Ms. Montero is the Director of the Public Assistance Division, Recovery Directorate, at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She has served in this role since December 2020 and is responsible for overseeing operations of FEMA’s Public Assistance infrastructure restoration grant program as well as the Community Disaster Loan and Fire Management Assistance Grant Program.
Ms. Montero most recently served as the Chief Recovery Executive Officer for the American Red Cross in Puerto Rico, where she was responsible for the design, development, and oversight of the American Red Cross' Hurricane Maria Long Term Recovery Program. Under her leadership, this program administered more than $65 million in community recovery investments and resiliency solutions ranging from solar micro-grid installation for community water systems and schools that serve as shelters, to the widespread delivery of disaster preparedness training and health and mental health services in schools and surrounding communities. Ms. Montero was also appointed to the New Jersey Governor's COVID-19 Recovery Advisory Task Force in 2020.
Prior to this, Ms. Montero served as the Chief Executive Officer to the American Red Cross, New Jersey, overseeing statewide organizational change, fundraising, grant strategies, communications and volunteer recruitment, as well as the Chief Operating Officer for the American Red Cross, Los Angeles, California, where she led service delivery for a population of more than 4 million residents.
Ms. Montero has a long and rich history of service with the State of New Jersey, having served in a variety of senior executive roles. As the Assistant Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, she lead housing programs in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. She served in leadership roles at the Department of Labor and Workforce Development as well, including: Senior Executive Director, Workforce Grants Division; Executive Director, Office of Grants Operations; and Senior Executive Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity. While serving in these positions, she has managed fiscal and program oversight for more than $500 million in annual affordable housing and community development programs, as well as awarded and managed more than $200 million in workforce training grants across public, private, and community-based organizations. Ms. Montero was also appointed to lead the New Jersey Disaster Housing Task Force of federal, state, non-profit, and private sector partners in the development and execution of a comprehensive temporary and permanent housing strategy for residents displaced by Hurricane Sandy.
Ms. Montero holds a Juris Doctorate from the Rutgers University School of Law and a Bachelor's degree in Law and Justice from The College of New Jersey. She was also recently honored as the 2018 Humanitarian of the Year by the New Jersey Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.