Inching closer to his three-year anniversary as Key Biscayne’s first Management Information Systems manager, Alex Gonzalez calls himself a “man of multiple hats.” Gonzalez even spins records as a DJ in his spare time.

His roles as information technology (IT) and cybersecurity specialist, just to name a couple, have been noticed by Village officials, who recently awarded him with the Employee of the Year award.

“I love the opportunity,” said Gonzalez, who previously earned a similar award when he was the Senior Systems Administrator for the police department in Hialeah, where he was raised after moving from his birthplace in New Jersey.

Village Manager Steve Williamson thanked Gonzalez for his efforts.

“He helps us communicate and be productive every day,” Williamson said. “Every event we do, he’s here. So, thank you for your dedication.”

Gonzalez was one of several employees to earn departmental recognition awards as well, including:

• Shirley Cabrera – PROS, full time

• Judy Shostak – PROS, part time

• Mariana Dominguez-Hardis – BZP

• Carlos Sanchez – Public Works

• Daniel Canto – Fire Rescue

• Martin Santiago – Police

• Daynara Llompart – Police, civilian

• Alex Gonzalez – Admin + Employee of the Year

“A number of these people aren’t visible every single day, particularly those at the senior leadership level, but these are the people that interface with our public and do the customer service that we expect and what they expect as well,” Williamson said.

Gonzalez, 47, who took his wife and two children to the Blue Ridge Mountains after New Year’s Day “hoping to find snow,” said he enjoys his work, which can sometimes be challenging.

“Cybersecurity is the biggest challenge and AI,” he said. “That’s where the industry is moving to, so you’ve got to be very careful. Even though we’re experts, we end up questioning ourselves, ‘Is this really real or not?’ “

Then, he or someone from his team will reach out to the Florida League of Government Information Systems Association (FLGISA) and “they’ll either say 98% have seen it and are OK with it, or not.”

Among Gonzalez’s duties are overseeing the IT departments for Village Hall (i.e., Police, Fire, Community Center, BZP, Finance),”basically, the entire network,” as well as being responsible for audio setups and closed-circuit broadcasts.

Williamson said, basically, without someone like Gonzalez, the Village couldn’t operate properly.

“That’s what they say,” Gonzalez said, chuckling.

A boating and fishing enthusiast, Gonzalez was asked what he enjoys most about Key Biscayne, an hour-plus drive from his home in Pembroke Pines.

“The staff is excellent, very supportive and everything and anything is within reach,” he said, pointing especially to Williamson and Chief of Staff Jennifer Rodero. “They’re always helping.”