Alejandra Argudin
CAPP, LEED AP, Chief Executive Officer
Alejandra “Alex” Argudin was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Miami Parking Authority (MPA) on March 4, 2020. The first woman to occupy the role, Argudin, has been with the Authority for 15 years. In her capacity as a CEO, Alex implements the strategic plan that charts a path forward for the organization and evaluates the success of the Authority in reaching its goals by seeking opportunities to foster economic development, growth, and prosperity for the residents of Miami-Dade County.
Alex serves as a Chair-Elect of the Executive Committee of the International Parking and Mobility Institute. She is chairperson of the WOW Center and a member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee. Alex is also the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Coconut Grove BID and a board member of the Affordable Homeownership Task Force for the City of Miami.
Alex is a graduate of Florida International University with a Master’s degree in Business Administration. She holds the Certified Administrator of Public Parking designation and is a U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP).
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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.
Angela D. Hernandez
Director of Human Resources
Ms. Angela Hernandez is a seasoned Human Resource professional that has extensive experience in the public and private sectors. Ms. Hernandez is charged with managing the human capital strategy, training and development, and long-term strategic planning for the Authority. In this capacity, Ms. Hernandez has led a shift in organizational design and spearheaded the development of new employee benefit programs, wellness events, strategic recruitment initiatives, and various committees.
Ms. Hernandez possesses a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from St. Thomas University. In addition, Ms. Hernandez retains memberships with the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD).
Pablo Velez, Esq.
Senior Executive Advisor to the CEO
On August 26, 2024, Mr. Velez joined the Miami Parking Authority (MPA) as the Senior Executive Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). For the ten (10) years before joining MPA, commencing July 14, 2014, Mr. Velez was with the City of Miami Office of the City Attorney, where he served as a Senior Assistant City Attorney, was assigned to the Real Estate and Transactions Division, addressed the City’s day-to-day procurement related transactions, and handled a wide array of other such matters, inclusive of construction, real estate, and legislative related items.
During his tenure with the City Attorney’s Office, Mr. Velez also assisted with numerous City board and committee assignments, including the Mayor’s International Council, the Miami Sports & Entertainment Council, the Liberty City Revitalization Trust, the Little Haiti Revitalization Trust, the Stars of Calle Ocho Board, the Miami Art & Entertainment Council, the Art in Public Places Board, the LGBTQ Board, and MPA.
In April 2008, Mr. Velez started with the City as a Supervisor and Certified Public Procurement Buyer for the Procurement Department and was serving as the Interim Procurement Director before joining the Office of the City Attorney.
Preceding this period with the City, Mr. Velez worked in private practice as a Corporate and Business Attorney for Spiegel & Utrera, P.A. and, after that, as Assistant General Counsel for Prestige Builders Group, where he handled corporate, business, real estate, and condominium law related matters. Mr. Velez received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations in 1994 and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1995 from Florida International University. He received his Juris Doctorate in 1998 from the University of Florida College of Law and has been Florida Bar licensed to practice law since 2000.
Margie Carmenates
Controller
Mrs. Carmenates is an experienced accounting professional with more than twenty five years of service in the public and private sectors. Before joining Miami Parking Authority, 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 Bachelor of Accounting, and is also a member of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association.
Angel Diaz
Director of Parking Operations
Mr. Angel Diaz has been at the forefront of parking management since embarking on his career journey in 1993 as a meter collector. With over three decades of experience, he currently holds the position of Director of Operations at the Miami Parking Authority, a role he has excelled in since May 2016.
In his capacity, Mr. Diaz oversees a workforce of more than 160 employees, managing operations spanning the Miami Marlins and Jackson Memorial Hospital. His purview extends to the Authority’s expansive on-street and off-street parking portfolio, encompassing five garages, 60 lots, and an impressive 45,000 parking spaces. With a wealth of knowledge garnered from both public and private parking sectors, Mr. Diaz ensures the smooth functioning of these facilities.
Notably, Mr. Diaz assumes the role of President for the Florida Parking and Transportation Association, further demonstrating his commitment to advancing the industry’s standards and practices.
Mr. Diaz’s professional journey includes significant milestones. He has previously overseen parking operations in Richmond, Virginia, and Santa Monica, California. In Richmond, he managed a team of over 80 employees, administering 8,000 parking spaces with a budget of $18 million. During his tenure in Santa Monica, he supervised 15,000 parking spaces, leading a staff of 75 employees with an operating budget of $60 million.
His dedication to professional development is evident through his attainment of the Certified Administrator of Public Parking (CAPP) certification from the International Parking Institute and The University of Virginia. Additionally, Mr. Diaz has completed leadership programs with esteemed organizations such as the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and the Urban Land Institute.
Active in various professional associations, Mr. Diaz is a member of the Urban Land Institute, International Parking and Mobility Institute, Miami Downtown Development Authority, and he currently sits on the Habitat For Humanity board. His previous affiliations include membership in the California Public Parking Association, Santa Monica Chamber, Santa Monica PAL, Santa Monica Kiwanis Club, Parking Association of the Virginias, and City of Richmond’s Chamber.
Mr. Angel Diaz’s extensive experience, coupled with his dedication to excellence and industry leadership, continues to drive innovation and efficiency within the realm of parking management.
Henry Espinosa
Director of Information Technology
As the Director of Information Technology, Mr. Espinosa is steers strategic planning, operational analysis, and process restructuring initiatives within the organization. His primary objective is to leverage cutting-edge technologies to enhance efficiency and drive cost reduction. In addition to overseeing the Information Technology department, he plays a pivotal role in providing proactive operational leadership, aligning technological endeavors with the overarching goals of the organization.
In his day-to-day responsibilities, he excels in project and resource management, meticulous budgeting, strategic procurement, and ensuring business continuity through disaster recovery planning. His expertise extends to life-cycle management and implementing robust data security measures. A vigilant overseer, he consistently monitors vendor performance against Service Level Agreements (SLAs), ensuring optimal service delivery.
Before assuming the role of Director of Information Technology, he served in a similar capacity for the City of Pembroke Pines Charter School District. His diverse experience also includes roles as a technology consultant for esteemed companies such as CompUSA and Burger King Corporation. Notably, Mr. Espinosa is a PCI-DSS Certified Internal Security Assessor, showcasing his unwavering dedication to robust data security practices.
A proud graduate of the University of Florida, Mr. Espinosa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role as the Director of Information Technology, where he continues to spearhead secure, technology-driven transformations for the organization’s sustained growth and success.