Joseph Sanches is the Chief Operating Office of the School District of Palm Beach County, the 10th largest school district in the nation serving more than 197,000 students. In this role, Mr. Sanches oversees the district’s facilities, food services, transportation, and supplier diversity programs. Mr. Sanches recently rejoined the school district following several years of leading a successful mid-sized construction firm that builds public and private projects throughout South Florida.

Mr. Sanches is largely credited with leading SDPBC’s sustainability focus including developing sustainable policies and procedures which have earned him a place on the National Board of Directors for the U.S. Green Building Council and the SDPBC the designation as a National Green Ribbon School District. He was the President of D. Stephenson Construction, Inc. (DSC).

Mr. Sanches previously worked in New York, Atlanta, and the U.S. Virgin Islands for some of the country’s largest construction and program management firms where he managed the planning, design, and construction of shopping malls, hospitals, prisons, multi-family residences, historic structures, government buildings, and infrastructure improvements.

Mr. Sanches earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management from Pratt Institute and an MBA in management from Baruch College. He holds a Florida general contractor’s license and he is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Mr. Sanches is on the Board of Directors with the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County and a Life Trustee of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. He is also actively involved in the Minority Builders Coalition, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, and several other community organizations.