Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez will be the special guest speaker at the Miami Lakes Chamber or Commerce’s monthly membership luncheon on Wednesday, April 2, in the Grand Ballroom of Shula’s Hotel on Main Street.
Networking starts at 11:30 a.m. with luncheon at 12 noon.
Gimenez was first elected county mayor in a special election in June 2011. He was re-elected on August 14, 2012.
As the county’s top elected official and chief administrator, Gimenez is responsible for the leadership and management of an organization with over 25,000 employees and an annual budget of nearly $6 billion.
He brings decades of invaluable public service experience to the post, and continues to pursue a set of clearly defined priorities that reflect both his governing philosophy and the challenges of the current economic environment.
Previously, Gimenez served for seven years as a Miami-Dade County commissioner representing District 7.
From May 2000 to January 2003, Gimenez was manager of the City of Miami and was credited with helping to restore stability and integrity to that organization. During his tenure, the city’s bond rating went from “junk” to investment grade and the tax rate dropped to its lowest level in 50 years.
Prior to his appointment as City Manager, Gimenez spent 25 years with Miami’s Fire-Rescue Department including the last nine of those years as Chief, during which time he was credited with modernizing the Fire Department and overseeing the largest reorganization in the department’s history.
A longtime Miami-Dade resident, Gimenez graduated from Christopher Columbus High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Barry University. In 1993, he completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Gimenez is married to Loudes Portela. They have three children – Carlos, Julio and Lourdes; and five grandchildren.
Deadline to reserve a table is at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 28.
Lunch admission is $30 for members and their guests who reserve; $35 for members and their guests who do not reserve before deadline (walk-ins); and $40 for non members (cash only).
For more information or to reserve, contact Marta Diaz at 305-556-2212, or email mdiaz@miamilakeschamber.com.