Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announces new Communications Director and Deputy Chief of Staff

Today, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced two new positions within her senior staff: Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Communications Director.  

Rachel Johnson, who has been Communications Director since Mayor Daniella Levine Cava took office, will now take on the role of Deputy Chief of Staff, working directly with Chief of Staff Johanna Cervone. To replace Johnson, the mayor’s office has hired seasoned public affairs professional Loren Parra as the new Senior Communications Director.    

“Communicating and engaging with all corners of our community is a top priority for me as Mayor, and Rachel led our communications team successfully through an unprecedented year. I look forward to seeing her take on his new role,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Loren brings a wealth of experience in public affairs and community outreach, and we are lucky to have her now helm our communications team to ensure we continue directly engaging with our residents to build the Miami-Dade we want for the future.”   
  
Rachel Johnson, Deputy Chief of Staff   

Rachel Johnson led the Mayor’s communications team since November 2020. She is a seasoned communications leader with experience in digital marketing and communications campaigns, public affairs, brand strategy, and strategic partnerships within government, politics, and the private sector, and a veteran of federal, statewide, and local political campaigns. She holds a B.A. in History and Literature from Harvard University.  

“I’m thrilled to welcome Loren, a proven communications leader, to our team and to take on a new role supporting the Mayor’s ambitious goals for year two and beyond,” said Rachel Johnson. “I’m extremely proud of the work the Mayor and our team did in just our first year laying the foundation for a strong economic recovery, moving the ball forward on aggressive resilience projects, leading on public safety and more, and I look forward to expanding on this scope and working alongside our dedicated and talented staff to move Miami-Dade forward.”  
  
Loren Parra, Senior Communications Director  

A Colombian-American and Broward native, Loren Parra most recently served as the Director of Public Affairs at The Miami Foundation where she spearheaded civic initiatives including Thrive305, local candidate forums, and the launch of the Biscayne Bay specialty license plate. She has led local outreach and engagement efforts for former United States Senator Bill Nelson and served as the Director of the George Barley Water Prize at the Everglades Foundation. She holds both a BA and MBA from The University of Florida, and resides in Coral Gables, FL.  

“The first year of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s administration has been focused on meeting historic challenges, like the ongoing pandemic and Surfside building collapse, and building a more equitable, resilient future for all Miami-Dade residents,” said Loren. “I am proud to have partnered with the Mayor’s team on community-driven projects since her inauguration and look forward to continuing this critical work from my new role in the administration.”