executive committee – Underdeck Miami

Rebecca Mandelman

Chair Underdeck Subcommittee Advisory Group (“USAG”)

Passionate about connecting people and organizations to build community, Rebecca is a strategy consultant for national foundations and nonprofit organizations. She most recently served as the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science’s senior vice president for external affairs and strategic partnerships where she led fundraising, education, public programming, government relations, marketing, communications and membership efforts through the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to joining Frost Science, she was The Miami Foundation’s vice president for strategy and engagement. By building strong relationships and multi-sector partnerships, Rebecca led her team to achieve record financial growth, diversify the organization’s donor base, and launch a robust policy agenda focused on solutions around sea-level rise, public spaces and transportation.

Mandelman also was the deputy executive director of the Americas Business Council Foundation, a private philanthropy focused on Latin American social entrepreneurship, and led corporate and event fundraising as the senior director of development at the New World Symphony during the construction and grand opening of its Frank Gehry-designed Miami Beach facility. Earlier in her career, she specialized in fundraising, marketing and project management for former Mayor of Miami Manny Diaz, the City of Miami Beach’s Cultural Affairs Division, Gen Art and PODER magazine. A lifelong basketball fan, Mandelman started her career in international public relations for the National Basketball Association.

Rebecca is very proud to serve as the chair of the Underdeck Advisory Committee, an advocacy group for the Underdeck, the future transformative linear Miami public space, and as a Trustee of Our Fund Foundation, a philanthropic organization seeking to improve the lives of LGBTQ people in South Florida.

Alan Fein

Chair Government, Project Management, Strategic Oversight Working Group

Alan Fein is a Shareholder in Stearns Weaver Miller’s Litigation Department and a member of the Firm’s Board of Directors. For over three decades, Alan has successfully handled complex business litigation in South Florida and in the leading business courts in the nation, including the Delaware Court of Chancery, the Delaware Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Eleventh Circuit and the District of Columbia. At the same time, he has developed one of the region’s most vibrant sports law practices, and brought vision and leadership to a number of community leadership roles.

Anamarie Ferreira de Melo

Chair Funding Strategies Working Group

More information about Anamarie coming soon

Eric Woolworth

Chair Traffic, Mobility & Utilities Working Group

Eric Woolworth celebrates his 28th season with The HEAT Group and 22nd at the helm of the organization as President, Business Operations, during which he has made an indelible impression on both the Miami HEAT and FTX Arena. His leadership has helped transform the organization and redefine its corporate identity into a customer service and sales-driven machine that is among the elite in the sports and entertainment industry. Under Woolworth’s direction the HEAT has been consistently recognized as an NBA leader in customer service, fan entertainment, marketing, sales, and Arena operations, and has become a recognized leader in the South Florida business community. Working side by side with Pat Riley, Woolworth’s efforts have made the HEAT a first-class organization away from the court as much as it is on it.

Woolworth first joined the HEAT as General Counsel in 1995 after a successful legal career in Washington, D.C. His business acumen and key role in the development of the FTX Arena led to his promotion to President, Business Operations in January of 2001. He had served as interim President from August of 2000 to January of 2001.

Woolworth is a cum laude graduate of both Georgetown University and Georgetown University Law Center. He lives with his wife, Jocelyn, their son, Jackson, and their daughter, Cassidy, in Coral Gables.

Jessica Goldman Srebnick

Chair Town Square Neighborhood Development Corporation

Jessica Goldman Srebnick, Co-Chair of Goldman Properties, is a second generation leader of the company founded by her late father, visionary real estate developer, Tony Goldman. Founded in 1968, the award winning company is a creative real estate firm with a storied history in developing thriving global destinations across the United States. Goldman Srebnick also currently serves as Chair of the Town Square Neighborhood Development Corporation (TSNDC) Board.

Art is part of Jessica’s DNA. In July 2015, Goldman Srebnick founded Goldman Global Arts (GGA), a Miami based creative collective with co-founder, artist Peter Tunney. For its inaugural project, the Miami Dolphins NFL franchise commissioned GGA to infuse a global art aesthetic into the newly renovated Hard Rock Stadium. Later, GGA was hired by the NFL to infuse street art into Super Bowl LIV in Miami. In 2019, Goldman Srebnick authored Walls of Change: The Story of The Wynwood Walls. She also most recently curated a national art campaign for Michelle Obama’s organization When We All Vote to amplify the importance of voting.

