Management Team
ARTHUR NORIEGA, V Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Noriega is an administrator with strong background in construction, operations and urban development projects with over seven years of parking industry experience. Arthur Noriega has headed the Miami Parking Authority since 1999. As CEO, he serves as head 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, government officials and development authorities. He oversees a staff of 210 employees and a $31 million budget. Mr. Noriega has been responsible for unprecedented revenue growth at the Authority, as well as the development of the City’s two newly constructed public garages. Miami Parking Authority is currently engaged in the pre-development of three public/privates, 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, Mr. Noriega is a dedicated community leader and volunteer. Mr. Noriega serves on the Board of Directors of Switchboard of Miami as chairperson. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Noriega serves as Board Chair of the Greater Miami Progress Foundation. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the New World Center and is a member of the Federal Reserve’s Education Advisory Group. Mr. Noriega serves on the Board of Advisors of the World Parking Symposium. He is a Board Member of the Miami Dade Sports Commission and a graduate of Leadership Florida’s 26th Class.
If you have questions about parking issues in the City of Miami, just Ask the CEO!
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 Chief Development Officer
Ms. Argudin is responsible for all aspects of MPA’s business development program. She directs all capital construction projects, procurement, marketing and public relations, strategic planning, board of directors relations, and Customer Service Department activities. She also oversees operations of Gusman Theater for the Performing Arts, which MPA manages.
Prior to joining Miami Parking Authority, Ms. Argudin spent fourteen years with the City of Miami. Most recently she served as Assistant 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.
CHESTER ESCOBAR Chief Operations Officer
Mr. Escobar joined MPA in July 2010. He oversees all facets of Authority operations, including parking enforcement; lot and garage operations, signpost and meter installation; meter collection and maintenance; and facility maintenance. He was previously general manager for Imperial Parking Corporation (Impark) in South Florida, with responsibility for operations in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. He was instrumental in Impark’s growth in the South Florida area during his five-year tenure, bringing the operation to its current size of more than 9,000 off-street parking spaces and more than 285 employees.
Prior to Impark, Mr. Escobar held senior positions in the City of Miami Beach parking department as well as the Miami Parking Authority. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida International University. He is a Leadership Miami graduate and a board member of the Floida Parking Association.
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 Business Advisory Council of the Miami-Dade College MEED Program, and on the CIS Advisory Committee of the Miami Dade College.
LUIS CHOTER , JR. Director of Operations
Mr. Choter, who has more than 16 years’ experience in the parking industry, is responsible for the Parking Enforcement and Meter Maintenance/Collections divisions of the Authority. MPA’s on-street operations comprise approximately 8,200 single space meters and 144 multi-space meters. He oversees MPA’s Pay and Display program and has directed other initiatives including the Smart Card program, various residential parking programs, and the Valet Parking and Rate Ordinances. He also implemented an online credit card processing program and a Pay and Display hotline to enhance customer service for the City’s parking patrons.
Mr. Choter is a graduate of Barry University and earned the CAPP (Certified Administrator of Public Parking) designation through the University of Virginia and the International Parking Institute. He is a member of IPI, the Florida Parking Association, the National Parking Association and the New Jersey Parking Association.
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
Ms. Carmenates supervises MPA's accounting and accounts payable functions. She is an experienced accounting professional with more than fifteen years of service in the public and private sectors. She was Audit Manager with a Key Biscayne – based audit, tax and consulting 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.
Ms. Carmenates is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida. She is a graduate of Florida International University with a Bachelors of Accounting and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the Florida Government Finance Officers Association.
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