors. Becht was the recipient of the Howard Kleinberg Award, a special recognition for contributions to the health and development of the arts in South Florida. Serving in her role as director since 1984, Becht has grown the Cultural Division into a nationally-recognized local arts agency that serves as a model for the 5,000-plus local arts agencies throughout the United States. The Howard Kleinberg Award is named in honor of the long-time editor of The Miami News, and author of books on the cultural history of South Florida.