Peggy Benua was appointed to the MBVCA in January 2020.  Peggy has spent the last 20 years working on Miami Beach, currently as the General Manager at Dream South Beach hotel.  Peggy relocated back to the area in 2000 when she joined Marriott as Resident Manager at the Eden Roc Renaissance. Prior to accepting the role as opening General Manager for Dream South Beach in 2008, Peggy was General Manager at the Marriott South Beach.  

Peggy earned her BFA from the University of North Florida, where she graduated cum laude.  Peggy has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry since earning her master’s degree in Hotel and Food Service Management from Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.

After completing a management training program with ITT Sheraton, she held various rooms operations positions in San Diego and Los Angeles area Sheraton Hotels, including the Sheraton LAX and the Sheraton Grande, part of the ITT Sheraton Luxury Collection.  Prior to relocating back to Miami, Peggy was Hotel Manager at Le Meridien Dallas from 1994 to 1999.

Peggy sits on the Executive Board of the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association and was Board Chair in 2014 and 2015. She served as a Board member of the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority from 2012 through 2017 and was Board Chair from 2014 to 2017.  Peggy is also a member of the AOHT Advisory Board as well as the Miami Beach Chamber Board of Governors.  She previously served as a member of the Miami Beach CCAB and has Miami Beach Commission for Women.

Peggy is the recipient of the 2022 Miami Beach Chamber’s “Excellence in Tourism” award, 2016 Miami Beach Commission for Women “Women Worth Knowing” Award, 2014 Recipient of the Red Cross “Sara Hopkins Woodruff Spectrum Awards for Women,” and 2012 Recipient HSMAI South Florida Chapter’s “General Manager of the Year”.  In October 2016 she was listed by Florida Trend as a Miami Dade “Must Know Contact”.

When not operating her hotel or participating in industry-related activities, she enjoys outdoor activities such as cycling and scuba diving.

Mohan Koka was appointed to the MBVCA in May 2024 and is currently the General Manager at the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel, Miami Beach. With over 24 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Mohan has held numerous department head and executive leadership positions. Prior to joining Kimpton, Mohan had an extensive career with Loews Hotels & Resorts, starting at the dynamic Loews Miami Beach Hotel, followed by the market-leading Loews Atlanta Hotel, and the charming Loews New Orleans Hotel.

While in Miami, Mohan began in a sales role and quickly made a mark with his dedication and skill. Advancing through the sales organization, he embraced opportunities to understand various market segments deeply. Selected for the prestigious Loews Leadership Development Program, Mohan transitioned into roles in Housekeeping and Front Office, where he played a key role in supporting a significant room renovation project and enhancing guest experiences.

In Atlanta, Mohan worked closely with the GM, taking on responsibilities during a transitional period. He focused on improving the hotel's online reputation, fostering a culture of excellence, and driving initiatives that enhanced guest satisfaction. His leadership contributed to the hotel's recognition and numerous accolades.

As General Manager at Loews New Orleans Hotel, Mohan led efforts to transform the employee culture, resulting in more engaged and motivated staff. He collaborated with Sales, Marketing, and Revenue teams to boost the hotel's performance and online presence. Mohan's involvement in the community included serving on several boards, where he contributed to the local tourism and hospitality landscape.

Returning to Miami in 2018, Mohan found a perfect fit with Kimpton Hotels. He built a strong leadership team, focusing on improving hotel performance and guest experiences. Under his guidance, the hotel navigated through the challenges of the pandemic and emerged stronger, continuing on a trajectory of excellence. Mohan currently serves on the board of the FRLA's Miami chapter.

Fluent in six languages, Mohan enjoys yoga, biking, cooking, and spending time with his family. His leadership style is characterized by motivation, results-driven accountability, and a deep commitment to enhancing the guest experience.

