Management Team
ARTHUR NORIEGA, V Chief Executive Officer
Arthur Noriega is an executive with a strong background in construction, operations and urban development projects with over 14 years of parking industry experience. Mr. Noriega has headed the Miami Parking Authority since 1999. As Chief Executive Officer, he oversees of all of the parking and enforcement operations in a major metropolitan city. Mr. Noriega also must act as a strong advocate in the promotion of public and private sector joint ventures, while maintaining an excellent working relationship with local elected and government officials and development authorities. He oversees a staff of 165 employees and a $36 million budget. Mr. Noriega has been responsible for unprecedented revenue growth at the Authority, as well as the development of the City’s three newly constructed public garages. Miami Parking Authority is currently engaged in the pre-development of two additional public/private joint venture developments within Miami’s Central Business District.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Noriega was vice president of development at The Carlisle Group, where he worked with local municipalities and Community Development Corporations (CDC’s) across the state to create urban development projects. Before that, he worked as Director of Planning and Development with the Authority.
An Economics graduate of the University of South Florida, with professional certifications from Tulane and Northwestern University, Mr. Noriega is a dedicated community leader and volunteer. Mr. Noriega serves on the Board of Directors of Switchboard of Miami, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Miami Progress Foundation. He is a member of the Federal Reserve’s Education Advisory Group, the Miami Sports Commission and a graduate of Leadership Florida’s 26th Class. He is currently on the Leadership Florida Regional Council.
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SCOTT SIMPSON Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Simpson joined MPA in February 2006. He was previously Director of Finance for the City of Miami. He joined the City in October 1998 as Assistant Finance Director. Before that, he served as Chief Accountant for the City of Winter Park, Florida. He also worked as an accounting manager and controller in private industry for a number of years. Mr. Simpson graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.A. in Accounting. He is licensed as a CPA in the state of North Carolina and is a member of the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants as well as the Government Finance Officers' Association of the United States and Canada.
ALEJANDRA ARGUDIN, LEED AP,Chief Development Officer
Ms. Argudin oversees all facets of Authority operations, including parking enforcement; lot and garage operations, signpost and meter installation; meter collection and maintenance; and facility maintenance. She joined MPA in September 2006 as Chief Development Officer and was named the Chief Operations Officer in September 2011.
Prior to joining Miami Parking Authority, Ms. Argudin spent fourteen years with the City of Miami. She served as Acting Director to the Department of Public Facilities, where she was responsible for overseeing the management and operation of the James L. Knight International Center, Orange Bowl Stadium, Manuel Artime Community Center, Coconut Grove Expo Center, Dinner Key Marina, Miamarina at Bayside, and Marine Stadium Marina. She earned both a Bachelor’s of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Florida International University. She is a Leadership Miami graduate and a member of the Florida Parking Association and the International Parking Institute. She has also earned the LEED AP designation from the Green Building Certification Institute, signifying Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
LAVERN D. SMITH-LAWRENCE Director of Information Technology
Ms. Smith-Lawrence has worked with the Authority for over 15 years. She has held positions in Data Processing, Accounts Payable and as Information Systems Analyst. She obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from the University of the West Indies, AA in Computer Science from Miami-Dade College, and a Master of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems from Barry University. She is a Leadership Miami graduate and a member of the Association of Information Technology Professionals, IEEE Computer Society, serves on the CIS Advisory Committee of the Miami Dade College, a mentor in the MDC Single Stop Mentoring Program.
LUIS CHOTER , JR. Special Assistant to the CEO for Projects and Quality Assurance
Mr. Choter has more than 20 years experience in the parking industry and is the direct report to the CEO Arthur Noriega, as Special Assistant in charge of projects and quality improvements.
Mr. Choter is a graduate of Barry University and earned the CAPP (Certified Administrator of Public Parking) from the University of Virginia in 2005 through the International Parking Institute. He is the Vice-President of Florida Parking Association, a member of IPI, the National Parking Association and the New Jersey Parking Association
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ANGELA D. HERNANDEZ Director of Human Resources
Ms. Hernandez has over 13 years of experience in the field of Human Resources and has a Bachelor in Human Resources from St. Thomas University. She has dedicated seven of those years to implementing innovative Human Resources Programs here at Miami Parking Authority. In her previous position as a Human Resources Professional she has serviced and supported over 27 clients in all aspects of Human Resources, amounting to an employee pool of over 3000. Ms. Hernandez is also a graduate of Leadership Miami and continues to develop her leadership skill here as the Director of Human Resources.
In addition to overseeing all of the HR duties, Ms. Hernandez has dedicated herself to bringing new employee benefits and events to the authority She organizes Employee Health Fairs, Company Picnic, Employee Appreciation Week, and annual Holiday Party, The Directors’ Team Building Retreat and many other beneficial programs and events. Ms. Hernandez is an expert in her field and has excelled in building a large team where individuals feel they belong to a family.
ROLANDO TAPANES Director, Planning and Development
Mr. Tapanes directs the comprehensive planning and development program for MPA, including managing capital construction projects and all functions and activities of the Customer Service Department. He has extensive knowledge of all aspects of construction management, with more than eight years’ experience overseeing both residential and commercial construction projects at his previous position with a local developer. He previously gained sales and customer service experience while working as a real estate agent and a medical sales representative.
Mr. Tapanes graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s of Health Services Administration and he earned a Master of Business Administration from Barry University. He served on the Citizen’s Advisory Board for the expansion of Tamiami Trail and is a Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Leadership Miami graduate.
MARGIE CARMENATES Controller
Mrs. Carmenates supervises MPA's accounting functions. She is an experienced accounting professional with more than twenty years of service in the public and private sectors. She was a Manager with an audit, tax and advisory services firm, where she served a wide range of clients. Previously, she worked as assistant controller for a publicly held oil and gas company. She also worked in the audit practice of KPMG Peat Marwick in Miami.
Mrs. Carmenates is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of Florida. She is a graduate of Florida International University with a Bachelors of Accounting, and is also a member of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association.