Ortus Engineering Leadership

Leadership and Staff Certifications | Ortus Engineering, P.A.
Elvis Torres is the founder of Ortus Engineering and oversees all day-to-day operations. After spending over a decade specializing in historical landmark buildings, structural investigations, and optimization of structural systems, he wanted to bring his expertise to the private provider field to assist companies in achieving their goals while eliminating the delays typically experienced through government agencies.

Since graduating with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and International Finance from Syracuse University in 2001, he has 20+ years professional experience in business development, structural design, and threshold inspections with some of the highest profile projects in North America.

In New York City, Elvis was Director of Engineering of special inspection agency and was responsible for ensuring structural and mechanical field procedures, set forth by the DOB, were enacted in over 150 city-wide threshold buildings. He was also involved in the design and oversight of many evacuation projects and conducted thorough reviews of many foundation plans, borings, test pits, site surveys, and soil reports regarding these projects.  In coordination with the NYFD and design professionals, he also conducted multiple inspections on life safety measures such as sprinkler and standpipe systems, firestopping and fireproofing and emergency generator systems testing.

Experience:

  • Threshold Inspections
  • Historic Rehabilitation
  • ICC Structural Steel Bolting
  • ICC Structural Steel Welding
  • ICC Structural Masonry
  • ICC Energy Code Compliance
  • ACI Level I & II Lab Testing Technician
  • NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist

Associations:

  • Florida Structural Engineers Association (FSEA)
  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • Society of Fire Projection Engineering (SFPE)
  • University of Miami College of Engineering Advisory Board
Leadership and Staff Certifications | Ortus Engineering, P.A.
Juan’s experience includes almost 20 years in the construction industry working on all types projects from custom homes to large multi-story buildings, where he established and updated project schedules. He also assisted in identifying problems as they relate to the organization of the job; prioritizing tasks to provide a smooth flow of progress throughout the project. He has a B.S. in Public Administration and has a strong background in the business aspects of construction management.

For the past two years Juan Dieguez has been a project manager with Ortus Engineering overseeing multiple large projects. In this role, he monitors his projects to ensure all permits are pulled in a timely manner and all necessary inspections along with required paperwork are submitted to their respective municipalities. He assures that all permits are properly closed out and all documentation is submitted in order to obtain a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) and/or Certificate of Occupancy or Completion as necessary.

Other aspects of his project management duties include assisting contractor to ensure all outside agencies, such as but not limited to Fire, Planning & Zoning, Water & Sewer and Public Works complete their required inspections. He analyzes project requirements to allow for construction activities based on approvals. Coordination and leading of meetings with project teams as needed to address open and/or outstanding items required for project completion are also part of his duties. Coordinating all mandatory inspections with owners, architects and contractors and their subs is also a critical component of his duties as project manager.

Leadership and Staff Certifications | Ortus Engineering, P.A.
Mr. Plasencia is a 40 year veteran of the Construction industry, having started as a Draftsman for an Electrical Engineer after graduating from High School in1973. In the early years he worked for Electrical, Mechanical and Structural Engineers while attending the University of Miami. After graduating from UM in 1978 with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Mr. Plasencia worked with the US Dept of Housing & Urban Development (DHUD/FHA) as a Plan Reviewer/Inspector, and a few years later became an Construction Inspector for the US Dept of Veterans Affairs (DVA). Mr. Plasencia was granted an Architect licensed in the State of Florida in 1980 and followed up with a State of Florida Unlimited General Contractor License 2 years later. In the early to middle 80s, Mr. Plasencia worked for an Architectural/Construction/Development firm specializing in Section 8 Housing, as well as a large Construction firm based in Tampa, Florida. In 1984 Mr. Plasencia established his own Company to provide Architectural, Construction, Inspection and Permitting services for a variety of clients that included Residential, & Commercial projects, Moderate to Substantial Rehab of structures including Historic Property Restoration, approval of Construction Draws and ADA inspections.

After 30 years in Private Practice, Mr. Plasencia was ready for a change and became intrigued by the State of Florida Statute 553.791 “Affidavit Plans Review and Inspections” which provides the option to Developers to privatize the work typically performed by the Municipal Building Department personnel, avoiding typical delays experienced and joined a local Private Provider firm as a Project Manager to take maximum advantage of the relationships with Building Dept professionals made thoughout the many years in the Construction Industry. After 4 years with the firm, an opportunity arose to join Ortus Engineering, an up and coming Private Provider that is rapidly expanding by providing unmatched service and convenience to it’s client. Mr. Plasencia’s experience spans all aspects of the Industry spanning from design to execution and inspections.