Lisette Garcia was appointed to theMBVCA in February 2026. Lisette is a passionate advocate for inclusive economicempowerment and serves as the Executive Director at the Miami-Dade LGBTQ+& Allied Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC).  With over 25 yearsof experience spanning marketing, business development, government relations,event production and community engagement, Lisette brings a powerful blend ofstrategic vision and grassroots connection to her work.

Lisette’s career reflects her deep commitment to representation, inclusion, and opportunity. From launching the first free-floating car share program in Miami to driving multimodal mobility initiatives nationwide, she has consistently opened doors and created pathways in both the public and private sectors. Her background includes leadership roles at companies like Lime, Gotcha, Ofo, Sony Music, and Color Magazine—where she helped tell the stories of professionals of color and promote inclusive narratives in media and business.  She has also launched three of her own businesses one of which was the first gay wedding planning business in Massachusetts, co-founded a diversity publication in Boston called Color Magazine and ran her own consulting business, c3 Strategies.  

Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Lisette is a connector, a builder, and a champion of inclusive innovation and growth. She is proud to leverage her expertise and passion for entrepreneurship to help grow and support Miami’s vibrant LGBTQ+ and allied business ecosystem. 

Lisette is also a proud native Miamian who attended MDC and holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Management with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from Simmons University in Boston, MA.  

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Faye Goldin was born in Brooklyn, New York and has been a resident of the City of Miami Beach since 1976. She currently works at the Nike Store on Lincoln Road where she assists residents and tourists alike daily, with their needs and purchases. Faye has dedicated her time to various Boards in Miami Beach to include the Fine Arts Board; Beautification Committee; Police Citizens Relations Committee; Miami Beach Sister Cities Committee; and most recently on the Miami Beach Commission for Women. She was also previously an active member of the Mount Sinai Young Presidents Club and the Mount Sinai Founders Club. She currently resides in the Mid-Beach area of Miami Beach.

Jorge Gonzalez was appointed to the MBVCA in February 2026. Mr. Gonzalez has served as the Village Manager of Bal Harbour Village since November 12, 2013. Mr. Gonzalez is responsible for providing executive level leadership, vision and guidance to the organization, providing recommendations to the Village Council and implementing policy directives in an efficient and effective manner – all part of an incredibly diverse and dynamic community.

Previously, Mr. Gonzalez served as the City Manager of the City of Miami Beach from August 21, 2000 through September30, 2012, becoming the City’s 19th Manager since its incorporation in 1915, and to date, has been the longest-serving City Manager in the City’s modern era. During his twelve-year tenure, Mr. Gonzalez developed and implemented the City’s strategic planning framework, establishing a formal planning process and fostering an organizational culture focused on teamwork, performance measurement, effectiveness and out-of-the box thinking. This focus resulted in the City of Miami Beach’s recognition for a variety of projects and initiatives, including one project selected as the Governor’s Florida Sterling Council 2007 Quality Team Showcase State Champion. That program, the Public Area Cleanliness Program, was created to address community feedback on cleanliness throughout the City and was recognized as the project that imparted the greatest community impact. The American Planning Association (APA) Gold Coast Section also recognized the value and effectiveness of the City’s strategic planning process in 2007, as they selected our City’s Strategic Planning Process to receive the Award for Excellence for an Outstanding Strategic Planning Project or Study.

During his tenure, Mr. Gonzalez led the City of Miami Beach into a number of exciting joint partnerships to include AEG and Live Nation, The New World Center and Soundscape Park, Symphony, and Art Basel Miami Beach. Mr. Gonzalez was also instrumental in attracting and promoting high-profile special events for the destination, ranging from Super Bowl (2007 and 2010), the Food Network’s South Beach Food & Wine Festival(celebrating its eleventh year), the Latin Grammys, MTV Latin Music Awards, the SOURCE Awards, and the Latin Billboard Awards. As a result, the City of Miami Beach enjoys a reputation as a trend-setting destination.

