Precision in making decisions

When only 10 years old, Mayra De Torres told her dad she wanted to follow in his footsteps. He was a land surveyor in the Dominican Republic. She admired him and how everyone followed his precise directions. 

Years later, De Torres is still driven by precision and details. She pays careful attention to all the ins and outs of the documents she reviews to protect the health and safety of our residents. As an Engineer II with the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources in the Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), recently received a commendation from a local builder for her efforts.

“Ms. De Torres’ technical expertise and professionalism were instrumental in ensuring a smooth and efficient review process. Her knowledge and communication skills led to an expedited review because we were able to meet all the necessary requirements,” Gonzalez said. “It is great to know that DERM is playing a role in addressing the affordable housing crisis by providing permit review services such as we encountered.”

De Torres is passionate about her work with the professional team at DERM. She praises the commitment of everyone there working to serve residents and provide support to those who go through the review and approval process.

“I have already been with the County for more than 20 years,” she says. “I feel we owe it to our community to give back and always give our best. Everyone I encounter can expect the same quality and commitment. I feel a sense of purpose and want to always strive to make things better. That’s what I guess I saw my dad do and why I wanted to follow his example."

“I also feel a commitment to make the environment better and preserve it for future generations. I owe that to my two daughters as well,” she explained. “My work here allows me to contribute on this frontier.”

When not at work, De Torres applies her skills to helping others in the community. She shared her success securing musical instruments for her daughter’s elementary school. 

“We started with 10 instruments on loan and were able to purchase 120 instruments with our fundraising. Even donated 25 instruments to the school who helped us get started,” she said. “The orchestra program grew and so many kids became involved in the programs developed. We were all so proud.”

De Torres is also a Goodwill Ambassador with the County and helps her church. Most notably, she is involved with her residential community. She advocates for bringing residents together and keeping costs down by being proactive and volunteering her time. She has a busy life, filled with purpose and dedication to others. That’s how she thrives.