Michael Hammon, Board Chair
Mr. Hammon is currently employed at the Related Group, where he serves as a Senior Vice President. Previously, Michael served as the Chief Development Officer for The Platform, a full-service real estate development company. Further, Mike joined Ram Realty Services in 2000 to lead the expansion of the company’s multifamily development business while being part of the senior management team and Investment Committee.
As a resident of the City of Miami Beach for the past twenty-four years, he has served on numerous civic and cultural committees in the city, including The Miami City Ballet Construction Committee, The Collins Park Cultural Campus Oversight Committee, the Cultural Arts Neighborhood District Overlay Committee and Miami Beach United.
Mr. Hammon attended Indiana University, where he received a B.S. degree in Finance. He later received an M.B.A. degree with an emphasis on Real Estate and Finance from the University of California, Berkeley.
Will Wiseheart, Board Secretary
Will Wiseheart attended Cornell University and is pursuing a master’s degree in real estate development and urbanism at the University of Miami. He has worked in real estate asset management since 2014.
Raymond Pereira, Board Treasurer
Raymond Pereira is a member of the Board of Directors. He is a South Florida native who studied and worked in the digital advertising and marketing field. He is a Juris Doctorate and Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig LL.M. in Real Property Development graduate from the University of Miami School of Law. Mr. Pereira currently works for Save The Water, Inc., a local non-profit for environmental advocacy, holding the role of Legal Consultant.
Juanita Franklin
Juanita Franklin is a member of the Board of Directors. Juanita’s responsibilities include the general board member responsibilities enumerated above. Her areas of expertise include music, community engagement, and her experience as a current MBCDC resident living at the Meridian Place. She is currently retired.
Catalina Rodriguez
As an associate attorney at DLA Piper LLP, Catalina facilitates numerous complex commercial and residential real estate transactions in the South Florida area. Originally from Texas, Catalina attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she received a B.A. in Sociology. She later graduated cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law, where she completed her J.D. degree and the Robert Traurig-Greenberg Traurig LL.M. in Real Property Development. Throughout her time at the University of Miami, Catalina worked closely with various non-profit and academic organizations to research the issues facing affordable housing development in South Florida. Through this research, she helped develop strategic plans to aid and engender affordable housing development. Catalina remains passionate about affordable housing, and is excited to bring her knowledge and experience from the private sector to the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation.
Jeremy Shir
As a land-use attorney at Becker Lawyers, Jeremy assists in guiding developers, business owners and Homeowners’ Associations through the multifaceted approval process with issues such as site-plan approvals, rezonings, variances, special exceptions and conditional use permits; Land Use Due diligence reports; Developer Agreements and local government negotiations; platting and plat note amendments, drafting covenants and easements, concurrency and vested rights analyses, Zoning Opinion Letters for lenders, and code enforcement hearings. And, he also specializes in representing condominium associations and HOA’s with strategic advice, negotiations and, when necessary, administrative hearings or litigation against developers on the intensity of use, compatibility issues and construction management.
With knowledge of the complex government procurement process, including responding to Requests for Proposals (RFP), Jeremy assists in production from the early stages of team-building through project submittals and presentations to final selection and negotiation. He has experience collaborating with various stakeholders, governmental entities, institutions, lobbyists, experts and interest groups.
Mr. Shir attended Washinton University, where he received a B.A. degree in Political Science. He later received a J.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Law.
Cicely Hodges
Having spent various parts of her life in situations of unstable housing, Cicely understands the struggle of securing a roof over one's head. She was the first person on her father's side to go to college and second on her mother's. After attending a community college for her Associate's degree, Cicely transferred to University of Central Florida for her Bachelor's in Social Work and a minor in Spanish Language and Literature. She moved to Miami in 2017 to attend University of Miami School of Law and graduated cum laude with her J.D. three years later. During law school, Cicely worked with various nonprofits concerned with affordable housing, homelessness, and tenants' rights in South Florida. She also engaged in community organization and education efforts in the historic West Grove. Cicely strives to continue on her path of creating a more equitable living situation for those in South Florida by assisting Miami Beach Community Development Corporation in ensuring that its tenants have safe and affordable housing to come home to each night.
Maria Barrios
Maria Barrios is a member of the Board of Directors. Maria’s responsibilities include the general board member responsibilities. She is a dedicated member of her community at large, she enjoys community engagement and helping other residents at Villa Matti, and being a current MBCDC resident. She enjoys spending quality time with her family.