FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brenda Defoe-Surprenant will bring fresh knowledge and experience to the ECFRPC’s focus on planning, resilience, and sustainability across the region.
Orlando, Florida (June 5, 2022) - The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC) is proud to announce Brenda Defoe-Surprenant as the Director of Planning. In her new position, Defoe-Surprenant will help ensure uniformity across the diverse work ECFRPC staff does across its eight-county region.
Prior to joining the ECFRPC, Defoe-Surprenant was Cape Canaveral’s Senior planner where she served as project manager in conjunction with Kimley-Horn in developing the Presidential Streets Master Plan, a framework for complete street designs for Cape Canaveral’s largest network of public roadways. A Florida resident for most of her life, Defoe-Surprenant has dedicated her work to ensuring the Sunshine State is a leader in sustainable development patterns.
She has worked with partners such as the ECFRPC, the SCTPO, and FDEP. She has spent the past four years working on several coastal sustainability and resilience-based projects in Brevard County—and is well-versed in sea level rise vulnerability assessments and the impacts on infrastructure. She has served as a local partner for the East Central Florida Regional Resilience Collaborative (ECFR2C) since 2019. She also has experience in graphic design, having done work for some of the region’s largest employers.
“I’m honored to welcome Brenda Defoe-Surprenant to the team at the ECFRPC,” explained ECFRPC Executive Director Tara McCue. “I know her experience and knowledge within the region will ensure the research and assistance we offer our eight-county region remains among the best in the industry. Her dedication to the ECFR2C and her graphic design knowledge is just what we need as we usher in this new chapter at the ECFRPC.”
Brenda Defoe-Surprenant holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and design from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in urban planning with a specialization in sustainability from the University of Florida. She is also currently pursuing a master’s in legal studies specializing in environmental law with Arizona State University.
About the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Established in 1962 as an area-wide association of governments, the ECFRPC is represented by 32 Council members and a skilled staff that provides technical assistance to governments and organizations within the East Central Florida region. The ECFRPC covers eight counties in East Central Florida, including Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia. These eight counties include 78 towns and cities.
Media Contact
Ken Storey
Communications Specialist
KStorey@ECFRPC.org
407-245-0300 ext. 300
ECFRPC.org