MEET MARLON
Born in Jamaica and raised in the District 9 working class neighborhood of South Miami Heights, Marlon is a first generation American and Hall of Fame alumnus of Miami Southridge Senior High School and has lived in District 9 since 1985.
At Miami Southridge Senior High School, Marlon excelled in and outside the classroom and worked part-time at the local Cutler Ridge (now Southland) Mall before departing on a partial scholarship to Florida State University. Marlon is a double ‘Nole where he successfully completed business and law degrees, along with study abroad programs in Costa Rica and Barbados. At FSU, Marlon met his wife, Carla, of 21 years. Both Marlon and Carla learned that both of their families lived in South Miami Heights. Returning to Miami in 1995 from college, Marlon and Carla married in 1998 and purchased their first home in the Bonita Lakes community in 2001 where they have resided since.
Known for his entrepreneurial acumen as a business lawyer, Marlon is also known for his local activism in support of issues such as civic engagement, voter education, breast cancer awareness and youth mentorship. As a past president of the Caribbean Bar Association and trustee of the Miami Foundation, Marlon has also served as an avid advocate for issues impacting communities of color.
As a partner at the law firm of Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, Marlon presently serves as a board member of the Miami Parking Authority, Orange Bowl Committee, and Miami Book Fair International. Marlon is also an active member of his local Richmond-Perrine Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
The Catholic Church opened its doors to and embraced Marlon as a teenage altar server at Saint Joachim Catholic Church and formed the foundation for his faith and servant leadership into college and after graduation. Today, Marlon remains active in the Catholic Church as a member of the Archdiocese Emmaus Ministry and contributing to citizenship integration and community partnership programs of organizations such as Catholic Legal Services and the Caribbean Bar Association.
“Servant leadership begins in the church, is nurtured at home and put into action in the community. And the sole purpose is for greater glory of God. I learned this lesson first hand from my teenage days from the Jesuit tradition at the St. George’s College in Jamaica. These values followed me when I migrated to Miami in 1985 and have served as my GPS.”
He further commented, “The time has come for me to elevate what I have been doing for years on a different platform. My primary role in this campaign process will be to listen and learn from the residents of South Miami Dade County, and to help magnify their voices and needs to the hallways of county government.”
Since returning to Miami, Marlon has worked closely with students of color and immigrant descent, particularly those from the Caribbean. As an inaugural Miami Fellows at The Miami Foundation and a past Foundation trustee, Marlon credits his Fellows experience for inspiring a legacy of civic leadership and philanthropy.
Marlon has been featured as one of the “outstanding members of the emerging generation of South Florida business and professional leaders” in the Daily Business Review. Marlon received the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Bill Colson Leadership Award in 2016, the M. Athalie Range Foundation, Bridge Builder Award in 2012, and the inaugural Miami Foundation Ruth Shack Community Leadership Award in 2010.
“I embrace this public service opportunity to find innovative and proactive ways to make the lives of residents in District 9 of Miami Dade County better, more RESILIENT. We can only aspire together and rise together when neighborhoods are connected to their shared experiences, successes and challenges.”
Marlon is married to Carla for 21 years and has a passion for arts & culture, soccer (futbol), and mentoring the next generation of leaders.