LTC 061-2025 Appointment of Maria Hernandez as Assistant City Manager061-2025
MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:
FROM:
Honorable Mayor Steven Mein;;n~ Mflb:~ Commission
Eric Carpenter, City Manager {_,/U(-, \..,{,L/1>-Vv~
DATE: February 11 , 2025
SUBJECT: Appointment of Maria Hernandez as Assistant City Manager
I am pleased to announce my appointment of Maria Hernandez as Assistant City Manager,
effective February 4, 2025. Ms. Hernandez has filled the role as Interim since July 31 ,
2024 and has proven to be an invaluable part of my team and the City.
Ms. Hernandez has been a member of the Executive Team since 2013 and has reported
directly to me over the past 3 years. She has over 30 years of experience in both the
private and public sectors in architecture and real estate development and is a licensed
architect in the state of Florida and a LEED accredited professional. Ms. Hernandez was
the city's Project Director for the 25-acre $640 million Convention Center Renovation and
Expansion project and has been Director of the G.O.B. Program since 2018.
Ms. Hernandez portfolio will consist of the following departments, Building, Economic
Development, Environment and Sustainability, GO Bond Program and Tourism and
Culture.
I want to thank all of you for your continued support and encouragement. I am certain that,
together with our team, Maria will help the City continue to achieve remarkable success
into the future.
Thank you again.
Cc: Executive Staff
Management Team
Maria Hernandez
Maria Hernandez is a seasoned public servant and accomplished architect with over three
decades of experience. Her 15-year career at the City of Miami Beach has been marked
by leadership in managing large-scale, transformative projects that have shaped the city's
infrastructure, cultural landscape, and quality of life. Her expertise in both the public and
private sectors, combined with her extensive background in architecture and real estate
development, has made her a key figure in the ongoing growth and revitalization of Miami
Beach.
In July 2024, Ms . Hernandez was promoted to Interim Assistant City Manager -overseeing
the Building Department and the Environment & Sustainability Department along with the
G.O. Bond Program. She was also Interim Building Director for several months until the new
Building Director commenced in October 2024.
Prior to her role as Interim City Manager, Ms. Hernandez was the Program Director of the
G.O. Bond Program from 2018 until 2024, where she led the implementation of a $439
million taxpayer-funded Program that encompasses 57 quality of life projects with dozens
of subprojects. Additionally, a voter approved $159 million G.O. Bond for Arts & Culture
was added to Ms. Hernandez portfolio in 2022. This included 21 projects to improve facilities
for resiliency of arts and culture institutions throughout the City, as well as adding artistic
playgrounds, an underwater sculpture park and artist/workforce housing among other
cultural projects.
In addition to her prior responsibilities under the G.O. Bond Program, Ms. Hernandez also
acted as the liaison from the City for the development and construction of the 800-room
Grand Hyatt Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel. This project will begin vertical
construction by Spring 2025 under a Ground Lease and Development Agreement with a
private developer.
In 2014, prior to her G .O . Bond responsibilities, Ms. Hernandez was appointed by the City
Manager to be Director of the Convention Center District, to oversee the 25-acre, $640
million Convention Center Renovation and Expansion -the largest capital project in the
city's history. The project was substantially complete in April 2020.
Prior to these roles, Ms. Hernandez was a Senior Capital Projects Coordinator in the city 's
Capital Improvement Projects Department for several years beginning in 2010.
She came to the City of Miami Beach from the private sector where she had a 20-year-
career in Miami-area architecture and real estate development. Ms . Hernandez received
a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of Miami and a Master of Science in
Architecture and Building Design from Columbia University. She is a licensed, registered
architect in Florida, and a LEED accredited professional.