Goldman Srebnick is a community advocate and was recognized in 2018 as one of Forbes Icons of Impact for her continued work and leadership. She oversees a diverse portfolio of restaurants, office buildings, galleries, commercial and retail properties and large-scale public art projects. In 2021, she was selected as one of the Knight’s Foundation Arts Champions, for her community leadership in helping to enrich arts and culture in South Florida.

Goldman Srebnick is an active member of the prestigious Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and graduated from the YPO/Harvard Business School Presidents Leadership Program. Goldman Srebnick currently resides in Miami with her husband Scott Srebnick, CEO of Goldman Properties and are the proud parents of their 3 sons.

Karla Fortuny

Designee Commissioner Chief of Staff District 1 City of Miami

Karla Fortuny is a first-generation Cuban American that specializes in government affairs and public relations. She graduated from the University of Miami with her Master’s in Public Relations after having graduated from FIU with a Bachelor’s in Communications and Miami Dade College with her Associate’s in Mass Communication and Journalism. Karla has a passion for sports and her community. Her previous work experience includes the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee, Inter Miami, the Miami Open, Miami Beach Memorial Day Air and Sea Show and interning for the Florida Panther Hockey Club. Outside of sports, Karla has also garnered experience in government affairs as her current position has her working in the City of Miami as Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla’s Chief of Staff, where she is responsible for a staff of 12+ employees, assisting the commissioner in policy work, setting up community events and handling his communications as she is the office spokesperson.

Melissa Fernandez

Stiers Designee City Manager Chief of Staff City of Miami

Melissa Fernandez-Stiers serves as Chief of Staff for City of Miami Manager Arthur Noriega V. In this capacity, she assists the City Manager with the day-to-day operations of the City, including execution of the Manager’s priorities, coordinating the flow of information from the City Manager to department directors and other key stakeholders, staff oversight, process improvement, and broadening access to municipal services. Melissa also assists with key policy initiatives and implementation of same across multidisciplinary subjects, including innovation and technology related legislation as well as workforce and affordable housing legislation. In addition to her experience in the public sector, Melissa has practiced law in the areas of complex and commercial litigation in both state and federal courts, as well as practice in the areas of land use and governmental relations.

A Miami native, Melissa received her Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from Florida International University, and received her Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law where she served as an editor of the Florida Law Review. She and her husband, Eli Stiers, are long-time and active residents of the City of Miami, where they are proudly raising their three children.

Michael R Simkins

Representative Traffic, Mobility & Utilities Working Group

Michael Simkins, President and CEO of Lion Development Group, is leading one of the most significant real estate projects to hit Miami. District 11, anchored by the E11EVEN Hotel & Residences and E11EVEN Beyond, will transform an underutilized 10 acre property in Park West into a 24-hour thriving, global, connected “live-work-play” ecosystem for entertainment, culture, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mr. Simkins is also an owner of E11EVEN Partners, the company behind the high profile E11EVEN Miami nightclub, hotel, condominium, Vodka and sound equipment, and has helped guide the company evolve from a hospitality company to a lifestyle brand.

The Simkins family, with deep South Florida roots that span decades, is highly respected for supporting collaborative, community-based projects that drive sustainable economic growth and bring global visibility to the region. The family, and Mr. Simkins himself, are involved with various local philanthropic initiatives including juvenile diabetes research – a cause dear to both his wife and mother. He also serves as a board member of the Miami Jewish Federation, Miami Beach JCC, Endeavor Miami as well as the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).

Mr. Simkins, the youngest of five children, was born and raised in Miami Beach and attended Ransom Everglades and later the University of Miami, where he received a degree in finance. He obtained a law degree from Brooklyn Law School and practiced real estate law at Akerman Senterfitt until 2007, when he decided to pursue his passion for real estate investment and development.

He has been married for 17 years to his high school sweetheart, Nicole Simkins, and has three children, son Eli (12) and daughters Jaden (15), and Harper (6)

Nelson L. Adams, M.D.

Chair Stakeholder Awareness, Education & Engagement Working Group

Nelson L. Adams, M.D., a native of Miami, Florida and a product of its public-school system, is a medical leader passionately committed to eliminating racial and ethnic inequality in health. Dr. Adams is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Honorary Doctor of Laws. An esteemed alumnus of Howard University, Dr. Adams has been recognized in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He earned his medical degree at Meharry Medical College in 1978 and completed his four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Emory University in 1982. Prior to returning home to Miami, Dr. Adams practiced in Mobile, Alabama for three years. Additionally, Dr. Adams holds a master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

A board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Dr. Adams has a vibrant and challenging practice in North Miami-Dade County. He was the first African American Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the first African American Chief of Staff of North Shore Medical Center. In 1992, he founded the Maternal Child Health Initiative (MCHI), an award-winning model for providing care to at-risk, low-income, pregnant women. Today, Dr. Adams serves as President of the Medical Staff (Chief of Staff) at Jackson North Medical Center. He is the Founder of Metro-Miami OB/GYN Associates, P.A. Additionally, he chairs the Board of Directors of the Sunshine State Health Plan.

