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City of Miami GESE Trust
The City of Miami General Employees' and Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust provides defined benefit pensions for the municipal workforce of Miami,...
City of Miami GESE Trust
The City of Miami General Employees' and Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust provides defined benefit pensions for the municipal workforce of Miami, Florida. Governed by a board of trustees chaired by Sean Moy, the fund draws its oversight structure from the city's labor agreements — AFSCME Local 1907 and Council 79 appoint trustees, giving organized labor a direct voice in asset allocation and manager selection. This governance model, common among municipal plans, creates a fiduciary dynamic distinct from corporate or single-family pools. The trust allocates across real estate, private equity, and public markets, with a notable tilt toward direct property ownership. Its real assets include the Rose Gordon Building at 2901 Bridgeport Avenue in Coconut Grove, which serves as the trust's headquarters. Beyond direct holdings, the trust invests through institutional real estate vehicles managed by BlackRock and EII Realty Securities, spanning mixed-use portfolios across the United States. A global private equity portfolio rounds out the alternatives sleeve, though specific fund commitments and vintage years remain undisclosed in public records. The fund's estimated $1.478 billion in assets places it in the mid-tier of Florida municipal pension systems. The Pension Administrator, Edgard Hernandez, handles day-to-day operations, while investment decisions ultimately sit with the board. The trust's union-appointed governance means labor priorities — such as local job creation and stable, income-producing real estate — likely influence the portfolio's shape. No recent RFP activity or new manager mandates have been publicly reported in the past 24 months. The structural differentiator here is governance composition. Most pension funds keep investment committees insulated from direct union appointment power; GESE Trust embeds it. This labor-accountable structure can influence everything from emerging manager programs to real estate investment in the Miami metro area, creating a pension architecture that is shaped by the same workforce it serves.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Coconut Grove
Corporate office
Coconut Grove, FL, United States
Principals
Sean Moy
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Joe Simmons, Jr.
Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees
Edgard Hernandez
Pension Administrator
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who governs the investment decisions at the City of Miami GESE Trust?
A board of trustees governs the trust. Sean Moy serves as Chair and Joe Simmons, Jr. as Vice-Chair. The composition reflects the unionized workforce — AFSCME Local 1907 and Council 79 appoint trustees to the board. The Pension Administrator, Edgard Hernandez, manages day-to-day operations. Investment authority ultimately rests with the full board, a structure common among Florida municipal plans.
How does the trust allocate its real estate exposure?
The trust holds a mix of direct property and fund investments. Its direct holdings include the Rose Gordon Building at 2901 Bridgeport Avenue in Coconut Grove, which functions as its headquarters. On the fund side, it invests through institutional vehicles managed by BlackRock and EII Realty Securities, both focused on mixed-use portfolios within the United States. The relative weighting between direct holdings and fund commitments is not publicly disclosed.
Does the trust invest in private equity, and if so, through what structure?
Yes, the trust maintains a global private equity portfolio. Public records do not detail whether this exposure comes through fund commitments, direct co-investments, or a combination. The portfolio is described as global in scope, suggesting commitments to commingled funds rather than a direct-investment program. No specific general partner relationships or recent commitments have been publicly reported.
What influence does AFSCME have on the trust's investment policy?
AFSCME Local 1907 and Council 79 appoint trustees to the board, giving organized labor a formal governance role. This structure means labor priorities — historically including local economic development, workforce housing, and stable income generation — can shape investment policy. The trust's direct ownership of commercial real estate in Miami aligns with a strategy that keeps assets visible and locally anchored, a posture consistent with labor-influenced governance.
How large is the trust relative to other Florida municipal pension funds?
At an estimated $1.478 billion in assets, GESE Trust sits in the mid-tier of Florida municipal pension systems. It is smaller than the Florida Retirement System or major city funds like Jacksonville's, but larger than many suburban and specialized municipal plans. The asset base is sufficient to support a diversified alternatives program, but may limit access to top-quartile private equity funds with high minimum commitments.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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