Hollywood CERT Coordinator Sam Rivera was born in Puerto Rico in 1954. At the age of 6 years old Sam moved to The Bronx, New York. As a youth he joined the Boy Scouts of America and became a squad leader. Sam was awarded a "Life-Savers" medal for saving a boy’s life from a sexual predator. After graduating high school at Alfred E. Smith, Sam joined the Unites States Army from 1971 to 1973 and served one tour of duty in South Korea. After being discharged honorably at the rank of E-4 (Specialist) he took a supervisory position at Volunteers of America, a non-profit, homeless care organization.

From 1984 to 1986, Sam worked at New York's World Trade Center as their Maintenance Supervisor. He then moved to Hollywood, Florida in 1987. He worked for several day care centers as a Maintenance Supervisor where he received recognition from Florida's Governor, Lawton Chiles, in 1992 for Outstanding Employee in his community for Broward County. In 1995, Sam took a position with Workers' Compensation Medical Centers as Facilities Supervisor for Broward and Dade Counties. During his tenure with Broward & Dade counties, Sam attempted to reenlist in the United States Armed Forces to join "Operation Desert Shield/Storm" but was declined because of age restrictions. In 1998, Sam decided since he could not serve his country on a national level he would support his country locally in his community and joined the Hollywood CERT Team. In 1999, Sam became a CERT Instructor. In 2008, Sam was asked to head the Hollywood CERT program by the City of Hollywood Fire Rescure as their Coordinator. Sam is also a member of the Broward Area CERT Coordinators, a committee associated with the Fire Chief’s Association of Broward County, Inc. Currently, Sam is married to Rebecca with their two children (daughter, Samantha and step-son, Seth).