Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava reshuffled the deck on her communications team, tapping a seasoned journalist to lead the charge. Carlos Suarez, known for his tenure as a CNN correspondent in Miami, has been appointed the new Communications Director for the Office of the Mayor. Suarez's resume includes coverage of some of the most significant events to hit South Florida, like the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and Hurricane Irma, according to a press release by Miami-Dade County.
Mayor Levine Cava's office seems to be looking to widely expand its communications reach. "We are thrilled to welcome Carlos, a true homegrown talent, to our team," Mayor Levine Cava said. "His deep knowledge of our community and experience reporting on some of our most defining moments make him exceptionally well-positioned to reach our residents, and ensure that we are communicating effectively about County services, resources, and priorities across Miami-Dade." It's a strategic move, possibly designed to better serve and inform the local community, as noted by the county's website.
With this shake-up, Miami-Dade is also shifting current Communications Director Natalia Jaramillo to a new role. She's set to head countywide communication alignment and spearhead the digital engagement strategies within the Communications, Innovation & Technology Department (CITD). Jaramillo's not a stranger to transformation, having led bilingual media relations and communications strategies for over two decades, and bringing her expertise from local to national community organizations.
"Natalia has been an invaluable leader on my team, and we are excited to see her expertise in communications strategies support efforts across County government," Mayor Levine Cava told the press release. Her new role is to focus on beefing up departmental synergy, increasing the County's digital footprint, and continuing to enhance how they engage with constituents. It's clear that Miami-Dade County isn't just switching personnel; they're looking to holistically improve their digital and communicative operations.
Meanwhile, Rachel Johnson, who served as Deputy Chief of Staff overseeing communications, steps down this year but will stick around in a senior advisory role starting in 2026.