Throughout his fruitful career, Dr. Adams’ leadership and community service has reached across academic, religious, fraternal, and charitable institutions. He is a member of the prestigious Orange Bowl Committee, Meharry Medical College (Chairman), and Trustee emeritus at Barry University. Additionally, he served as Clinical Professor in the Department of OB/GYN of the College of Medicine of Florida International University (2010-2018). He currently hosts a weekly Radio Talk Show—Health Talk on Gospel AM1490 WMBM. He served on the Florida International University’s Foundation Board for 10 years and as Vice Chairman for two of them. He also served as founding Chair for the Florida International University’s Center for Leadership – Alumnus, ’09. He has served on the boards of Bethune Cookman University, Barry University, the Children’s Trust, is the past Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Greater Miami Region of the National Conference of Christian and Jews now (MCCJ), and on the board of the Miami Art Museum, now (PAMM). He is also a proud member of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity—the “Boulé”, the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society. Additionally, he is a beloved and active member of the historic St. John Baptist Church where he serves as an Associate Minister and Chairman Emeritus of the Board of the church’s Community Development Corporation.

Dr. Adams has served on the board of directors of the Dade County Medical Association (DCMA) and is a past President of the DCMA. After several years on the board of Trustees of the National Medical Association he subsequently served as the 107th National President representing their nearly 40,000 African American physicians and the patients that they serve. Dr. Adams is married to Effie Jones Adams and they are the proud parents of Victoria and Nelson. Sustained by family ties and guided by spiritual values, Dr. Adams abides by the motto: “To whom much is given, much is required.

Raul Moas

Chair Funding Strategies Working group

Raul Moas serves as a senior director at Knight Foundation where he leads the foundation’s initiatives in building a more dynamic and robust community of entrepreneurs and startups in Miami, Florida. Raul is also a scout for Lightspeed Venture Partners, a global venture capital firm, where he invests in early-stage enterprise and consumer technology companies.

Prior to joining Knight, Raul served as the managing director of Miami Angels, Florida’s largest angel investor collective, which brings together exceptional entrepreneurs and accredited investors to fuel success. Beyond providing capital, Miami Angels collaborates with entrepreneurs to ensure they have access to best-in-class resources, advisors, and follow-on funding.

Raul previously served as the executive director of Roots of Hope, an international non-governmental organization focused on youth empowerment in Cuba. At Roots of Hope, Raul led the creation of programs like StartUp Cuba, which supports emerging entrepreneurs from the island in gaining practical skills, and social ventures like Discover Cuba, a B-Corp subsidiary which has facilitated hundreds of socially conscious trips and family reunifications. Raul is passionate about Greater Miami and deeply involved in making his community a better place. He serves on the boards of The Miami Foundation, Beacon Council, Endeavor Miami, and Hispanics in Philanthropy. Raul is a CPA in the State of Florida.

Otto Boudet-Murias

Chair Construction, Operation, Maintenance Working Group

Otto Boudet-Murias is principal with The TREO Group, a privately-owned real estate investment and development company headquartered in Miami, where he is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the company. In this role, he focuses on creating unique, innovative, and sustainable urban development projects. Otto has more than 25 years of experience in real estate development. Prior to founding The TREO Group, he served as senior real estate and economic development advisor to City of Miami Mayor Manuel A. Diaz and as assistant city manager/chief of planning and economic development. He was the Mayor’s point person in public-private partnerships, including Midtown Miami and Island Gardens on Watson Island. Before this, Otto was president of Ivy Properties, a firm specializing in development consulting and construction of residential and commercial properties throughout South Florida.

Active in the community, he is a member of the Urban Land Institute, serves on the board of directors of Cristo Rey Miami High School, the local chapter of a network of Catholic learning communities that educate low income youth. Boudet-Murias previously served on the local board of the Terwillinger Center for Workforce Housing, was a former member of the Miami River Commission, and currently serves on the board of directors of the Town Square Neighborhood Redevelopment Corporation, an entity that oversees the development of Miami’s emerging Arsht Center neighborhood.

