Dr. Griselle Marino

I am a government executive, multi-Emmy Award winner, and Florida International University Journalism and Media Hall of Fame inductee with extensive experience in legislative and public policy affairs, real estate, business operations, aviation, emergency management, regulatory compliance, external affairs, and community engagement.

My professional career spans three decades across government, aviation, business, journalism, and public service. These experiences have provided a multidisciplinary foundation in executive leadership, personnel management, organizational operations, legal research, public administration, and strategic decision-making.

Government Leadership, Legislative & Public Policy Affairs

My career includes 20 years of Miami-Dade County government service, supporting elected officials, executive leadership, and public agencies. I have held leadership positions with the Board of County Commissioners, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Office of Emergency Management, Miami-Dade Aviation Department, and Office of Community Advocacy.

Throughout my County career, I have supported nine Commission Chairs and worked closely with elected officials, senior administrators, department directors, attorneys, and community stakeholders.

My responsibilities have encompassed executive administration, legislative research, policy development support, personnel supervision, budgeting, public records compliance, governmental affairs, and intergovernmental coordination.

As Director of the Board of County Commissioners' Media Division, I supervised personnel and directed legislative and executive communications. My responsibilities included preparing speeches, official correspondence, policy-related materials, proclamations, and communications supporting the work of County leadership.

Within the Office of Community Engagement, I have directed advisory board operations, coordinated government and community initiatives, monitored legislative developments, and supported public meetings, executive correspondence, and partnerships involving public agencies, educational institutions, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

As a longtime Public Records Custodian, I have coordinated public records responsibilities and worked with the County Attorney's Office and other departments on matters involving governmental transparency, legal requirements, and public accountability.

Aviation, Emergency Management & FEMA External Affairs

My aviation career began in 1987 at Miami International Airport, where I worked with major international airlines, including Pan American World Airways, Avianca, American Airlines, and United Airlines.

With 12 years in the airline industry, I advanced through customer service, international passenger operations, airport services, and management positions. At United Airlines, I served in a supervisory leadership capacity, managing 45 employees supporting 17 daily departures and 15 arrivals.

My aviation experience also includes ground security coordination, airport operations, emergency response procedures, and personnel management within a complex international transportation environment.

I subsequently served as a Public Information Officer and bilingual spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, supporting airport communications, media relations, executive messaging, and coordination during operational emergencies.

As Public Affairs Manager for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Office of Emergency Management, I supervised personnel represented by three labor unions, including sworn firefighters, and administered the departmental public affairs budget.

My responsibilities included employee supervision, performance evaluations, personnel administration, emergency communications, crisis response, public safety messaging, and coordination with first responders and government agencies.

My emergency management training includes FEMA Emergency Management Institute coursework, National Incident Management System principles, Joint Information Center operations, emergency public information, disaster preparedness, and related public safety disciplines.

In 2017, I was selected for FEMA's External Affairs Cadre as a Media Relations Reservist.

Real Estate & Business Affairs

My business and real estate experience began in 1989 when I obtained my Florida real estate license. I maintained my license through 2009 and reinstated it in 2021. I currently hold an active Florida real estate license, and active Realtor status.

My real estate background includes residential and commercial real estate, property transactions, contract negotiations, pricing strategies, distressed properties, probate-related real estate matters, and business relationships.

I have completed specialized professional training in real estate negotiation, pricing, and distressed-property transactions.

This experience complements my background in government administration, business operations, public policy, legal research, and community development. It has provided practical knowledge of property ownership, contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, housing-related issues, and the relationship between government and private enterprise.

My academic foundation in business administration and my experience managing personnel, budgets, and organizational operations further support my work across the public and private sectors.

Legal Studies, Research & Regulatory Compliance

I earned an Associate in Arts in Business Administration from Miami Dade College and a bachelor's degree in Communications, with a minor in English, from Florida International University.

I subsequently completed 43 postgraduate credits at FIU's Legal Studies Institute, now under FIU's College of Law.

My legal experience includes working as a litigation paralegal with Black, Srebnick & Kornspan, P.A., supporting attorneys Roy Black, Howard M. Srebnick, and Scott A. Kornspan.

My responsibilities included conducting legal research, drafting motions and legal documents for attorney review, analyzing court records, organizing discovery, and assisting with litigation and trial preparation.

These experiences strengthened the analytical, legal writing, research, confidentiality, and document-management skills that I have continued to apply throughout my government career.

Since January 2018, I have also performed ADA-related responsibilities involving accessible public meetings, accommodation coordination, public communications, and digital documents. My work includes applying County accessibility training to document remediation and preparing accessible materials for publication on County websites.

Award-Winning Journalism & Media Leadership

My journalism career includes investigative reporting, television anchoring, writing, producing, and public affairs programming in English- and Spanish-language media.

My professional experience includes Univision 23, Telemundo 51, America TeVe, NBC 6, Bay News 9, WLRN/PBS, and Miami-Dade Television.

Throughout my broadcasting career, I covered government accountability, public policy, international affairs, immigration, education, human rights, and community issues.

My interviews have included internationally recognized figures such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and Lord Charles Spencer.

My journalism earned two Emmy Awards, five Emmy nominations, and induction into FIU's Journalism and Media Hall of Fame.

The skills developed through investigative reporting, research, editorial leadership, interviewing, and public communication have remained central to my work in government administration, executive affairs, and community leadership.

External Affairs, Community Engagement & Professional Leadership

Beyond County government, I serve as Director of Advocacy and External Affairs for the Global Innovative Foundation, supporting community initiatives addressing domestic violence prevention, human trafficking awareness, gun violence prevention, and assistance to vulnerable populations.

I also serve on FIU's College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts Dean's Advisory Board and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses' Miami Chapter Advisory Board.

My community involvement includes charitable, educational, professional, and public-service organizations, including decades serving the American Cancer Society.

I am a Certified Chaplain and hold an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree.

My professional recognition includes two U.S. congressional records entries, proclamations, certificates of appreciation, In the Company of Women Award in Communications and Literature, the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Leadership Award, Excellence in Pubic Service by Global Innovative Foundation, Hispanic Women of Distinction recognition, Mujeres que Trascienden from the Christian Latin Business Chamber of Commerce, Latino Center on Aging's Golden Age Award, and many other honors celebrating public service, communications, and community leadership.

Fluent in English and Spanish, with working knowledge of French and Portuguese, I bring a multilingual and multidisciplinary perspective to government administration, legislative and business affairs, real estate, aviation, emergency management, external affairs, and organizational leadership.

Throughout my career, my commitment has remained rooted in ethical leadership, professional integrity, public service, and the responsibility to serve communities effectively.