The BID Staff

The BID Staff

Cynthia Seymour

Acting Executive Director

As the Acting Executive Director of the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District, Cynthia K. Seymour’s primary responsibility is to advance the mission of the CGBID. To serve that mission, she conducts quarterly Board meetings, tracks project progress with several departments of the City of Miami including Public Works and Capital Improvements and coordinates several large-scale community events such as Cinco de Mama, Blues in the Grove, and the Heart of the Grove Concert with the Miami Symphony Orchestra.

Prior to her position as Acting Executive Director, she worked for the City of Miami as a District Director at the Office of Commissioner Ken Russell. She received her master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Virginia and took supplemental coursework at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in their landscape design program. For her Bachelor of Arts, she studied Political Science at New York University. Her experience in her previous role, paired with her studies in both landscape design and political science, prepared her to successfully lead the CGBID through the COVID epidemic and meet business needs in 2020 and 2021.

She owes the success of the CGBID to the excellent staff that always exceeds expectations and has the community’s needs as their number one priority. A few achievements of such an enterprising team are the yearly tripling of parking revenues in Regatta Harbour, the successful execution of urban renewal projects such as the beautification of pedestrian areas with updated landscaping plans, new trees, and sidewalk maintenance, and the team’s latest achievement is the crowning jewel, recognition by Condé Nast Travel as one of the “World’s Most Walkable Neighborhoods.”

Under Cynthia’s leadership, the CGBID looks towards serving the community not only with its fervent passion for Coconut Grove but also by demonstrating its effectiveness with measurable results; the Grovite e-newsletter has seen a 413% increase in readership since she joined in December 2020, 76% of graffiti has been removed from several areas in the district, and the post-pandemic business recovery initiative offered over $250,000 in business relief to retailers and restaurants in 2021.

Kristell Hurtado

Marketing Director

Kristell Hurtado stands out as an accomplished marketing strategist, particularly in the realms of food and alcoholic beverages. With a consistently strong client orientation throughout her career, she excels at creating and deploying marketing initiatives that have an immediate impact on market share and is skilled at managing complex projects, and specializes in creatively solving challenges for stakeholders at all levels across the business community.  Her deep-seated interests include digital marketing, communications, PR, social media, content generation, and staying abreast of market trends.

A Venezuela native, Kristell made her way to Miami in 2017, settling in Coconut Grove. She is multilingual, fluent in Spanish, English, French, Italian, and Portuguese, and possesses a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in marketing.

Before transitioning to an independent consultant role in 2022, Kristell’s career trajectory includes significant roles. She functioned as a brand manager at Bakerly in Miami, took on the role of Channel Coordinator at Somos TV in Miami, and held several positions in marketing and brand management in Venezuela. Starting in October 2022, she began her engagement with the BID, focusing on social media services, producing the “Grovite” weekly newsletter, and orchestrating cross-promotional activities for local businesses, including promotions and community events.

Venusmia Fernandez Lovely

Administrative and Special Events Director

Venusmia “Venus” Fernandez Lovely serves multiple roles at the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District (CGBID), primarily Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director, Office Manager, and supervisor to the Accounting department. Venus’ all-encompassing position at the CGBID sees her at the helm of solutions to the varied challenges that come weekly from the district’s efforts to bolster the businesses they affect daily, and the community they want to sustainably grow.

Venus is a seasoned and multifaceted professional with over 15 years of experience in leadership roles and developing programs for community engagement. In addition to working at the CGBID, she is also the co-founder of The Lovely Group, a consulting agency that works with multiple organizations such as the Football is Freedom Initiative, Florida Rising, and the Coconut Grove Art & Historical Association. Previously, Venus was the Miami-Dade Ambassador for the Arts and the Chief of Staff to both Senator Dwight Bullard and Annette Taddeo.

Born in Brooklyn, but raised in Miami, Venus is the daughter of the former New York Dominican Consul General, Francisco Fernandez. Her passion for civic engagement and the arts has seen her at the helm of various programs to improve communities throughout South Florida. She serves as the President of the South Dade Democratic Black Caucus and previously held the title of Vice President of the Reggae Girlz Foundation, Inc.

Bill Kress

Business Communications & Editorial Services

Bill Kress oversees the BID’s Business Communications & Editorial Services as an independent specialist. He is a seasoned communicator who taps from a deep reserve of skills in journalism, photography, digital communications, and creating long-form content to support multiple corporate, civic, and nonprofit clients across South Florida. He is also a contract reporter/editor with local print and online publications chain. Prior to launching Kress Communications in 2016, Bill most recently served as communications manager/PIO for the Village of Palmetto Bay after serving more than 20 years in corporate communications management with the airline industry and hospitality.

Drawn to Miami right out of college, Bill launched his career here, initially in journalism and then in organizational PR primarily with several U.S.-based airlines across the country including Piedmont/USAir, America West Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. He also served in the capacity as internal communications manager with Phoenix-based Best Western International Hotels. After traveling to nearly 30 countries and living in seven different states, Bill returned in 2008 to re-establish life here in South Florida.

With offices in Coconut Grove and Pompano Beach, Bill maintains strong ties with the local news media, business leaders, community figures, and municipal officials – as well as close relationships with PR peers and collaborators throughout Miami-Dade County. Also worthy of note: The Minority Chamber of Commerce named Kress Communications Best PR Firm of the Year 2016.

A native of Rochester, N.Y., Bill earned his BA in English/Journalism from the State University of New York; and holds a Certificate in Spanish Language from Miami Dade College (2013).

Block by Block Ambassadors

Hospitality & Safety Services
Meet the heartbeat of Coconut Grove:

Our Block by Block Ambassadors, not just keeping our Business District spotless, but also ensuring it shines with the warmth of Hospitality & Safety Services. Beyond mere cleaning, our Ambassadors are the stewards of your space, where every detail matters and every action reflects our commitment to excellence. They understand the art of representation, making every corner of Coconut Grove not just clean, but truly vibrant and welcoming.

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Coconut Grove BID Launches Search for Executive Director!

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