Brizaga

We’re proud to welcome Sharai Lewis-Gruss to Brizaga as our new Director of Community Resilience.

Sharai brings nearly two decades of experience advancing climate adaptation, flood resilience, GIS, and community-centered planning. As the Managing Partner of Two Degrees Adapt, she helped communities turn complex climate challenges into actionable, science-based solutions grounded in real-world needs.

Her leadership strengthens our ability to deliver work that is not only technically rigorous, but deeply responsive to the people and places we serve.

Please join us in welcoming Sharai to the team, we’re excited for what’s ahead. 🌎

Miami Beach is doing something no other city in the country has done by putting grant funding directly in the hands of homeowners to make their own properties more resilient.

The Private Property Adaptation Program offers eligible residents up to $20,000 to undertake flood mitigation and climate adaptation improvements. On January 20th, Phase 2 of the 2025 cycle officially kicked off, moving enrolled homeowners from planning into design and construction. Seeing that transition happen at scale, property by property, is what resilience implementation actually looks like.

The 2026 application cycle is now open. If you're a Miami Beach resident, or know one, this is worth exploring: https://miamibeach.submittable.com/submit/347715/2026-private-property-adaptation-program-grant-application

We're proud to support the City in making this program work. It's the kind of partnership that makes the work meaningful.

Brizaga was proud to attend the 18th Annual State of the County Forum hosted by Broward Workshop this morning at the Broward County Convention Center.

The forum brought together hundreds of business leaders, elected officials, and community stakeholders to hear updates on Broward County’s economic outlook, regional priorities, and emerging innovations shaping the future of our community.

Highlights included the State of the County address by Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen, economic insights from Mark Wilson of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and a keynote from Rocko Carafano of Amazon Robotics on “Beyond the Hype – AI and Robotics Applications Driving Business Success.”

As Broward County continues to grow and evolve, conversations around innovation, infrastructure, resilience, and smart planning are more important than ever. At Brizaga, we’re proud to be part of the broader effort helping communities across South Florida plan for a more resilient, sustainable, and forward-thinking future.

Thank you to Broward Workshop for convening leaders from across the region for such an impactful discussion.

Brizaga is proud to sponsor Water Matters Day 2026, Broward County’s annual celebration of water conservation, environmental stewardship, and community resilience, and we look forward to seeing our community there. Yesterday, Brizaga’s Erica Echeverri was on hand as the Broward County Board of County Commissioners officially proclaimed March 3 as Water Matters Day, marking the kickoff of this important annual event dedicated to protecting our water resources and strengthening environmental stewardship across the county. 🌿💧

With more than 55 exhibitors and interactive experiences throughout the day, the event includes:
• Free tree giveaway for Broward residents
• Mini BioBlitz and environmental demonstrations
• Compost distribution and sustainability resources
• Emerald Awards and Student Contest recognitions
• Educational booths focused on conservation and smart irrigation

📅 Saturday, March 14, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Tree Tops Park, Davie

Join us on March 14 as we celebrate solutions that protect our water and strengthen our future. For more info: https://www.broward.org/NaturalResources/WaterConservation/Pages/WaterMattersDay.aspx %20of%20Events

We’re excited to share that Two Degrees Adapt and Brizaga have joined forces under the Brizaga name. 🤝

Together, we bring expanded expertise in climate adaptation, flood risk, resilience planning, engineering, and implementation, combining science-based analysis with practical, community-centered solutions. 🌎💧

This next chapter strengthens our multidisciplinary capabilities and expands our presence in the New York and New Jersey region, as well as Minnesota. 📍

As Alec Bogdanoff, CEO of Brizaga, remarked, “We share a commitment to rigorous analysis, thoughtful engagement, and solutions that can actually be implemented.”

We’re also proud to welcome Sharai Lewis-Gruss as Director of Community Resilience and Brian Smoliak, Ph.D., CCM, as Senior Scientist, further strengthening our leadership in climate science and applied implementation 👏

Our clients will continue working with the trusted teams they know, now backed by even greater capacity.

Stronger together — and ready for more Resilience Done Right.

OFFICIAL RELEASE - https://brizaga.com/press-release-2-degrees-adapt-brizaga

🎁 LAST MINUTE GIFTS: THINK LOCAL & SUSTAINABLE GIFTS! 💚
If you’re still shopping, choosing sustainable gifts is an easy way to support local businesses and reduce waste. These ideas feel thoughtful and are simple to personalize for anyone on your list.

Gift Ideas
• Experience gifts like kayaking, nature tours or cultural passes
• Upcycled or handmade items from South Florida artisans
• Native plant kits or pollinator-friendly herbs
• Locally made candles, soaps, teas or small-batch foods
• Solar powered gadgets and chargers
• Reusable water bottles, tumblers or kitchen swaps
• Beeswax wraps, reusable bags or plastic-free home items
• Digital gifts like e-books or online courses
• Donations to environmental or community organizations

Small choices like these help reduce waste and support people and makers who care about the environment. It’s a meaningful way to give during the holidays.

🎁Where to Find Sustainable Gifts 🎁

• Florida State Parks – annual passes and gift certificates
https://reserve.floridastateparks.org/web/Giftcards/Giftcard.aspx

• Goal Zero – solar powered gadgets and outdoor gear
https://www.goalzero.com/

• Etsy Local – handmade Florida artisan items
https://www.etsy.com/market/florida_handmade

• EarthHero – eco-friendly home and lifestyle gifts
https://earthhero.com/

• Fair Trade Winds – curated eco-friendly and fair-trade gifts
https://www.fairtradewinds.net/gift-ideas/gifts-that-save-the-planet/

📍 Climate leaders, innovators, and change-makers, come say hello! 🌱

Brizaga is proud to be a sponsor at the 17th SE Florida Climate Leadership Summit in West Palm Beach. We’re excited to showcase our Project Watch software and Flood Protection Design Lab, sharing tools and ideas that help communities plan, adapt, and build with resilience in mind.

Swing by and connect with our team—we’re located just outside the main hall entrance.

Today, we recognize the courage, sacrifice, and service of the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform. Your dedication inspires us to build stronger, more resilient communities every day.

Thank you for your service.

Wishing everyone a safe and spooktacular Halloween! 👻

From all of us at ,
Remember, even 👻 prefer dry basements!
💧👻 🎃

Brizaga