Tina Brown

Representative Stakeholder Awareness, Education & Engagement Working Group

Tina Brown is a daughter of Miami – Historic Overtown to be exact – and the powerhouse leader who has dedicated her life to improving the lives of those who live, work and play in the community of her birth. Armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Savannah State University; a Master’s Degree in Accounting and almost two decades of experience in the field of accounting and business management for both corporate and non-profit entities; as well as unbridled drive, dedication and passion, Tina is well equipped to impact her community for good. Currently, Tina serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Overtown Youth Center; a 501c organization whose mission is to bridge educational, emotional, health, and economic gaps for youth and families residing in marginalized communities. Tina is responsible for the oversight of an annual organizational budget of $5 million and a $20 million dollar Capital Campaign Project. Thus far, raising $18M of the total project’s cost. Be it through executive leadership, mentoring, tutoring, or volunteering; Tina’s personal life experiences and passion drives her desire to have a positive impact on the lives of young people and their families in the same community she was raised in. Tina’s legacy goal is to change the lives of young people and their families for generations to come by providing opportunities for youth and families that aid in maximizing their full potential.

Trina Harris

Representative Government, Project Management, Strategic Oversight Working Group

Trina Harris has been the CEO at Touching Miami with Love, an organization serving children, youth and families, for more than a decade. Trina’s past positions in the community include Vice President of the Overtown/Omni Democratic Women’s Club, Executive with Overtown Optimist Club, Vice-Chair of the Overtown Community Advisory Board, and Lead Coach for the City of Miami Police Athletic League. Trina also currently serves as a Council Member for the Overtown Common Good Initiative launched in 2014 by Allegany Franciscan Ministries.

Since 2006 Trina has owned a small business in Overtown, Suite 110 Urbanwear, a streetwear shopping experience. Her shop is a destination in Overtown for streetwear, sneakers, souvenirs, and urban culture history. Her passion for the history and culture of Overtown inspired Trina’s signature clothing line, “Historic Overtown: Colored Town” merch, which is highly popular.

Trina holds a Master’s in Public Administration with a specialization in Leadership of Public Service and Nonprofit Administration

Trina Harris is a mom to two beautiful girls, a businesswoman, and a community advocate. A native of Miami, Florida, Trina was born in Overtown and is a life-long resident and homeowner. She is well-known and respected in the community. She has an innate urge to be a motivating peer-leader and supporter in the community, which is the foundation of her success. Her passion for seeing others succeed is a driving force in her life.

Lisa Martinez

Founder/CEO LM Genuine Solutions

Lisa Martinez is a systems connector dedicated to uplifting the South Florida community where she’s lived and worked for her entire life. In 2018, Ms. Martinez established LM Genuine Solutions, a strategic management and business-consulting firm, specializing in serving the needs of government, education, non-profit and private sector entities.

Prior to launching her own firm, she served as Chief Strategy Officer at Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) directly assisting the Superintendent of Schools, in creating, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives. In her previous position she was recruited to join Miami-Dade County Mayor’s senior staff overseeing the Departments of Cultural Affairs, Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces and the Miami-Dade Public Libraries. She was also the County’s liaison on children issues including school readiness and education-related programs until she was promoted to the role of Chief of Staff.

Ms. Martinez began her career as an elementary education teacher. In 2002, she developed a non-profit organization to support vulnerable youth. The success of this program led her to become the City of Miami Mayor’s Director of Policy and Legislation. After four years, she joined the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Grants at M-DCPS

Traffic, Mobility & Utilities

This group will be convening with all relevant agencies and stakeholders to identify key related challenges and to ensure short-term and long-term cross-sector plans are agreed upon and implemented.

Funding Strategies

This group was initially charged with fundraising the match dollars required by the Knight Foundation grant (noted in the approved MOU and City resolution). All fund-raising goals have been fully met as of December 2021 and are currently funding all planning activities. The group is now developing a framework for the fund development strategy related to capital, operational and maintenance needs.

Stakeholder Awareness, Education & Engagement

This group is responsible for casting the net broadly to create awareness of the project and engage residents in the Underdeck’s development. A full engagement strategy has been launched and will continue through the summer of 2022. A monthly newsletter and website will be launched beginning in March, monthly community meetings will be held through the Summer of 2022, and stakeholders will have regular monthly opportunities to inform and engage with the Underdeck Committee Working Groups.

