Marili Cancio: Leads expressway agency toward a new Kendall Parkway

Since taking operational control of the county’s five main expressways in July 2023, The Greater Miami Expressway Agency (GMX) board chair Mariana “Marili” Cancio says the agency has managed a smooth transition and made significant progress. 

The agency focused on key reforms concerning operations and fiscal accountability as it marks one year of the transition. GMX has implemented new policies, toll-saving incentives for daily commuters, and inaugurated the GMX 2025 budget and the five-year work program, which identifies key projects for completion like the system expansion of the Kendall Parkway.

GMX also gained two more board members with only two vacant seats to be filled, and named Torey Alston as the agency’s new executive director, Ms. Cancio said.

In just a year, the agency also established financial stability by cutting costs and achieved a Fitch Ratings agency stable bond outlook, she said, including additional geotechnical assessments, bringing certain services in-house to reduce costs, and even re-engaged key community stakeholders on forward vision to meet the region’s infrastructure needs.

“GMX has demonstrated meaningful reforms over the past year and focused on continuity and stability for the region,” Ms. Cancio added. “With a renewed mission and vision aimed at congestion relief and innovative technology, the agency has begun to reemerge as a leader in the industry.”

With over 25 years’ experience, Ms. Cancio is an attorney who concentrates her practice in the areas of corporate, real estate and international law. She counsels large and mid-size companies across diverse industries concerning various business matters. 

Before starting her own firm, Law Office of Marili Cancio Johnson PA, in 2011, Ms. Cancio worked at two of Florida’s premier law firms, Holland & Knight LLP and Fowler White Burnett PA. She manages the busy real estate and title practice. She assists clients in negotiating and executing business acquisitions and real estate transactions that complement overall business and financial objectives. 

She has a niche practice with Latin Americans purchasing real estate in Florida and in the international arena, she represents companies operating in Latin America and foreign investors establishing and expanding companies in the US. She helps clients plan and negotiate multi-jurisdictional mergers, other corporate transactions and real estate purchases.

Ms. Cancio says she loves to serve her community and has been involved in various nonprofit boards and committees like Miami Dade College, Miami-Dade County’s Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board, and the American Bar Foundation, and even provides pro-bono counsel services to the League Against Cancer.

Currently, Ms. Cancio says she is focusing on GMX operations and making sure the county’s expressway infrastructure needs and demands are met. 

“The reforms we’ve implemented at GMX have been directed toward three main objectives, which are improving services for our users, providing greater fiscal discipline to maximize resources, and toll savings to alleviate the financial burden for our daily commuters,” she said. “I’m very proud of the progress made on all three fronts, and I look forward to the year ahead as we implement the approved 2025 budget and five-year work program.”

Ms. Cancio spoke with Miami Today reporter Abraham Galvan.

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