Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)® Appoints Tami Torres Senior Vice President of Outreach and Communications

News provided by

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)

Apr 04, 2013, 09:00 ET

TALLHASSEE, Fla., April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) today announced that Tami Torres is joining the organization as Senior Vice President of Outreach and Communications, effective May 5.

"We are thrilled to announce this appointment," said FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson. "Tami will bring fresh leadership and creativity to FLASH's programs and initiatives as well as a deep, long-standing commitment to promoting stronger, safer and more disaster-resilient communities. She has served in both the public and private sectors at executive levels, and brings a breadth of perspective and experience that will help advance the disaster safety movement."

Tami's professional experience includes more than 20 years of responsibility and broad experience in advocacy, communications, outreach, and program management. She began her career in communications, marketing and legislative advocacy for two high profile trade associations before moving to the Florida Senate where she handled media relations and communications, and assisted in policy development.

In 2001, Tami was recruited to the executive branch of government to manage media relations and communications for Florida's Insurance Commissioner and subsequently the Chief Financial Officer. In 2007, she was tapped to serve as Executive Director of the My Safe Florida Home program, a $250 million disaster safety initiative that helped nearly 40,000 Floridians strengthen their homes against hurricane damage. During this time, she also served as Executive Director of the legislatively created Windstorm Mitigation Study Committee and was an appointee to the Residential Construction Mitigation Advisory panel and Home Hurricane Rating System Coalition.

Following the conclusion of the My Safe Florida Home program, Tami was appointed Director of the Division of Consumer Services where she led a team of 125 professionals who assist more than 300,000 insurance consumers annually. In this role, she also spearheaded outreach and education initiatives. Most recently, Tami served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer, overseeing internal and external communications, consumer assistance and outreach, personnel management, and policy and program initiatives.

"I am honored and excited to work with an organization that has an excellent reputation, outstanding track record and unwavering commitment to strengthening homes and safeguarding families and their economic well-being," said Torres. "I look forward to dedicating my time and talents to advance the FLASH mission of promoting disaster resilient communities through award-winning partnerships, inspiring public awareness initiatives and professional education programs."

About FLASH
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)®, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. FLASH collaborates with more than 100 innovative and diverse partners that share its vision of making America a more disaster‐resistant nation including: BASF, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot®, International Code Council, Kohler® Generators, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, RenaissanceRe, Simpson Strong-Tie®, State Farm™, USAA® and WeatherPredict Consulting Inc. In 2008, FLASH opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes® in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and gain access to its free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org or calling (877) 221- SAFE (7233). Also, get timely safety tips to ensure that you and your family are always well protected from natural and manmade disasters by subscribing to the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH.

SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)