March 5, 2025
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Jungle Island1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Bloom Ballroom
Miami, 33132
Brace yourselves for a thrilling March Trustee Luncheon! We’ll be sitting down for a Fireside Chat with Ralph Cutié, Director and CEO of Miami International Airport, for an exclusive look into the future of MIA. Panel will be moderated by Virginia Sanchez, Regional Director for Governmental Affairs at American Airlines.
While Miami International Airport may face its fair share of challenges, it’s undergoing a monumental $9.5 billion transformation that’s already showing impressive progress. Discover how this iconic airport is driving South Florida’s growth, reshaping the travel experience, and tackling the challenges ahead. We've all heard the criticisms—now it's time to get the real story.
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Frustration to Future: Fireside Chat
Speakers
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Ralph Cutié
Ralph Cutié is the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Miami International Airport. He oversees operations at MIA and four general aviation airports in the Miami area, which together generate $118 billion in business revenue and support nearly 700,000 direct, indirect, related, and induced jobs. MIA leads the way, handling more than 52 million passengers and 2.7 million tons of cargo annually, placing it among America’s busiest international passenger and cargo airports.
Previously, Mr. Cutié served as Assistant Director for Facilities Management and Engineering, overseeing the largest and most diverse division within the Aviation Department, comprised of more than 440 employees and a budget of $123 million.
Mr. Cutié is a 34-year County veteran with over 37 years of experience in the fields of project control, critical path method (CPM) scheduling, project management, construction contracting and construction claims administration. He began his County career in 1990 with the Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) Department as a Cost and Scheduling Specialist, later advancing to Manager of MDT’s Engineering Cost and Scheduling Section, and ultimately, to Chief of MDT’s Project Control Division. Mr. Cutié worked extensively in various capacities on numerous MDT projects of significance, including the $248 million Metromover Extension Project, the $88 million Metrorail Extension to the Palmetto Expressway and the $106 million Busway Extension to Florida City.
Virginia Sanchez, Moderator
As Regional Director, Government Relations at AA, Virginia Sanchez is responsible for advocating and lobbying for legislative and regulatory measures in the areas of international trade and commerce, aviation, transportation, and other issues affecting the aviation industry. Prior to this position she was the Government Affairs Advisor for FedEx Express Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) region. Her experience in the private sector includes serving as Vice President of Public Policy and Corporate Relations for Diageo plc, where she led the Public Policy team based in Washington, D.C., managed the multicultural Corporate Relations agenda in North America and oversaw Corporate Relations activities for the Latin American Caribbean.
She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Beacon Council, Dress for Success, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard University. Sanchez holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Florida.
