Ms. de Jesús Suárez currently works as the Director of Fiscal Recovery Programs of the Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (AAFAF, for its Spanish acronym) where she has effectively led and transformed the overall direction and planning of the Fiscal Recovery Division for programs implemented with federal relief available as part of the COVID-19 emergency response: ($2.2B) from the U.S Treasury Department as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Public Law 116-136 (“CARES Act”) stimulus package to assist with emergency expenses, mitigate the effects of the global pandemic and the subsequent economic downturn; and under the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (“CSFRF”), the Government of Puerto Rico received an allocation of ($2.47B) for eligible uses.
AAFAF continues to work diligently to support Puerto Rico’s path to economic recovery in response to the global emergency and economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States Federal Government and the Government of Puerto Rico have established several stimulus programs to aid individuals, families, and businesses during the pandemic. The American Rescue Plan (ARPA 2021) is providing fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families, small businesses, and industries. The American Rescue Plan continues many of the programs started by the CARES Act (2020) and Consolidated Appropriations Act (2021) by adding new phases, new allocations, and new guidance to address issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2018, she commenced her journey in the public sector by joining the Puerto Rico Housing Department with the Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. She started as Compliance Manager on December 2018 and became Interim Deputy Director on August 2021. She led the overall direction and planning of the Procurement Division for programs implemented with CDBG-DR funds ($20B), associated to disaster recovery for hurricanes Irma and María, in areas including housing, infrastructure, planning, multi sector and economic development. She managed and coordinated procurement processes, some valued over $50M, for supplies, information technology equipment, geographical information system (GIS), program management services, construction, engineering, and other professional or technical services, ensuring full and open competition and compliance with strict guidelines and requirements. Ms. de Jesús Suárez prepared and reviewed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to standardize procurement processes and provided instructions for the preparation of the scope of work or services, evaluation criteria and independent cost estimates, including how and when to perform a price analysis or cost analysis.
In October 2015 she worked as Compliance Officer in FirstBank Corp., where she revised, monitored and supported business units with regulatory issues, legal compliance, federal and state laws.
As an Associate Attorney for the Corporate Department Real Estate in Ferraiuoli LLC, Ms. de Jesús-Suárez worked in multiple corporate related matters such as transactional due diligence projects, licensing, corporate authorization, and governance matters. This experience has enabled her to handle a varied array of issues in the corporate practice area.
Prior to joining Ferraiuoli, Ms. de Jesús-Suárez worked at Schuster Usera & Aguiló, LLP as a Law Clerk and as a Summer Clerk with Hon. Judge Daniel R. Dominguez in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
Ms. de Jesús Suárez is an experienced attorney in corporate matters such as regulatory compliance, disaster recovery, real estate, transactional due diligence, licensing, and governance. Pragmatic and decisive, effectively communicating and delegating to team members, as needed. Bringing a varied and well-balanced skill set in the corporate and compliance practice areas.
Ms. de Jesús-Suárez is also fluent in English and Italian.
Education
Inter American University School of Law, J.D., 2008
College of the Holy Cross, B.A. Political Science and Italian, 2004
Bar Admissions
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico