Rickelle Williams

Rickelle Williams is an effective, intuitive administrator, strategic thinker, and team builder serving as Assistant City Manager, following her appointment as Interim City Manager. During her tenure as Interim City Manager, Williams was responsible for the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget development process, successful planning and execution of Memorial Day Weekend activities, appointment of the City’s (and Miami-Dade County’s) first woman Fire Chief, and oversight of the collective bargaining process with multiple unions.

As Assistant City Manager since November 2022, Williams has overseen a portfolio of various administrative and operational departments which has included Economic Development, Housing and Community Services, Parking, Planning, Transportation & Mobility, and Tourism & Culture. She is responsible for oversight of the City’s two community redevelopment agencies, Miami Beach Convention Center operations, and providing leadership to the City’s partnership with the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. Her strong business acumen, methodical management style, and stellar communication and interpersonal skills have contributed to demonstrated success in economic and community development initiatives during her tenure with the City of Miami Beach.

Williams joined the City of Miami Beach in September 2020, leading the Economic Development Department and facilitating the strategic planning, development and implementation of programs that attract and retain businesses and entrepreneurs in the greatest coastal city in the United States. She has been responsible for strengthening Miami Beach’s commercial character, promoting community development, growing the pool of quality talent, catalyzing economic investment and real estate development; and serving as a critical resource to local and regional businesses.

Her time with the City initially focused primarily on economic growth and diversification including, but not limited to, establishing the North Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, overseeing and implementing planning studies, such as the Land Use, Mobility and Economic Development Study of the Mixed-Use Entertainment District (Art Deco Cultural District); promoting public private partnerships (P3) for arts and culture facilities; creating the Job Creation Incentive Program and an Expedited Plan Review and Permitting Program for targeted industries; spearheading three COVID-19 small business recovery business grant programs; negotiating and shepherding a workforce housing development and lease agreement; and facilitating streetscape project planning for commercial corridors.

Prior to joining the City of Miami Beach, Williams served as Executive Director at the Dania Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) where she developed and managed programs and initiatives to nurture an innovative and inclusive economy, including marketing a successful mixed-use development with over 1 million square feet of retail/restaurants, creating an affordable housing program to enable single-family infill housing development and down-payment assistance for low-to-moderate income households. She facilitated development of a job creation incentive package for a major corporate relocation and secured $1 million in grant funding in support of a 300-unit market rate residential development. Williams developed and implemented a rebranding initiative, led a multitude of successful economic development programs that produced jobs and supported businesses by leveraging commercial and residential improvement initiatives, workforce training, arts and cultural events, and capital projects.

Earlier in her career Williams served as the Economic Development Manager for the Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust, an agency of Miami-Dade County, focused on economic investment in targeted urban areas and housing and employment opportunity. She also worked as the Capital Improvement Projects Coordinator at the City of Miami Gardens, administering a $60 Million General Obligation Bond program for public facilities and public safety infrastructure and technology. In addition, Williams has also worked as a Project Development Analyst at the Housing Finance Authority of Miami-Dade County, which offers bond financing for multifamily affordable housing developments and down payment assistance for first time homebuyers.

Williams holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and graduate certificate in Community Development from Florida International University (FIU) and a Master of Arts (MA) in Mass Communication from the University of Florida. Williams holds the distinction of holding the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credential awarded by the International Economic Development Council. She is also certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP®), LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP®) and Florida Redevelopment Association Redevelopment Administrator (FRA-RA). She is active with the Miami-Dade City and County Management Association, is a proud Miami-Dade County resident and enjoys volunteering and spending time with family and friends.

Awards, Honors and Recognition:

• Jamaica native leads push to lure companies to Miami Beach as city’s top corporate booster, Miami Herald, 2022
• “Most Prominent and Influential Black Professionals” Award, Legacy Miami, 2023
• “40 Under 40” in Economic Development Award, DCI/Jorgenson Pace, 2023
• “Black Woman in Excellence” Award, Black Professionals Network Miami, 2024
• “Badass of the Year” Award (Badass Women of the Year), Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 2024