Following a six-month hiatus, the West End South Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC) has resumed an incorporation study with a new name and two new members.
After its first two meetings, Mar. 17 and Apr. 21, the South MAC reconvened on Oct. 20 to continue exploring a potential city bounded by Kendall Drive (SW 88th Street) on the north and Coral Reef Drive (SW 152nd Street) to the south, and west from 137th Avenue to Krome (177th) Avenue.
By formal resolution, Commissioner Juan C. Zapata gained Miami-Dade County Commission approval to change the name of West Kendall (Section 3) MAC to West End South, one of two MACs studying incorporation in separate areas north and south of Kendall Drive.
Also with a new name is the West End North MAC that has met monthly to complete its study for the area from Kendall Drive north to Bird Drive (SW 42nd Street), and from 137th Avenue west to Krome Avenue.
Two new members of the South MAC are Juan A. Dilan, restaurant and retail consultant, and Carolina Duran, business development leader, replacing Herman Irizarry and Humberto Ortega, both resigning their positions after Apr. 21.
The South MAC still has two vacant seats, one yet to be filled by Commissioner Zapata and an appointee of Commissioner Xavier Suarez whose district includes a portion of the South MAC study area.
Dilan and Duran joined South MAC chair Origa “Ory” Dawes, Patricia “Shannen” Davis and Harry Hoffman as Gigi Bolt, member of the Miami-Dade County Budget and Management staff, recapped its study plan and presented a revised meeting agenda.
Dawes again was elected chair and Davis volunteered her services as secretary while Hoffman continued in his previously elected post as vice chair.
The next meeting date, combining November and December sessions, has been tentatively set for Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the former West Kendall Regional Library renamed the “West End Regional Library.”
MEET THE NEW MEMBERS:
Juan A. Dilan
A specialist in franchise owned and operated retail business outlets, Dilan has consulted and advised such consumer brands such as Coca-Cola, Burger King, Starbucks, KFC, Johnny Rockets, and Denny’s since 2000.
Experienced in U.S. and international markets, he currently serves as franchise consultant to an assigned group of franchisees in the Florida and Caribbean regions.
A participating member of the Miami, West Palm Beach, and Jacksonville marketing co-op committees, he also is an active volunteer with the guest services team at Calvary Chapel of Kendall in South Dade.
A veteran of the U.S. Army Military Police Corps, Duran is the recipient of the Army Commendation medal and humanitarian service award.
Carolina Duran
Carolina Duran is a creative business development professional with a track record in designing and delivering hospital growth strategies for Baptist Health South Florida.
Currently leading Physician Relations for West Kendall Baptist Hospital, she formerly supported the Baptist Outpatient Services business development team. Overall, she has worked within the Baptist Network for more than six years.
Duran currently is completing a BS in Psychology and Business at Nova University and will commence her master’s in Organizational Development in 2016.
A resident of West Kendall for over 20 years, she volunteers at the WOW Center, a community adult training academy for developmentally disabled individuals. She also has volunteered at many West Kendall community events, is part of West Kendall Baptist’s Green Team, and recently has joined the Big Sister organization.
