Biographies

Tony Ojeda is the Executive Director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, which is the official County agency responsible for promoting Miami-Dade County as a Global Gateway and enhancing access to economic development opportunities.  The agency coordinates the efforts of the principal economic development agencies in Miami-Dade County with the County's agenda to ensure a comprehensive and unified approach to economic development initiatives and programs.  It conducts economic and demographic research and analysis, and issues periodic reports and recommendations that support economic development.  It also enhances access to economic development opportunities in targeted economic areas.  It promotes Miami-Dade County as a Global Gateway both locally and abroad by developing and expanding trade opportunities with countries throughout the world.  It maintains a database of local businesses involved in international trade to foster import and export opportunities.  It also administers the Miami-Dade Sister Cities program and works closely with the local Consular Corps.

Since joining Miami-Dade County in 1974, Mr. Ojeda has served as Special Assistant, Assistant to the Manager, and Assistant County Manager.  In January, 1998 he was appointed Director of the Mayor's Office of Protocol, International Trade and Commerce to oversee and develop the Mayor's international trade agenda. 

As an Assistant County Manager, he was responsible for the management of several key departments:
Public Works; Planning, Development and Regulation; Solid Waste Management; Metro Transit; Elections; Metropolitan Planning Organization; and the Expressway Authority.  Additionally, he served as the staff liaison to the Board of County Commissioners' Transportation and Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Development, Parks and Recreation, and Homestead Air force Base Re-use and Re-development committees.  He also staffed several County Commission Committees.

Additionally, he has been involved in several major reorganization and right-sizing studies, which have improved productivity and operations.  He works closely with officials at the federal, state and local levels, citizens groups, community organizations, national and local media, and professional organizations.  He has also organized the County's efforts for a number of large conferences and conventions, and was Miami-Dade's planner for the Summit of the Americas in 1994.  He coordinated the United States Southern Command's transition from Panama to Miami-Dade County, and in March 2003 he was Deputy Executive Director of the VIII FTAA Miami Ministerial and Americas Business Forum.

Prior to joining Miami-Dade, he served as Director of Model Cities and Community Development in Austin, Texas, from 1970 to 1974.  He holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree from the University of Florida and completed the requirements for a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Texas.

A native of Cuba, Mr. Ojeda has taught at universities in Florida and Texas as an adjunct professor.  He has participated in numerous panels and published articles in the International City Management Public Management Journal.  He is also an International City Management Association (ICMA) Credentialed Manager.

In addition, he has served on the Board of Directors of several community organizations and as Vice President of the International City Management Association (1983-85).  He has been a member of the American Society of Public Administrators (ASPA) since 1969, where he has served on the national council and has chaired the Finance Committee.  In 1989, he was General Conference Chair of the ASPA Conference and was named "Public Administrator of the Year" by ASPA's South Florida Chapter for his "long and dedicated service as a public administrator."  In 2010, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The International Hispanic Network which he helped found and where he has served on their Board of Directors.  Mr. Ojeda resides in the City of Coral Gables, Florida.