Mr. Lazarro Gutierrez is a seasoned disaster recovery and mitigation professional with over 20 years of experience managing complex federally funded programs. As a Senior Program Manager at the National Emergency Planning and Training Association (NEPTA), he brings deep expertise in the administration and execution of CDBG-DR/MIT, FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), and FEMA Public Assistance (PA) programs. Throughout his career, Mr. Gutierrez has successfully led multidisciplinary teams in delivering large-scale recovery and resilience initiatives for state, local, and non-profit clients. His experience spans the full lifecycle of grant management, including project formulation, eligibility analysis, cost estimating, compliance with 2 CFR 200, environmental and historic preservation coordination, and closeout. Mr. Gutierrez is recognized for his ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks while ensuring projects remain compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with federal and state requirements. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing mitigation strategies that protect life and property, strengthen infrastructure, and enhance long-term community resilience. At NEPTA, he plays a critical role in guiding clients through the intricacies of disaster recovery funding, providing strategic oversight, technical expertise, and programmatic leadership that consistently results in successful project delivery and maximized funding outcomes.