ALEJANDRA “ALEX” ARGUDIN

CEO, MIAMI PARKING AUTHORITY, MIAMI

With more than 160 employees, the Miami Parking Authority is a semi-autonomous organization that manages public parking in Miami. Argudin has been at MPA for 19 years, the last five as CEO. She’s the first woman to lead the 70-year-old organization. In the role, she has spearheaded the adoption of innovative technologies to improve mobility and increase pedestrian and vehicular safety. She has forged public-private partnership agreements to redevelop aging garages into mixed-use projects. Innovatively, MPA is now managing parking across jurisdictional boundaries beyond Miami.

EDUCATION: Florida International University (BBA, MBA)

FIRST JOB: While in high school, I worked as a receptionist through a youth summer program at the city of Miami, which was foundational to my passion for public service. Promoted several times, I became acting director for the Department of Public Facilities until I joined the authority.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: The development industry piqued my interest and curiosity when negotiating public-private partnerships to redevelop MPA’s aging garages.

SOMETHING SURPRISING: Losing my father as a teenager, I juggled profound grief while balancing school and work obligations to help my mother. My mother, who worked two jobs to support our family, was my role model, guiding light and character builder. This experience fomented my resilience and deep responsibility toward family, work and community. The youth program that gave me my first job opportunity at that difficult time was the foundation for my commitment to social responsibility.