Ola Aluko is the President and Chief Executive Officer for the St. John Community Development Corporation. The CDC is currently implementing a multimillion dollar capital program, developing affordable multifamily housing projects in the Overtown and greater Miami area. He is also President of ODUA Group, LLC, a multifaceted organization specializing in Design, Program, Project, and Construction Management, for public and private sector projects. The firm also provides owner representative services for various project types.
Prior to his presidency with St. John Community Development Corp., Ola served as the City of Miami's Director of Capital Improvements overseeing its $1.2B Capital Plan. The plan consisted of over $500M funded Capital Projects slated to be implemented citywide. Under his leadership, he worked closely with the City Manager and staff to strategically plan and execute short and long range citywide initiatives and neighborhood needs. Over $350M of parks, recreation centers, community centers, educational facilities, fire stations, roadway and drainage projects were constructed.
Prior to his tenure with the City of Miami, he was an Assistant Director for the Miami Dade County Housing Agency (MDHA), overseeing the Planning and Development Division. In that capacity he provided day to day oversight for the development of the new Scott/Carver single family homes and town houses. This project, a $70M HUD HOPE Vl Affordable Housing Project, entailed the demolition 800 low income housing units and the design development of 350 affordable units.
Ola also served as the Chief of Construction for Miami-Dade County's $450M Adrienne Arsht Centre for Performing Arts. The 570,000 square feet project, designed by Architect Cesar Pelli, includes three theatres and an outdoor plaza located in downtown Miami. The project was successfully completed with a team of international architects, engineers, contractors and theatre specialists.
Prior to being appointed as the Art Centre’s Chief, Ola was a Senior Project Manager with MC Harry & Associates, Architects and Albaari & Associates, Architects. He acquired his aviation design and construction experience while working on various Miami Imitational Airport facilities including the renovation of Terminal F, United Airlines maintenance facility, and construction of the West Cargo facilities. He was also the owner’s representative for the construction of the North Palm Beach Garden Government Center, Booker T. Washington High School and other various elementary, middle and high schools. Mr. Aluko also served as the City of Opa Locka's Public Works Assistant Director where he was responsible for the City's Capital Improvement Projects.
Ola received his Bachelors of Architecture degree from Southern University Baton Rouge, Louisiana and his MBA degree with a concentration in Management and Marketing from the University of Miami. Among other professional organizations, Ola is an associate member of the American Institute of Architects.
He has served on numerous community boards and is a Dade County Public Schools 5000 Male Role Models of Excellence mentor. Additional civic and community associations include being a life member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the 100 Black Men of America, and Sigma Pi Phi. Ola has been recognized by the Miami Today newspaper as an "Achiever” and has been a recipient of various awards and recognitions including Miami's Mover and Shaker, Miami's 40 most influential under forty years of age, and Who’s Who in Black South Florida just to name a few.
Ola is married and is blessed with two sons.