Construction, Operation, Maintenance

This group is working closely with the City of Miami and FDOT to ensure that the Heritage Trail, Legacy Walls and other public art components will include stakeholder leadership, participation and input in the exhibits, artists, and content. This group is also working with the City to identify the appropriate expertise to develop a realistic estimate for the operation and management budget for the long-term sustainability of the public space. This estimated budget will inform the work of the fund development working group in the coming months.

Government, Project Management & Strategic Oversight

Naming/Branding – Over the last two months community meetings, focus groups, surveys, and interviews have been conducted to gather input from our community. Two engagement and marketing firms, Kivvit and Circle of One have been brought on board to support this process. A Creative Brief will be developed inclusive of potential names for the Underdeck or Open Space Area. These potential names will be shared with the community and further input will refine the final recommendations that will be considered by the Underdeck Executive Committee. The final selected name is subject to the approval of the City Commission.

This group has researched best practices on governance of public spaces and has been reviewing various governance structures nationally and locally. They are currently working on recommendations that would inform the governance of the public space. These recommendations will inform future bylaws.

Voice Your Support for The Underdeck!

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Greetings and Many Thanks,

It is not often that a municipal project with the scale and scope of the Underdeck, is developed with the intentional and valued participation from members of the community. The City of Miami is to be celebrated and commended for empowering the people of Miami through its sanctioning of the Underdeck Committee to provide community-driven recommendations about how the Underdeck should be designed, named, branded, programmed, operated, governed, and maintained.

In 2022, 124 members of the community served on five Underdeck working groups focused on Stakeholder Awareness and Engagement, Operations and Maintenance, Traffic and Mobility, Funding, and Governance. A total of 129 working group meetings were held during the year. More than 35 community in person and virtual meetings were held in Overtown and Downtown to engage residents, along with survey respondents providing feedback for the Underdeck Naming totaling more than 2000. In addition, two special interest groups were created for Economic Development and Youth Engagement, further expanding the Underdeck Committee’s outreach.

The anticipation of this 33-acre public multi-purpose green space is enhanced by knowing that the recommendations for development through this community engagement have been submitted for your review and will soon be voted upon. With a vote of “Yes” to these recommendations, the Underdeck will truly be a project of the people, by the people, for the people.

As a public space positioned to reconnect communities and serve as a destination for families and friends to engage with one another, it is greatly appreciated that the City of Miami has and will continue to value the voices, insights, and recommendations that will ultimately make the Underdeck we can authentically call our own.

Additional Comments (Optional)

Underdeck Executive Committee Members and Committee Manager

Rebecca Mandelman

Alan Fein

Anamarie Ferreira de Melo

Anthony Balzebre

Debra Scholl

Eddy Leal

Eric Woolworth

Jessica Goldman Srebnick

Karla Fortuny

Melissa Fernandez Stiers

Michael R Simkins

Nelson L. Adams MD

Raul Moas

Otto Boudet-Murias

Tina Brown

Trina Harris

Yvette Harrell

Underdeck Committee Manager/Lead Facilitator

Lisa Martinez

FOLLOW OUR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT GROUP ON

Rebecca Mandelman

Chair Underdeck Subcommittee Advisory Group (“USAG”)

Alan Fein

Chair Government, Project Management, Strategic Oversight Working Group

Anamarie Ferreira de Melo

Chair Funding Strategies Working Group

Eric Woolworth

Chair Traffic, Mobility & Utilities Working Group

Jessica Goldman Srebnick

Chair Town Square Neighborhood Development Corporation

Karla Fortuny

Designee Commissioner Chief of Staff District 1 City of Miami

Melissa Fernandez

Stiers Designee City Manager Chief of Staff City of Miami

Michael R Simkins

Representative Traffic, Mobility & Utilities Working Group

Nelson L. Adams, M.D.

Chair Stakeholder Awareness, Education & Engagement Working Group

Raul Moas

Chair Funding Strategies Working group

Otto Boudet-Murias

Chair Construction, Operation, Maintenance Working Group

Tina Brown

Representative Stakeholder Awareness, Education & Engagement Working Group

Trina Harris

Representative Government, Project Management, Strategic Oversight Working Group

Lisa Martinez

Founder/CEO LM Genuine Solutions

Traffic, Mobility & Utilities

Funding Strategies

Stakeholder Awareness, Education & Engagement

Construction, Operation, Maintenance

Government, Project Management & Strategic Oversight

Voice Your Support for The Underdeck!