Mr. Plasencia’s years of experience in the Construction Industry combined with his knowledge of the Florida Building Code and the familiarity with the many Municipal Building Departments in the Greater Miami Area allows him to easily navigate the bureaucracy when dealing with Governmental Agencies and assists him in reaching quick and cost effective solutions to problems that constantly arise even in the simplest of projects

Leadership and Staff Certifications | Ortus Engineering, P.A.
Ana Maria serves as the firm’s Director of Operations and works closely with our staff, the architects, engineers, and the team members of our clients to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction and accountability throughout the complicated plan approvals from the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County, Broward, West Palm Beach, and other municipal entities throughout Florida. She manages our plan review department, which consists of a large volume of detailed plans and documentation, ensuring that all the Ortus-approved plans are ready for permit acceptance and are completed expeditiously following the terms and specifications of Florida Statute 553.791

Prior to joining Ortus Engineering, Ana Maria worked for several years in the Private Provider industry, where she gained considerable experience with every aspect of the governmental permitting process and understands the importance of the service we provide. Before that, she spent over 20 years in public relations and sales management, where she earned numerous awards and accolades for superior customer satisfaction. Raised and educated in South Florida, Ana Maria is perfectly bilingual and comes from a large family of architects and contractors.

Leadership and Staff Certifications | Ortus Engineering, P.A.
Adrian Valdivia Duque serves as a Project Manager at Ortus Engineering, P.A., where he plays an integral role in coordinating and overseeing multiple construction projects across South Florida. His experience spans both commercial and residential developments, including mid-rise and high-rise buildings, where he supports successful project delivery by aligning design, permitting, inspections, and construction execution.

Adrian began his career in construction in 2012, gaining hands-on experience across various disciplines that built a strong and well-rounded foundation in the industry. Since then, he has remained committed to continuous growth, driven by a genuine and enduring passion for construction. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management and is a certified General Contractor in the State of Florida.

In his current role, he actively supports quality assurance and quality control processes, conducts site visits to monitor progress, and helps ensure that all construction activities meet project requirements and established timelines. Known for effectively managing multiple projects simultaneously, Adrian brings strong organizational skills, clear communication, and a results-oriented approach to every assignment.

With a background in both construction management and property operations, Adrian offers a comprehensive understanding of the full project lifecycle—from pre-construction through closeout. He is recognized for his reliability, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering well-coordinated, compliant, and successful projects.

Leadership and Staff Certifications | Ortus Engineering, P.A.

With more than 15 years of experience in construction permitting, regulatory strategy, project development, and business development, Letty has built a career focused on delivering successful projects while creating long-term value for developers, owners, contractors, and strategic partners. Since beginning her career in 2009, she has successfully led permitting and entitlement efforts for some of South Florida’s most prestigious luxury residential, hospitality, commercial, retail, and mixed-use developments. Her expertise extends beyond permitting; she aligns permitting with overall business objectives, helping organizations minimize delays, reduce costs, accelerate construction schedules, and maximize investment returns has cultivated strong relationships with developers, architects, engineers, municipalities, contractors, and public agencies throughout South Florida. These partnerships have enabled her to successfully navigate complex regulatory environments while creating collaborative solutions that move projects forward efficiently and effectively.

In addition to overseeing permitting operations, Letty actively contributes to business development initiatives by supporting client acquisition, strengthening existing relationships, identifying new market opportunities, and representing organizations during project pursuits and preconstruction planning. She believes successful business development begins with trust, technical expertise, responsiveness, and consistently delivering exceptional results that encourage long-term client partnerships and repeat business.

Recognized for combining strategic leadership with technical expertise, Letty has consistently helped clients overcome regulatory challenges, mitigate project risk, and deliver high-profile developments on schedule. Whether supporting a single luxury tower or a large-scale mixed-use redevelopment, her objective is to align regulatory strategy with business goals while delivering exceptional value to clients, stakeholders, and project teams.

Ortus Engineering, P.A.

Ortus is a full-service leading provider of construction material testing, on-site inspections, vibration monitoring engineering, pre-construction surveying, and quality control management. Its staff is comprised of professional engineers (civil, structural, and mechanical),architects, certified inspectors and technicians, administrators, and management staff.

All professional engineers, inspectors and technicians are certified in various categories of ICC and ACI certification. Ortus professionals and staff are knowledgeable in all project types, from new building “out of the ground” construction to interior alterations. The culture at Ortus is to prioritize client service. This is accomplished with a broad range of skills, experience, qualifications, and professionalism that is beyond comparison.

Staff Certifications

  • Professional Engineer
  • State Certified Professional Structural, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Inspectors
  • State Certified Architects
  • State Certified Building, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Safety Plans Examiners

Staff Qualifications

Ortus Engineering has a large pool of Florida Statute §468 certified plan reviewers and inspectors that continually meet the industry’s demand for high quality and timely service.

Ortus Engineering Private Provider Services also offer checks and balances from Florida registered professional engineers and certified building officials who oversee the duties of our plan examiners and inspectors.