LTC 009-2022 - Appointment of Marla Alpizar as Director of Human ResourcesMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC#
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
009-2022 LETTER TO COMMISSION
Honorable Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
Alina T. Hudak, City Mana~
January 10, 2022 lj\ 1
\
Appointment of Marla Alpizar as Director of Human Resources
The purpose of this L TC is to update the Commission on the status of a key personnel
appointment. The retirement at the end of November of Human Resources Director Michael Smith
has created a vacancy for this key position. During his tenure, he reshaped our Human Resources
(HR) Department and empowered them to excel in fulfilling their strategic role in our
organization. I want to acknowledge Michael Smith for his valuable contributions to our City and
its government and congratulate him upon his retirement and long career in public service.
I have selected Marla Alpizar to appoint as Director of Human Resources. Marla has been serving
as Interim Director since November 2021 and I have enjoyed working with her over this past year.
Marla has gained significant institutional knowledge as a valuable member of the City for the last
five years while she has served as Assistant Director of Human Resources. She previously
participated in negotiations on the management team during collective bargaining. Her more than
25 years of public sector experience in local government inform her collaborative work with other
City departments and inspire her interest in employee relations.
Marla takes a hands-on approach to leadership. She was instrumental in implementing and
developing city-wide employee protocols for COVID-19 as well as HR's employee contact tracing
efforts. She played a key role in the successful implementation of the Munis HR and Payroll
modules. She has extensive experience in developing procedures and in using technology to
improve organizational processes.
She retired in 1996 from the City of Hialeah, where her prior roles included: Director of Education
and Community Services, including supervision of afterschool and summer camp programs, adult
centers, a therapeutics center for disabled adults, a literacy program, a city charter school
management contract, and multiple grant programs; Director of Communications and Special
Events, including supervision of sponsorships and the Milander Center for Arts and
Entertainment; and Library Director, including the building of five new e-Libraries. Marla is a
proven administrator who can turn new ideas or initiatives into a programmatic reality.
Marla holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with a second major in French language
from Louisiana State University, and a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the
University of Texas at Austin. She is certified by the Florida Public Employer Labor Relations
Association (FPELRA) as a Certified Labor Relations Professional (FCLRP) and by the Society
for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).
Marla grew up in Louisiana and has made South Florida her home more than 25 years ago
because she fell in love with its beauty and vibrant culture. She resides in Miami Springs with her
husband Rafael and her two daughters. She is an avid reader and likes to be familiar with the
latest research in management and organizational development, and in many other areas. Her
experience and these traits will support her in exceling in her role as Director of Human
Resources.
Marla is fortunate to lead an outstanding team of professionals in the Human Resources
Department and Risk and Benefits Division. I am grateful for their expertise and commitment, and
I want to recognize and thank them for the job they do. Each member of the Department has
committed to monitoring our employees throughout the pandemic, including being on call to assist
employees 24/7 who test positive or who are close contacts to others with COVID-19. Their
efforts to protect the wellness of our workforce and to mitigate the spread of illness and preserve
operations have been heroic.
Please join me in congratulating Marla Alpizar as she assumes her new role as Director of Human
Resources. I ask for your support in consenting to this key appointment. Thank you.
ATH
CC: Executive Staff
Management Team
Marla Stevens Alpizar
EXPERIENCE:
Interim Director, Department of Human Resources, November 2021 -present
Assistant Director, Department of Human Resources, August 2016 -present
The Ciry of Miami Beach, Flortda has 2200 emplqyees and jive (5) bargaining units. It is a world-class ciry
with a population of over 90,000 and over 3.5 million visitors per year.
• Assist with supervision of the Human Resources Department of 29 employees in
support of the mission of the City of Miami Beach, with a focus primarily in the areas of
Employee and Labor Relations, Recruitment, and Compensation.
• Represent the Director as needed in Commission meetings, labor relations and
negotiation meetings, and staff meetings.
• Consult with departments and employees on a myriad of employee relations matters.
Director, Education & Community Services Department, January 2007-August 2016
The Ciry of Hialeah is the sixth largest ciry in Florida, with a population of 230,000. Over 90% of the
residents are Hispanic and mat'!)! are recent immigrants to this country.
• Planned and created the Education & Community Services Department to bring
together, expand, enhance and showcase educational services around the City.
• Supervised department of 200 employees and 8 budgets totaling $5.2 million.
• Supervised Office of Communications and Special Events which plans, coordinates, and
executes City events; produces content for the City website, TV station and social media;
negotiates and maintains all City sponsorship agreements; and coordinates all publicity
and marketing for City events and services.
• Supervised the City's Adult Centers and Therapeutics program for disabled adults.
• Supervised Milander Center for Arts & Entertainment and was responsible for culture
programming, including musical concerts such as Opera in Hialeah and art exhibits such
as the innovative and educational CUMA exhibit in 2015.
• Oversaw the Hialeah Public Libraries Division.
• Coordinated and supervised all of the Mayor's education initiatives, and was the
Oversight Committee liaison and advisor to the City of Hialeah Educational Academy
Charter School.
• Led department in efforts to design and implement major grant-funded programming,
approximately $2.5 million annually, which accounted for over half of the Department's
budget.
• Created Creative Learning & Pkg, academic and enriching after school programs and
summer camps for children, and the Young Leaders with Character Programs, 21st Century
after school and summer camp programs focused on character and leadership
development for middle and high school youth.
