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Dina Simon

CEO, USVI Hurricane Recovery & Resilience Task Force by the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands

Dina Simon was appointed CEO of the U.S. Virgin Islands Hurricane Recovery & Resilience Task Force by the Governor of the U.S. territory in November 2017, responsible for leading the initiative to produce a comprehensive report on the impact and recommendations for effective USVI recovery and resilience after two category five hurricanes, Irma and Maria, struck the islands.
Prior to the 2017 hurricanes, Ms. Simon served as Senior Advisor to USVI Governor Kenneth E. Mapp, providing strategic counsel, helping to lead special projects in philanthropy and strategic public-private partnerships and serving as the Governor’s liaison between cabinet members, special interest groups, elected officials and stakeholders.
With 20 years of experience in the public sector, Ms. Simon is a nationally recognized human-resources expert. Before working for the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ms. Simon served as the First Deputy Commissioner of the $1.3 billion NYC Department of Correction. The first woman to occupy her position, Ms. Simon was on the front lines of transforming the Department of Correction, which is undergoing comprehensive reforms after years of neglect.

Ms. Simon was instrumental in transforming the NYC law enforcement agency by changing the organizational culture to emphasize safety, improving civilian and uniform leadership diversity, fielding a recruitment unit, pursuing unprecedented community outreach, and rebranding employment in Department of Correction as not just a job but a meaningful career.

Born in Haiti, Ms. Simon immigrated to the United States at the age of nine with her family and grew up in Brooklyn and Long Island, New York. With Haiti in her heart, Ms. Simon founded the My Haiti Travels agency shortly after the devastating earthquake of January 2010 to support the resurgence of tourism and investment in Haiti, and to promote the patronage of local businesses, hotel and resort establishments and restaurants.
Today, My Haiti Travels produces high-quality travel experiences with a social impact for individuals seeking to explore Haiti for leisure and business purposes, including its annual signature expedition: “Impact Week” www.myhaititravels.com . My Haiti Travels also promotes a positive image of Haiti through multi-media travel stories encouraging people to “see Haiti through our eyes”.

Ms. Simon holds a Master of Public Administration from C.W. Post College of Long Island University, and a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York College at Brockport. She earned her Professional in Human Resources certification from the Society of Human Resource Management and holds professional certifications from Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Ms. Simon is a board member of the Haitian Roundtable and currently serves as co-chair of the membership committee.

She resides in St. Thomas with her husband and daughter.