Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has appointed longtime broadcast journalist Carlos Suarez as her new Communications Director.
The move is part of a broader reshuffling of the administration’s media team that includes elevating current Communications Director Natalia Jaramillo to a countywide role and keeping outgoing Deputy Chief of Staff Rachel Johnson on in an advisory capacity.
Suarez, a Miami native who has reported and anchored for major outlets in South Florida and served as CNN’s Miami-based correspondent, is set to lead the Mayor’s communications shop.
His prior news coverage has included some of the region’s most consequential events, including the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, the local response to COVID, Hurricane Irma and the Surfside condo collapse.
“We are thrilled to welcome Carlos, a true homegrown talent, to our team,” Levine Cava said in a statement.
“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.”
Of note, Suarez is not to be confused with Carlos Ignacio Suarez, Chief of Staff to Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.
Before joining CNN, Suarez reported and anchored at WPLG-Local 10 and NBC6. He was born and raised in Miami and graduated from Florida International University with a degree in political science and international relations.
He is also bilingual in English and Spanish, which county officials say will help broaden outreach in one of the nation’s most diverse communities.
Jaramillo, who has served as Communications Director since March 2024, will transition to the county’s Communications, Innovation & Technology Department (CITD), where the Mayor’s Offices says she will oversee communications alignment and digital engagement strategies.
The new post is designed to streamline messaging across departments, deploy more efficient and effective campaigns, and strengthen Miami-Dade’s digital platforms and presence.
“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,” Levine Cava said. “Her new role will strengthen coordination and streamline work across departments, expand the County’s digital reach, and continue improving how we communicate with the people we serve.”
A veteran bilingual media professional with decades of experience, Jaramillo joined the Mayor’s Office five years ago as Deputy Communications Director.
She previously led communications strategy and bilingual media relations for local, statewide and national organizations.
Jaramillo is originally from Colombia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá and a master’s degree in development studies from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague.
Johnson, who has been serving as Deputy Chief of Staff overseeing communications, will depart that role later this year. But she’ll remain connected to the administration as a part-time senior communications adviser to the Mayor beginning next year.