• Led team which wrote and implemented The Children's Trust multiyear grants in excess
of $1 million per year for new after school and summer programs and for a new youth
with disabilities employment program; the Department of Education 21 Century Learning
Communities multiyear grants in excess of $1.3 million per year for new after school and
summer programs for middle and high school; and a multiyear grant for The Blue
Foundation's Embrace A Healtf?y Florida initiative in excess of $1 million to combat
childhood obesity; as well as many smaller grants.
,\[ a r I a .\Ip i z a r
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• Was responsible for formation of many partnerships between the City and other
government, cultural and educational entities, non-profits and business and community
leaders with an annual value to the City and its programs of over $250,000 annually.
Library Director, Hialeah Public Libraries, March 1999-January 2007
A long with marry other services, the Ciry maintains 6 municzpal public libraries in order to provide high
qualify, local library and h"terary services to its residents.
• Planned and managed $2 million budget.
• Supervised and evaluated over 54 library staff in 5 municipal public libraries.
• Represented Library at City Council meetings, at all official functions, and with local
media.
• Planned and opened 5 new e-Libraries in 7 years to serve city residents.
• Wrote and implemented Gates Grant for 26 additional computers, training, and
software worth over $100,000, doubling the JFK Library's public access computers and
bringing the Internet and computers to the Curtiss Branch for the first time to bring the
total computers from 15 to over 70 computers in the LAN.
• Wrote and implemented State of Florida Literacy Grant and obtained $25,000 towards
the hiring of a Literacy Program Director.
• Wrote and implemented Federal Library Services and Technology Grant of over $83,000
in order to develop and implement a new Family Literacy program Hialeah Reads to
begin to address Hialeah's 59% low level literacy rate.
• Planned and wrote application for a State of Florida Literacy Grant of $25,000 towards
an early childhood Literacy program The Hialeah Reading Train.
• Planned a Community and Technology Partnership Grant application of $25,000 to set
up a mini-library and technology center in a densely populated, remote area of Hialeah.
• Wrote and implemented long-range and annual plans, Collection Development Plan,
and Technology Plan.
• Responsible for enhancing Library-wide programming for all ages.
• Founded a Friends of the Hialeah Public Libraries group.
Librarian II, Hialeah Public Library, July 1996-March 1999.
• Implemented initial library LAN network.
• Completed Universal Service fund paperwork to purchase network equipment and
telecommunication services valued at over $300,000 for only 28% of cost.
• Was a key planner for implementation of Internet access for the Library and the City.
• Held key role in the planning and development of City's and Library's first Web site.
• Set up and maintained Library Network Security and Firewall for the City.
• Developed and conducted computer classes for over 300 City employees and trained
Librarians as additional trainers.
Field Support/Trainer, Gaylord Information Systems
Syracuse, New York, August 1994-June 1996.
• Trained academic and public libraries in the use of Galaxy library automation system
including OP AC, Circulation, Cataloging, Acquisitions, Serials, Reports, System
Administration, and Community Information modules.
• Trained over 30 libraries. Most training trips were 3-4 days in length. Traveled 50% of
my time.
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• Acted as project manager for new Gala)91 libraries coordinating timing for installation,
data conversion, and training. Ultimately responsible for assigned sites to make sure no
detail was overlooked in the implementation of a new system.
• Consulted with libraries on workflow and system integration.
• Developed training documentation and presentation materials.
• Worked closely with Software Support Group Programming, Marketing, and Sales to
meet the needs of over 100 academic, special, and public libraries.
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS:
Master of Library and Information Science: August 1994 -GP A: 4.0
University of Texas at Austin -Emphasis on Special Libraries and Archives
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and French: August 1991 -GP A: 3.5 Louisiana State
University, Baton Rouge
SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP): Internationally-recognized certification as a Human
Resources professional from the Society for Human Resource Management, July 2018
Certified Labor Relations Professional (FCLRP): Florida Public Employer Labor Relations
Association (FPELRA) November 2017
HONORS:
Mary E. Cleveland Centennial Endowed Presidential Scholarship, UT
LSU Top 100 Scholarship
CODOFIL Scholarship at l'Universite Catholique de l'Ouest, Angers, France.
T.H. Harris Scholarship, Louisiana State Scholarship
Dean's List, UT and LSU
MEMBERSHIPS & VOLUNTEER WORK:
Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), 2016 to present
South Florida Chapter of IPMA-HR, 2017 to present
Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association (FPELRA) -2017-2018
City of Hialeah Delegate to the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Task Force for the Miami Dade County Public
Library System, October 2013 -March 2014
EESAC Committee, City of Hialeah Educational Academy, 2008 -2013
Chair, Curriculum Advisory Committee, City of Hialeah Educational Academy, 2008 -2013
Board of Directors, South Florida Autism Charter School, September 2009 -June 2013
Board of Directors, Take Stock in Children, Spring 2011 -June 2013
Vestry member, All Angels Episcopal Church, Miami Springs, FL, 2015 to present
Board of Trustees member, All Angels Academy, Miami Springs, FL, 2016 to 2018
Co-Chair of Silver Ball fundraising event, All Angels Academy, 2009-2013
Volunteer Librarian, All Angels Academy, 2005 -2006; 2017-2018
Chorister, Anglican Chorale of Southeast Florida, Trinity Cathedral, Miami, 2012 to 2020
Member of Hialeah Woman's Club, 2005-2015
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