Eric T. Carpenter, a veteran in public service, has been named the new city manager of Miami Beach, a position previously held by Alina T. Hudak who stepped down in March; Mayor Steven Meiner announced the appointment, citing Carpenter's extensive knowledge of the city and his established rapport with community members as key qualifications for the role. "Eric Carpenter is the best person for this job,” Meiner stated, expressing confidence in Carpenter's ability to lead a staff of over 2,300 employees across numerous departments, according to a post on the city's official website.
Carpenter's tenure with Miami Beach began in 2013 when he was appointed as public works director, later rising through the ranks to assistant city manager and then deputy city manager leading him to see over various essential city departments such as Building, Capital Improvement Projects, and Transportation among others, he joined the city after serving as director of Public Works for the City of Doral from 2006 to 2013 and his achievements during this period have decorated his professional saga, including receiving the recognition as the 2010 Government Engineer of the Year by the Miami-Dade Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
"I’m honored and humbled to serve as city manager for one of the greatest destinations in the United States," Carpenter told the Miami Beach official website. He emphasized his more than a decade of experience within the Miami Beach government that he believes places him in an advantageous position to improve city operations and resident services.
Holding a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering with a minor in chemistry from the University of Maryland and a litany of certifications including an OSHA-40 (plus 8-hour OSHA Supervisory Training), Carpenter is also a respected voice in the community for his participation in the South Florida Branch of the American Public works association serving as executive board chairman from 2017 to 2019, showcasing a blend of academic rigor and community engagement set to shape his administration of Miami Beach's various urban initiatives.
