Experts to guide local businesses through an increasingly challenging hurricane season

Puerto Rico Minority Supplier Development Council President & CEO Francisco Cabrera (prmsdc.org)

By THE STAR STAFF

With hurricane seasons growing more intense and costly for Puerto Rico’s business community, the Puerto Rico Minority Supplier Development Council (PRMSDC) will convene a group of specialists in architecture, maintenance and logistics to help companies strengthen their facilities and safeguard operations ahead of major storms.

The educational forum, scheduled for Aug. 18 at the PRMSDC offices in VIG Tower in Santurce, aims to equip business owners with practical tools to protect their properties, maintain continuity and accelerate recovery after a hurricane.

The event, titled “Comprehensive Preparation for Hurricane Season: Property Protection, Operational Continuity and Efficient Recovery,” will feature presentations grounded in real-world experience and best practices. Marinette Pedraza, general manager of Action Cargo Transport LLC, will address how companies can secure critical inventory, manage supply chains and maintain essential logistics during an emergency. Rafael Díaz, president of RF Maintenance Services, will outline preventive maintenance strategies and compliance measures that reduce the likelihood of structural damage.

Architect Luis V. Badillo-Lozano, a partner at Méndez Badillo + Ferrer, emphasized that resilience begins long before a storm is announced. He noted that a building’s ability to withstand extreme weather depends not only on its original design but on ongoing upkeep, reinforcement and strategic planning. His session will focus on resilient design, infrastructure protection and methods to reduce vulnerability over time.

PRMSDC President & CEO Francisco Cabrera underscored the importance of specialized guidance for the private sector. He said preparing for an atmospheric event requires a level of planning that goes far beyond basic emergency readiness, and that educational initiatives tailored to business needs strengthen response capacity and protect both operations and employees.

The program will also include a discussion panel examining common mistakes companies make, the preventive investments that yield the greatest return, and how architecture, maintenance and logistics can be integrated into a unified continuity plan. The forum is part of the PRMSDC’s MBE2MBE Coaching Ourselves initiative, which promotes knowledge-sharing among business leaders to enhance competitiveness across the island.