Breakwater’s leadership works collectively with you to guide forward movement.
Albert Morten III, Chief Executive Officer
Albert Morten III has over 30 years of experience in financial analysis and structure, business development, and organizational assessments. Mr. Morten has served as a key business consultant, developer, and project manager to high-profile corporations, government-funded entities, and educational institutions across the country.
International Recognition
Internationally, Mr. Morten has represented and served as a key adviser to several California companies in trade missions and economic development projects in West Africa and Eastern Europe through the U.S. Department of Commerce and private foundations. Mr. Morten has founded and owned several successful corporations over the last 20 years.
Project Management Expertise
Mr. Morten is very accomplished in providing special attention to complex projects, championing creative yet prudent strategies for the development of new businesses, and restructuring existing organizations. Mr. Morten’s subject matter expertise lies in guiding projects through concept, feasibility, planning, and financing. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara and advanced studies in organizational development.
Lucia I. Palacios, Chief Operating Officer/Principal
Ms. Palacios provides subject matter expertise in early childhood education, organizational management, monitoring and compliance, and government relations. Ms. Palacios is recognized as a strategic thinker, trainer, and advocate of strong communication channels among staff, clients, and Boards of Directors. She is a champion for children and lives by the philosophy that “social change can only be made by believing in the power of children and families to positively shape their own destinies.”
Career Bio
Prior to joining Breakwater, Ms. Palacios served as the Vice President of Head Start Programs for Danya International, Inc., which is charged with overseeing the monitoring contract for the Office of Head Start. Ms. Palacios worked closely with the Office of Head Start to design the monitoring protocols of 2011 and 2012; led the Early Head Start American Reinvestment and Recovery Act monitoring system for all Early Head Start ARRA-funded grantees; implemented a system for unannounced monitoring and oversaw the training design of all consultant reviewers, federal staff and non-federal team leaders on monitoring.
Prior to joining Danya, she was the Executive Director of Orange County Head Start, Inc., a large non-profit organization that serves over 4,000 children annually.
Academic Background & Credits
Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California at Santa Barbara and a Master of Social Work degree from San Diego State University. In 2004, she participated in a Head Start/Johnson & Johnson Management Institute at the University of California in Los Angeles.