Prior to joining the City of Miami Beach, Mr. Gonzalez was the Senior Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)for Montgomery County, Maryland, the highest position in the County merit employment system. As Senior Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Gonzalez was part of the County's management team and was responsible for the coordination, direction and guidance of all aspects of the organization's operations, with special focus on technology, budget, personnel and labor/management issues.

From 1995-1999, Mr. Gonzalez was an Assistant County Manager for Arlington County, Virginia. While at Arlington County, he helped to coordinate the functions of a variety of departments, developed the County's plan and budget to prepare for Y2K, and was the County's point person on all interactions with Arlington Public Schools. In addition, he served concurrently as acting director of the Human Resources Department for almost two years.

From 1990 – 1995, Mr. Gonzalez held a number of positions with Miami-Dade County, including Assistant Director of Administration for the Center for the Fine Arts; Management Consultant with the Audit and Management Services Department; and a Management Trainee with the Office of the County Manager.

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Christopher Rollins was appointed to the MBVCA in February 2026. Chris has over 25 years of leadership experience in the hospitality industry and is a results-driven executive known for successfully driving operational excellence, enhancing guest experiences, and optimizing business growth. He has held senior leadership roles with renowned global brands, managing multi-million-dollar portfolios across luxury hotels, resorts, and multi-property operations.

At the core of Christopher’s career is a passion for delivering outstanding service while leading teams to exceed expectations and foster long-term customer loyalty. With a proven track record in financial management, brand positioning, and strategic planning, Christopher consistently leverages a deep understanding of market trends to identify new opportunities, streamline operations, and increase profitability.

Throughout his career, Christopher has demonstrated expertise incorporate restructuring, hospitality marketing, and team development, making a significant impact on revenue growth and operational efficiency. His leadership style is collaborative, building high-performance teams, inspiring innovation, and creating cultures that value excellence, integrity, and customer satisfaction.

As a forward-thinking executive, Christopher continues to shape the future of hospitality by embracing technology, sustainability, and data-driven strategies to meet the evolving needs of both guests and businesses. Whether through redefining service standards or introducing cutting-edge initiatives, Christopher remains committed to making a lasting impact on the hospitality landscape.

As a proud invited member of the Miami Dade International Trade Consortia, Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Board, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau Board, Florida Restaurants & Lodging Association Board, and Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association board, enables Christopher to promote the image of Miami and Miami Dade County locally, nationally, and internationally as a vibrant community and a beautiful tourist destination.  Christopher has a passion for our city. He facilitates partnerships with local leaders and elected officials for decision making in the city’s future, convention center, infrastructure, and new development. He cares about the success of Miami and works tirelessly to bring visitors to our wonderful destination and churn the economic engine that keeps Miami moving into the future.

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Ana Cecilia Velasco, better known as Ceci, was appointed to the MBVCA in February 2026. Ceci is an energetic and highly dynamic executive with extensive leadership experience across public, private, and non-profit sectors. Currently serving as Executive Director of the Ocean Drive Association, Velasco has led major restructuring efforts, developed compliant bylaws, and enhanced stakeholder representation. Notably, Velasco established the Tourism Oriented Policing Service in partnership with the City of Miami Beach and managed high-profile events such as the Super Bowl programming and New Year’s Eve celebrations. As a recognized media spokes person and primary Spanish-language contact for South Beach hospitality issues, Velasco has worked closely with policymakers on COVID-19 business measures. Velasco also serves on several boards and advisory panels, including the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Power Access, Inc., focusing on disability awareness.

Previously, Velasco held executive roles at Mango’s Tropical Café and the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, overseeing multimillion-dollar budgets, staff management, and strategic initiatives. Earlier in her career, Velasco managed asset portfolios for the City of Miami Beach and directed programs for the Illinois Department of Transportation, championing minority and women-owned business enterprises.

Velasco holds a B.A. in Political Science and English Literature from Eastern Illinois University and has participated in graduate studies at the University of Illinois Springfield. Her leadership has been recognized with awards such as the Hispanic Business Advocate Award and the Better Beach Citizen Award.

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