The Omni Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board voted last week to authorize the separation of Executive Director Isiaa Jones, appoint Carlos I. Suarez as her successor, and form an auditor selection committee — marking a major leadership transition for one of Miami’s most active redevelopment districts.
Jones, who has worked within the city since 2016, began as a paralegal before serving as the CRA’s legal officer from 2017 to 2022 and later as city attorney. She was appointed interim executive director of the CRA in October 2023 and became permanent soon after. Her tenure ended two years later, closing a chapter defined by record housing production, bond expansion, and a renewed focus on equity.
“First of all, Isiaa Jones, I have deeply enjoyed working with you,” said Commissioner Damian Pardo, chair of the Omni CRA. “I’ve enjoyed your professionalism, your outreach in the community, and everything you’ve done. We can only wish you the best with this new chapter.”
Commissioner Damian Pardo, chair of the Omni CRA, at the meeting to appoint a new executive director.
(Amelia Orjuela Da Silva for The Miami Times)
The Omni CRA stretches north from Interstate 395 to Northeast 20th Terrace and is bounded by Biscayne Bay to the east and Northwest 2nd Avenue to the west. Its district includes Omni, Northeast Overtown, South Wynwood, South Edgewater and small portions of Park West and Watson Island.
A legacy of service
Under Jones’ leadership, the Omni CRA worked to ensure that redevelopment uplifted rather than displaced Miami’s historic Black community. Using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreements, the agency leveraged developer participation in affordable housing, small-business investment, and cultural preservation.
Isiaa Jones reading her remarks as she bids farewell to her position as Omni CRA executive director.
(Amelia Orjuela Da Silva for The Miami Times)
“Over the past two years, my team and I have worked tirelessly, through long days and sleepless nights, driven by a shared commitment to serve this community,” Jones told the board. “Together, we’ve created over 30 resolutions, implemented strong operating procedures, and produced more than 1,500 affordable housing units, with 1,000 more in the pipeline.”
She noted how the CRA extended its life until 2047 and unlocked more than $160 million in bond capacity, while committing record funding to Overtown and preserving its cultural landmarks.
“This work has never been about recognition, but about service,” she said. “As I pass the baton, it is not the end of the race. The Omni CRA’s strength has always been in its roots, its people, its history, and its purpose here in the City of Miami.”
According to the 2024 Omni CRA Annual Report, the agency invested in key projects such as UNI Tower, a 252-unit affordable housing complex that earned the Florida Redevelopment Association’s Outstanding New Building Award; Wynwood Works, with rents as low as $596; and Palm Plaza, which received $900,000 to rehabilitate 18 units. The CRA also invested $6.8 million to preserve historic sites including Dorsey Memorial Library, Mt. Olivette Baptist Church, and the Dawkins Ward Educational Center, while expanding beautification grants and small-business microgrants.
Jones’ separation agreement totals $191,244, including 20 weeks of severance, a $33,000 payout under the employee manual, and $48,000 in accrued leave. The reason for the separation was not discussed at the meeting.
Carlos Suarez steps in
The board unanimously approved the appointment of Carlos I. Suarez, formerly Chief of Staff to Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, as executive director. Suarez enters in a new era with the CRA’s extension and a new bond series expected to be announced soon, Pardo’s office told The Miami Times.
Suarez will earn a $265,000 salary, with an $800 monthly car allowance and $200 cellphone stipend. Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela raised concerns about the higher salary, prompting Pardo to clarify that the pay was “very competitive, but not greater” than Jones’.
“We were very fortunate that Carlos Suarez was available,” Pardo said. “He had many options that he reviewed, and we were fortunate that he chose this opportunity to advance the mission of the Omni CRA and lead it into a new chapter.”
A bilingual Miami native and Cuban American, Suarez holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Florida International University and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University. His career spans over a decade in the cruise industry and senior federal posts, including at USAID and the U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States.
“The Omni CRA represents the very best of Miami, where culture, business, and community come together,” Suarez said. “Our job is to make sure that growth benefits everyone. The revitalization means opportunity, and development includes housing, small businesses, and public spaces that serve residents just as much as investors.”
Looking ahead
The board also formed an auditor selection committee to solicit proposals and recommend an independent party for the CRA’s annual financial audit. Pardo will chair the committee, joined by members Erica T. Paschal and former city Chief Financial Officer Larry M. Spring.
The leadership transition comes as the Omni CRA continues major redevelopment efforts balancing economic growth and equity in a district long central to Miami’s Black cultural history.
“As I pass the baton, it is not the end of the race,” Jones said in her closing remarks. “May you continue to build upon that foundation.”